Issue 244
Issue 244
Woodworking Wood Freaks!
Last issue I asked you to tell me what your favorite hardwood might be. Great shugga-bugga, you folks really like hardwood! Nearly 250 of you sent in your selections, and what a diverse lot you are. There were 39 species identified as faves, with selections ranging from obscure (jatoba) to bland (poplar). There were, of course, the class clowns who had to raise their hands to say things like “free!” or “veneer,” but I must confess I found those answers amusing. (It takes a wise guy to appreciate a wise guy…)
So how did your selections rank the popularity of hardwoods? Well, (in order of most votes to least): walnut (in a landslide), red oak, cherry, maple and white oak. These five species accounted for 66 percent of the entries. Maple and cherry were one vote apart, while walnut edged out red oak by only seven selections. Added together, those two accounted for 35 percent of all the entries. The exotic that got the most attention was bubinga, coming in as the seventh most popular hardwood. So there you have it, the wood world according to the eZine faithful. Oh, and I promised to reveal my favorite hardwood, which now seems a bit anticlimactic, but oh well. My new favorite hardwood – fiddleback maple.
– Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
-
Makita FS2701 Screwdriver
Makita’s new 2,500 rpm screwdriver, the FS2701, is powered by a 6-amp motor designed for continuous heavy-duty work.
-
Duluth Trading Lightweight Working Man’s Vest
Duluth Trading’s Lightweight Working Man’s Vest has seen an upgrade in the design so the flexible poly mesh side panels that add breathability are now dyed to match the rest of the vest for a client-appropriate look.
-
3rd EAR Magnetic Clip
3rd EAR Magnetic Clip attaches to your safety, sun or prescription glasses to provide “another ear” for storing your writing utensil or, with the magnetic feature, your small metal tools.
-
Gorilla Wood Glue
What you may not know is that the Gorilla Glue Company offers its own PVA formulation – Gorilla Wood Glue – and has for a couple of years now.
Tricks of the Trade
-
Shelf-pin Table Clips
Here’s a quick and easy way to mount small tabletops to an apron base.
-
Secret Messages
I like to leave a “secret” message on every piece of furniture I build.
Today's Woodworker
-
Laurie McKichan: Learning By Doing
Although she grew up “in a very crafty family” with a background in sewing, cross-stitch, tin punch and all kinds of Girl Scouts crafts, it wasn’t until she was grown up and trying to furnish an apartment that Laurie McKichan took up woodworking.
Q & A
-
Sealer for MDF Benchtop?
What is the best product to use to seal or finish the MDF?
-
Lead Testing for Wood Toys?
Can you shed light on the current situation as well as the likely future responsibilities that these woodworking clubs will be subject to?
-
How to Use a Shooting Board?
I have seen numerous articles in several woodworking magazines and also on the Internet on how to build the board. They all seem to stop short on explaining how to use the board.
Industry Interviews
-
New Gorilla Glue Panel is Turning Woodworkers into Friends
Woodworkers have been an important part of Gorilla Glue’s success since day one.
Feedback
-
Sampling of Hardwood Favorites
If you read Rob’s editorial, you know we received a LOT of responses to the query about what your favorite hardwood is. Here’s a smattering of those responses.
Reader's Project Gallery
-
Hutch
Here are some pictures of my latest project. This was made from #3 pine that I bought for about $80. Everything is solid, no plywood at all!
-
Hall Tree
The center of the Hall Tree (the light part) was made from Grapefruit wood and the darker part is inlaid Walnut and the legs and top are solid Walnut.
-
Morris Chair
I made this Morris Chair entirely of Ash (except the plywood under the seat). I had the cushions made by the upholster who does the work for Hardwood Artisans.
