This was a great year for new tools. The December 2006 issue of Popular Woodworking focuses on the best of the best with a list of our top 16.
Our cover project is a handsome and functional lingerie chest by our new Senior Editor Glen Huey.
Our Woodworking Essentials series looks at placing machinery for working smarter.
John Wilson shows us how to make an effective and inexpensive solar kiln.
We proudly present some old and new techniques for traditional joinery.
Detailed article previews are below.
Online Extras from this issue are found in the Magazine Extras page here.
By Christopher Schwarz Pages: 60-65 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now I’ve been attending tool shows to see new woodworking machinery and hand tools for 10 years now, but the 2006 vintage will be remembered as a very good one for years to come. In fact, we typically honor 12 tools … Read more
A super-slick trick to make a super-strong joint. By Geoffrey Ames Pages: 57-59 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now The housed dovetail joint is mechanically sound, historically correct for 18th-century casework and a hallmark of fine craftsmanship. It provides an accurate means of locating drawer dividers and runners, and is quite … Read more
By Scott Gibson Pages: 49-56 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now In a much earlier era, cabinetmakers didn’t spend much time worrying about where to put machines in their shops. They didn’t have much to work with. A small shop might have had a communal lathe turned by an apprentice, but … Read more
Showcase your skills with this traditionally styled tall dresser. By Glen D. Huey Pages: 42-48 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now If you have woodworking tools and a talent to build, there is a certain time each year that you are called upon to use both. Suddenly, Aunt Susan needs a … Read more
Pocket holes make a seemingly complicated project simple. By Megan Fitzpatrick Pages: 40-41 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now These classic shelves are easy to build thanks to the pocket-hole joints that attach the shelves to the sides. While pocket holes aren’t a traditional joint, they allow you to build pieces … Read more
By Robert W. Lang Page: 34 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now Making dados for casework starts with the choice of using the table saw or the router. If you prefer the router, you’ve probably cobbled together a lot of jigs to keep the router square and put the dado in … Read more
By Christopher Schwarz Page: 34 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now Planemakers have long used floats to shape and true the critical surfaces of wooden handplanes. But cabinetmakers also used floats, and after several months of using floats made by Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, I understand why. From the December 2006 issue #159 … Read more
