Issue 197
Issue 197
Show Us What You’ve Got
Woodworkers by nature are humble folks. Why? Well, one reason is that building things out of wood tends to humble you. For instance, in a totally hypothetical example, like when you bring a coffee table into your house that looked fine in the shop, but resembled an aircraft carrier when you put it in your living room.
But on the other side of that coin, we are also folks who really want people to look at the results of our efforts. I must confess to once waking my wife up late at night to show her the results of my woodworking efforts — I don’t recommend doing that, by the way.
Anyway, I mention this because I am offering you the chance to share your work in an environment that will be viewed by folks who are understanding and interested in your craft: our premium eZine’s Readers Project Gallery. The Reader’s Project Gallery is a place where readers can share what they are working on, or even photos of their shop, new tools or any other thing woodworking-related (we do look at all the submissions before we allow them on the web — we didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday).
It’s a lot of fun to see what your fellow woodworkers are doing, and it is a great way to get inspiration. The only catch is, that the Readers Project Gallery resides in the premium section of the eZine. (Which is only three bucks a month — Hey, that’s only ten cents a day!)
But if you want to share your projects in a new (and free!) – and, at this point in time, “super secret” web effort of the Woodworker’s Journal — there is yet hope for you. Just e-mail a project or shop picture to our content coordinator, Matt Becker, and look for updates in the near future.
Just make sure the project fits into your living room.
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
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A Sharp Sharpener
The Tormek T-7 model sharpening system is a straight — sharpener. One of its main features is the Square Edge Jig, into which you clamp your tool to be sharpened.
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Metabo SE2800 Screwdriver
Metabo’s SE2800 screwdriver is small and light – 9-1/2″ long, 2.64 pounds – and produces up to 106 inch-pounds of torque from a 3.5-amp motor.
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Rung-It Painter’s Tray
The Rung-It Painter’s Tray clips to the inside of an extension ladder rung and supports a paint can and needed supplies.
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Basemate Ladder Stabilizer
The Basemate ladder leveling system attaches to aluminum, fiberglass or wood ladders of any width and can be used on uneven surfaces.
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Milwaukee 0880-20 Wet/Dry Vacuums
Milwaukee’s new cordless wet/dry vacuum comes in an 18-volt version with a dual battery connector block.
Today's Woodworker
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Tim Lawson: From Flights of Fancy to Practical Pedagogy
Winged elements above graceful curvilinear lines are the hallmarks of Tim Lawson’s work.
Q & A
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Where to Use Wiping Varnish
Can wiping varnish be used over oil-based stain, waterbased stain or both?
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Explaining Planes
On a jointer, the infeed and outfeed tables are offset, but plane beds are flat. If the plane iron is taking a .002 cut, it seems the back of the plane should be clearing the wood by the same amount, and yet it works even though that is not the case. Can you explain?
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Best Wood for Dropped Ceiling Panels
What type of wood would work best to build T-rails for dropped ceiling panels?
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Best Respirators for Different Uses
I’m bewildered by the number of types of respirators at the home center. What type of respirator should I get for working with MDF, wood, treated lumber and finishing?
Industry Interviews
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Wenzloff & Sons: Custom Hand Saws for the Discerning Neanderthal
They may be a relatively small group, but the self-described “Neanderthal woodworkers,” folks who eschew power tools in favor of hand tools, are quite particular about what they use.
Feedback
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Hobbies, Compressors, Plugs, Bait and Schadenfreude
In Issue 195, Rob admitted that he often wears more than one hat, pairing woodworking and fishing by crafting wooden lures, and asked if others mix hobbies. Some of the responses were surprising.
Tricks of the Trade
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Sheet-Cutting Rack
When cutting sheet materials – particleboard, MDF or whatever — I have to use my handheld circular saw on the floor of my one-car garage workshop.
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Mixing Epoxy
When mixing small quantities of a two-part glue (such as epoxy), I use the dish-shaped hollow at the bottom of an aluminum beverage can.
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Dual Caliper Board
With this “Caliper Board” close to your lathe, you’ll be able to quickly and accurately set distances on both inside and outside calipers.
