Issue 205
Issue 205
Learning to Turn
By now, those of you who are subscribers to the print Woodworker’s Journal magazine have likely received your September/October issues (and those of you who aren’t subscribers – what’sa matter wit’ ya?)
In that print issue, you’ll find our fifth annual Turners’ Challenge, in which we give four turners the same wood for a starting point – and then watch to see where it goes. You’ll also find my editorial (yes, print readers get one of these, too) talking about the new woodworking skill I’m learning: turning.
I’ve been a flat-woodworking kind of guy for years (and years…), but the yearn to turn just recently caught up with me. Is there some kind of woodworking skill that you’ve been itching to learn? Back-to-school time doesn’t just have to be for the kids, you know. You, too, can start cutting dovetails, or carving details, or even turning.
That’s one of the great things about our hobby – there are limitless aspects to it, and it’s never too late to learn.
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
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The Master Carpenter
“The Master Carpenter” by Hugh Poland uses the example of Master Carpenter Jesus to present devotionals, selected Bible readings and apprenticeship challenges to Christian woodworkers.
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PS30 Drill Driver
Bosch’s PS30 12v Max Litheon Drill/Driver weighs barely 2.4 pounds and exerts 220 inch-pounds of torque.
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C8FSHE 8-1/2″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Hitachi’s C8FSHE 8-1/2″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw can handle material up to 2-9/16ths inches high and 12 inches deep in a 90 degree crosscut.
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Porter-Cable Low Profile ROS Sander: Calling Attention to Upgrades
Keeping a low profile is not something the new Porter-Cable random orbit sanders do because they’re avoiding calling attention to themselves.
Tricks of the Trade
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Perfect Miters
I’m in the picture frame business and came up with this simple idea to ensure perfect miters every time.
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Gripping the Bowl
I was having problems finishing the underside of bowls because I could find no way to hold them securely after removing them from the face plate.
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Cross Hair Accurate
I made an improvement to my router table that has revolutionized my routing.
Industry Interviews
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Paul Fritts: Pulling Out All the Stops
Filling the room, floor to ceiling and almost wall to wall, was a massive and thoroughly breathtaking pipe organ, replete with shiny metal pipes, ornate wood carved screens and figurines, and lush figured wood throughout.
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Mortise Pal: A Friend Indeed
Building a good, accurate jig is a lot harder than it seems. That’s why I appreciate people like Rob Gill, the designer and creator of Mortise Pal.
Q & A
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What Can a Band Saw Do?
I have toyed with the idea of buying a band saw, but I don’t know what I could do with it that I don’t already do with my table saw and sliding compound miter saw.
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Soundproofing Air-Dependent Machines
How can I soundproof my shop vacuum and compressor in the shop without choking off the air that both machines need?
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Guilds, Toys and Insurance
Do you know of a woodworking guild that produces wood toys for disadvantaged, hospitalized or foster kids and has access to insurance programs to cover the liability end of such an enterprise?
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Finishing Butternut
How do I finish this wood to retain the characteristics of the butternut but still look attractive?
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Preventing Tearout in Maple
Even though I have brand new knives, they keep taking chunks out of the wood. My router seems to do the same thing on maple. What can I do?
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Problems with Dado Tearout in Plywood
I’m dealing with dado tearout in plywood. I’ve tried different depths and feed rates, but I’m still having problems.
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Problems Cutting Clean Dovetails
I have seen beautifully clean cut dovetails for drawers and the like in contemporary furniture, so I know it can be done. I am experiencing a lot of tearout when I attempt it.
Feedback
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Old Hat, Tight Nuts, Free Plans, Safety and Errata
One of the answers regarding loosening excessively tight arbor nuts on table saws referred to a Tommy bar, puzzling one reader.
Reader's Project Gallery
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Blum Tandom Undermount Drawer
I attached a picture of one of my drawers, they have Blum® Tandem Undermount Slides. – Tom Lobb
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A Few of a Reader’s Projects
Here are a couple of projects of mine on the web. – Terry Jones
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Reader’s New Fireplace
Here is a fireplace I did. – William Carey