We put tons of tools to the test in the December 2005 issue of Popular Woodworking in order to pick the best new tools of 2005.
Find the best price on the best drill as we put 14.4v cordless drills through real-world tests.
We take 10 common joints, drop an anvil on each one and learn some surprising lessons about joint strength and modern glue.
Our endurance test features what may be the best marking gauge ever.
We test holdfasts that really work, the Lap-Sharp Sharpening System and a cordless tool that acts as if it had a power cord.
Learn the untold story behind Shaker construction methods as Kerry Pierce visits the Pleasant Hill, KY Shaker community.
Bob Flexner shows you how to keep your spray gun operating like new.
Adam Cherubini reveals the mysteries of his last year’s Hand Tool Arts & Mysteries column.
Our Woodworking Essentials supplement continues with Casework Construction: Case Joinery.
Lonnie Bird takes you step-by-step through the process of constructing lipped drawers.
All this plus your letters, answers to your woodworking questions and more.
Detailed article previews are below. Online extras can be found here.
By Christopher Schwarz Page: 85 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now Holdfasts are something of an obsession of mine. They’re an almost-vanished tool that does an amazing job of quickly securing your work with just a mallet tap. Sadly, the only ones that really work these days are those made by … Read more
By Robert W. Lang Page: 84 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now Getting the hang of sharpening is not an easy task for the amateur woodworker. The Lap-Sharp addresses this by offering a simple powered system that will take you from grinding to polishing. The machine is extremely well made, with … Read more
By David Thiel Page: 84 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now Who needs 28 volts of power? Me – especially if it’s sized like an 18 volt and will let me use a cordless circular saw that feels like a corded saw! The Milwaukee V28, lithium-ion-powered system is revolutionary. Milwaukee set … Read more
Designed to remove tool marks from chair spindles and posts, this hard-to-find scraping tool is simple to make. By Kathy Somerville and Larry Diegel Pages: 80-82 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now Last year I spent a week in the Cobden, Ontario, workshop of David Fleming, learning to make a ladderback … Read more
Destroying 10 joints taught us surprising lessons about joint design, wood failure and the tenacity of modern glue. By Robert W. Lang Pages: 76-79 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now It has been said that we learn more from failure than from success. One of the first pieces of furniture I … Read more
They’re more powerful and affordable than ever, but are they a good choice for you? By David Thiel and Robert W. Lang Pages: 70-75 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now For the past decade we’ve been telling you that for woodworking, a 12-volt drill is more than adequate. So why are … Read more
The key to quality work is to fit the parts before assembly and to pay close attention to the fine details. By Lonnie Bird Pages: 66-69 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now Few things speak of craftsmanship like a fine drawer. Flawless dovetails, crisp, yet mildly textured hand-planed surfaces, and a … Read more
