Issue 269
Issue 269
Weather or Not
Last week, those of us here on the tundra were treated to temperatures as high as 50 degrees Fahrenheit – for several days in a row. I saw fellow Minnesotans wearing shorts under their parkas, and my black and white spotted pointer became mostly brown from the mud puddles that she joyfully played in. Smiles were everywhere, and you could almost hear the collective snap, crackle and pop of winter-jaws unclenching and permanently hunched shoulders relaxing.
But this morning I awoke to another 15 inches of snow, and more is predicted. It’s no big deal. Here in Minnesota, we are used to having our hopes dashed and metaphorical rugs pulled from beneath our feet. (We are Vikings fans, after all.) Some of us sadly turn to self-destructive ways of dealing with our disappointment: sullen withdrawal, alcohol … American Idol.
But those of us with woodshops can once again turn our pain into projects. Personally, I was just asked to build a large rolling planter for a friend’s patio. And somehow, the irony of dusting off the snow in my shop as I plan a planter brings a smile to my face … or at least it will, as soon as my face thaws out.
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
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Woodworking Projects for Kids
Eagle America is now offering a variety of wooden construction craft projects for children age 4 and up.
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Rockler Dust Right Vortex™
Rockler’s Dust Right Vortex turns any standard shop vacuum into a two-stage dust extractor.
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Amana Flush Trim Miniature Bearing Bit
Amana Tool has introduced a flush trim miniature bearing router bit with a 3/16″ diameter ball bearing guide for use in applications like sign making, flush trimming tight corners, routing letter edges and more
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Milwaukee M18 3/8″ Cordless Right Angle Drill Driver
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation has just added an 18-volt Lithium-Ion model to its cordless platform of M18™ tools.
Tricks of the Trade
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Keep Water in the Loop
Usually the water filter in my air compressor line has sufficient capacity to keep the air dry, but when I’m spraying a really large project, it fills up rapidly.
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Drill Press “Safety Dog” Jig Eliminates the Spins
When a drill press catches on a workpiece and spins it, it’s an injury waiting to happen.
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Drier Belts, Better Seams
Over the years I’ve discovered that, during humid months, the moisture in the air sometimes loosens the glue seams on my belt-sander belts, causing them to break and come off during sanding.
Q & A
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Easy-to-reach Router Switches?
I was very anxious to start some of the router practices and projects that I have been collecting, but cannot find a router that I can use safely.
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Clarification Needed for Vintner’s Valet Plans
Since they are made from 3/4″ stock, I’d assume the angle would start at 3/8″? How wide should the ‘flat’ on top be?
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Accentuating Tap Holes in Maple Veneer?
Is there a good filler that would go on tinted if the project ‘wants’ a smooth face?
Industry Interviews
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Starborn Industries: Proudly Innovating the Basics
Paul Gertner and his staff at Starborn Industries spend a whole lot of time thinking about how to make deck screws work more effectively, last longer and look better. They’ve been the core of the company’s business for more than 30 years.
Feedback
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Racing Down Memory Lane
Rob’s last editorial included some reminiscing about recent experiences helping a young man and his dad build a Pinewood Derby® car — as he called it, “quality time in the shop.” Many readers agreed, and shared their own reminiscences about this rite of passage.
Today's Woodworker
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Jessica Straus: A Whittler’s Work
While Jessica Straus feels that woodworking must have been somehow in her blood much of her own carving work comes from skills she taught herself.
Reader's Project Gallery
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“Walnut Ripple” Table
This is a little coffee table my grandson and I made for his mom for Christmas. We call it “Walnut Ripple.”
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Segmented Wood Vase
This is my wooden vase made from segmented wood and turned on my lathe. The wood is red oak, poplar, spalted maple and white pine.
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Small Walnut Chest
I made this from cut off ends of wood used in a larger project. It is air dried walnut that was local to the Andover, Kansas area.
