April 2012 #196

Our cover story for the April 2012 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine is a “James Krenov-style Cherry Wall Cabinet” from Matthew Teague, editor, that is constructed with tapered sliding dovetails. Plus, you’ll discover how to easily (and properly) install knife hinges. Steve Shanesy, senior editor, shares his plans for a durable no-fuss “Drill Press Table” that costs little in time or materials. Christopher Schwarz, contributing editor, builds a “Charleston Table” that straddles the 17th and 18th centuries in its form and joinery details. You’ll discover “The How & Why of Cutlists” from Robert W. Lang, executive editor, as he shares his thoughts on how learning to read measured drawings and making your own cutlists will make you a better woodworker. Plus, uncover the mysteries of Roy Underhill’s “Puzzle Mallet” and build one to confound and amaze your friends.

In this month’s Tool Test, we take a look at “Liogier Hand-cut Rasps,” “Bessey Auto-adjust Toggle Clamps,” a “Moxon-style Vise from Philadelphia Furniture Workshops” and the “Kreg Shelf-pin Jig.”

In Design Matters, George R. Walker delves into ornamentation in “Over the Top.” Adam Cherubini presents “Boarded Furniture Essentials” in Arts & Mysteries. Our I Can Do That column is a set of period “Hanging Shelves” from Megan Fitzpatrick, managing editor. Bob Flexner shares his thoughts on “Alternative Paint Strippers” in Flexner on Finishing. In his first article for the magazine, Erick T. Gatcomb writes about “Tradition Embraced” for End Grain. And of course, you’ll find Letters and Tricks of the Trade.

Below, you’ll find capsule descriptions of every article, with links to the free Online Extras.

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Design Matters: Over the Top

‘Superadded Ornaments’ won’t save a poor design – but can enhance a good one.

by George R. Walker
Pages 16-17

From the April 2012 issue, #196

My 10-year-old son, Josh, tugged at my elbow and said, “Dad, check it out, is that cool or what?”

Parked a few yards away was a minivan encrusted with hundreds – no, make that thousands – of plastic toys glued to every square inch of sheet metal. What looked like grass sprouting from the roof was actually several battalions of green army men, along with tanks, bazookas, Pez dispensers, dinosaurs, guitar picks, Happy Meal toys and, on the hood, Wonder Woman in a pitched battle with Godzilla. I asked myself if this was part of a divorce settlement gone bad, or a desperate cry for help. Whatever the inspiration, it made us smile.

Blog: Read more from George about design on his Design Matters blog.
In our store: George R. Walker’s DVDs: “Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design” and “Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design: Moldings.” Read more »

Great Woodshops: Tossing Out Tradition

Konrad Sauer improves a 150-year-old handplane design. by Christopher Schwarz pages 50-54 From the April 2012 Issue, #196 Let’s say you were good at building Chippendale highboys. Really good. Phil-Lowe-kind-of-good at it. Customers came to you regularly and you had plenty of work to keep you busy. Then why – oh why – would you … Read more »

Tool Test: Liogier Hand-cut Rasps

First-class shaping tools from France. by Robert W. Lang Page 12 From the April 2012 issue, #196 In 2004, Popular Woodworking introduced hand-cut French rasps to American woodworkers. Those tools from Auriou were definitely a cut above what was previously available, and we happily added them to our tool kits. A few months ago, we … Read more »

Tool Test: Bessey Auto-adjust Toggle Clamps

by Steve Shanesy Page 12 From the April 2012 issue, #196 Toggle clamps are an indispensable workholding device for jigs, but they are a bit fussy to adjust to the desired height and clamp pressure. Leave it to Bessey to come up with clever innovations that give the traditional toggle clamp a big leap forward. … Read more »

Tool Test: Philadelphia Furniture Workshop Moxon Vise

by Megan Fitzpatrick Page 14 From the April 2012 issue, #196 While Moxon-style twin-screw vises seem to be breeding like rabbits these days (see our November 2011 issue, #193 and our December 2010 issue, #187), this version, developed by Alan Turner and Mario Rodriguez at Philadelphia Furniture Workshop (and available through Tools for Working Wood) … Read more »

Tool Test: Kreg Shelf-pin Jig

by Steve Shanesy Page 14 From the April 2012 issue, #196 If your idea of a jig for drilling shelf-pin holes is a piece of pegboard, there’s an affordable alternative from Kreg Tool that allows you to step up your game. And even if you have moved beyond pegboard, this new jig will cut down … Read more »

Flexner on Finishing: Alternative Paint Strippers

Safer Strippers are having a ‘green’ revival.

by Bob Flexner
Pages 58-60

From the April 2012 Issue, # 196

Methods for removing old paint and finish from furniture have gone through at least four distinct periods.

Before solvents became widely available, coatings were removed by scraping, often with glass used like we use scrapers, and sometimes by sanding, after sandpaper became available.

(Heat and caustics such as lye have never been a good idea for furniture because they can lift veneer and separate joints. Also, lye will turn most hardwoods black.)

Article: Read Bob Flexner’s article on refinishing from the August 2011 issue.
In our store: “Flexner on Finishing” – 12 years of updated columns illustrated with beautiful full-color images.
To buy: Get Bob Flexner’s new book, “Wood Finishing 101.”
Read more »