Issue 228
Issue 228
Immersed in Tool Talk
I always think Woodworker’s Journal is pretty cool, and I was really reminded of that at this month’s big trade show, the AWFS in Las Vegas, Nevada. Woodworker’s Journal had two crews of reporters combing the floors of the convention center – where it was much cooler than the outdoor temps of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and where they produced videos to introduce you to all the latest, greatest and, yes, coolest tools.
You see, Woodworker’s Journal had the official blog for this biggest woodworking trade show of the year. Our reporters not only wrote about those cool tools, but also shot videos of them. Are you feeling left out if you missed it? Have no fear! All the entries are still up and available on the blog, which you can get to by clicking here.
And, in the tradition of all those previews you see before summer movie blockbusters, we’ve also incorporated some of our reports from the show into this issue of the eZine: read one in our Tool Preview section, and check out the videos in our What’s in Store and Free Plans section. I think you’ll enjoy all the cool tools presented by the cool crew from Woodworker’s Journal.
Industry Interviews
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Bad Dog Tools: It’s All About the Carbide
In a nutshell, Bad Dog Tools is all about replacing what many of us see as disposable accessories, like drill bits and grinding wheels, with alternatives that last and last.
Feedback
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Defining Air, Retrofitting Saws, a Language Lesson
After we aired a letter from a reader who is a blind woodworker, this email came from another.
What's In Store
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Rockler Introduces Bench Cookies
Rockler’s Bench Cookies function as clamps and vises with gripping capacity and non-marring surfaces that allows access to all areas of a project for routing, finishing, belt sanding, etc.
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Powermatic Heavy Duty 18″ Band Saw
The Powermatic Heavy-Duty 18″ Band Saw offers 18 inches of resaw capacity, a 24″ cast-iron table, and magnetic safety key.
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Low-Profile Porter-Cable Sander Improves Ergonomics, Service Life
Removing the brushes from Porter-Cable’s 5″ Low Profile Sander makes it much shorter for easier hand control and eliminates parts to wear down.
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Rikon Leading the Pack Bullishly in Bearish Market
We didn’t have time to cover ALL of the new tools Rikon rolled out at AWFS 2009 … and man oh man, these folks at Rikon have been busy!
Tricks of the Trade
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Taming the Thumbscrew
The guide blocks on my 14″ JET band saw have thumbscrews (wing nuts) that can be hard to get at – especially the lower ones.
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Shop-made Logs
Even a benchtop planer produces more shavings than one knows what to do with.
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Planing End Grain
The rotating knives struck the leading edge of the board with such force that it came flying out backwards, breaking several bones in my left hand.
Q & A
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Raising Serial Numbers
I have an old pinball machine. Its serial number, stamped in the plywood, is scraped so that only the top of three of the six digits is readable. Is there some way to raise the numbers?
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Honey Locust Wood
Can honey locust wood be used to make furniture?
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Finish for Mixed Cocobolo and Purpleheart
What finish can I use on a piece made with mixed woods that will cure on the cocobolo and retain the color of the purpleheart?
Reader's Project Gallery
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Jewelry Chest
The attached photo shows the “jewelry chest” that I made for my wife. Construction is of solid black walnut. It…
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Sideboard
Here is a sideboard made from plans found on Plansnow.com. It is quarter sawn white oak with a Golden Oakstain/satin…
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TV Console
This is a TV console I made for my daughter to use with her new 52″ flat screen TV. It…
Today's Woodworker
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David Stine: A Vertically Integrated Woodworker
There are plenty of woodworkers creating furniture that bears little resemblance to the trees that spawned the raw material, but David…
