Popular Woodworking

As a sawyer, I find my lumber stash sometimes gets out of hand. I saw a bunch of material and dry it, then end up with a ton of stock in my lumber rack. It works out great—I always have material available for projects, but I should put a little more effort into selling more than I do (I’m going to blame my day job on not having time to sell it). One of the species that I have been milling and using more often is Quercus Maeroearpa—the Bur Oak. It’s an interesting wood. The state tree of Iowa, the USDA Forestry Service classifies it as a white oak. Therefore, it can be marketed and sold as such. However, it’s different enough from true white oak that barrel manufacturers won’t…

JIMMY CLEWES: Winged Box–pg. 46 Hailing from England, Jimmy Clewes now resides in Las Vegas with his wife Mary and dog Seamus. Jimmy has spent the last thirty-five years traveling the world teaching and demonstrating woodturning. His quick wit and straightforward approach have made him a favorite of students from across the globe. When not hosting students at his home in Las Vegas, Jimmy’s often found with a gold pan in hand, prospecting in the Vegas desert. DAVID J. MARKS: Patina Finishes–pg. 16 David J. Marks is recognized internationally as a master craftsman of fine furniture, turner, sculptor, and host of the television show “WoodWorks”. David hosted 91 episodes of the show which debuted on both HGTV and the DIY Networks, starting in 2002. Recently, David has started to release…

It’s not easy to get enough squeeze in the middle of a big box to force home dado or biscuit joints. Big cauls are the answer. A caul is simply a thick, straight board. I make my cauls from stiff wood, such as hard maple, but any wood will do. The wider and thicker the caul, the less it flexes and the better it delivers pressure far from the clamps. I made a set of eight, each measuring 1¾" x 3" x 24", to have around the shop whenever I need them. Stout cauls like these should provide plenty of pressure, but you can get extra pressure in the middle by inserting one or more shims (I use playing cards). You can also round or taper one of the caul’s…

Make a habit of applying finish to end grain first. Why? It’s all about avoiding drip shadows. Sounds creepy, doesn’t it? Here’s the deal: let’s say you’re finishing a top. You’re merrily brushing the first coat of finish back and forth on the top’s surface, and some finish happens to drip down an edge, which you haven’t gotten to yet. If this edge is end grain, the finish will soak into the wood quite fast. If you don’t wipe off the drop right away, the finish that soaks in will darken that area. After you finish the entire edge, the original drip will still be visible as a dark shadow. If you finish the end grain first, drips aren’t a problem, because they won’t soak in.…

Over the last several years, I’ve started to become interested in machinist tools and practices. One of the things that fascinates me is the precision that is required in many machining operations. I’ve started to apply those principles to my woodworking, and have seen a noticeable difference in the quality of my work. The new Drill Press Protractor from Woodpeckers takes the machinist concept of tramming a tool and simplifies the process for use at you drill press. The Drill Press Protractor has a stem that mounts in the chuck of your drill press. After loosening the knob on the front of the protractor, you lower the chuck so that the protractor contacts the table. The pivot design of the Drill Press Protractor will conform to the angle of the…

Woodworkers all know the importance of PPE in the shop. Hearing protection has probably made the biggest advancements over the last several years. The addition of radios, Bluetooth, and connectivity into hearing protection has added a level of comfort in wearing them for hours on end. My one gripe with these types of headphones are that they either require batteries, or need to be charged every few days of use. 3M has recently released a new set of headphones that may be the ultimate pair on the market—the 3M Worktunes Connect + Solar. The big advancement in these headphones are the addition of small solar panels to keep the headset charged. As you can see in the photo to the right, the headband is cushioned and is outfitted with small…