Popular Woodworking Magazine » February 2013 #202

Southern Cellarette

Article Index — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:20:18 +0000

Combine simple construction and sophisticated proportions.By Glen D. Huey Pages 22-29In 1760, Dutch gin bottles made their way to the Colonies. Soon thereafter, the first known example of a lidded box designed to hold those gin bottles was built. Many of the bottle boxes, gin boxes or cellarettes, as they are known, have their origin in the Roanoke River basin area – cellarettes were not produced in major southeastern centers such as Baltimore and Charleston, S.C.Video: See the jig and router setup used to create the sliding dovetail joints. Blog: Read this post about a simple jig to create dados for the egg-crate dividers. Plan: Download a free SketchUp model of this piece from our online collection – Coming soon. In Our Store: “Furniture in the Southern Style,” a collection of drawings of period pieces from the MESDA collection. Web Site: Visit the author’s blog. Read more »

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Japanese Chisels

Article Index — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:09:54 +0000

The hard truth about these ancient tools.By Wilbur Pan Pages 30-32Japanese tools have a reputation of being suitable only for softwoods. This is an unfounded worry, especially in the case of Japanese chisels. As woodworker Kari Hultman (writer of The Village Carpenter blog) attests, “I would like to publicly profess my love of Japanese chisels. All the rest of you chisels can just go home now. I have used the same chisel for chopping and paring maple for days and days and have yet to resharpen it.”Blog: Visit Wilbur Pan’s blog for more on Japanese tools and woodworking. In Our Store: “Japanese Saws vs. Western Saws,” an article by Christopher Schwarz. To Buy: “Japanese Hand Tools & Joinery,” a DVD by Jay van Arsdale. Read more »

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Shell, Stone & Metal Inlay

Article Index — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:55:52 +0000

Learn a straightforward approach to creating stunning details.By Marco Cecala Pages 33-39I come to the field of woodworking with an unfair advantage. I grew up in a family jewelry business and did a lot of detail work from an early age. So it’s no surprise that when I started making furniture I was drawn to the detailed work of marquetry and inlay. Even a simple inlay can make an otherwise plain piece of furniture more appealing. It can also serve as the perfect final touch on a near-masterpiece.Video: Watch a free video presentation from Marco Cecala on making and installing shell inlay. To Buy: Paul Schürch’s DVD “Creating Veneer, Marquetry & Inlay.” In Our Store: Glen Huey’s DVD “Line & Berry String Inlay by Router.” Read more »

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A Bed for The Thorsen House

Article Index — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:44:26 +0000

Make a Greene & Greene-style bed with simplified construction.By Darrell Peart Pages 40-47Recently I joined a group whose primary goal is to restore the Thorsen House, one of the “Ultimate Bungalows” designed by Charles and Henry Greene. In fact, I am on the board of directors of the Friends of the Thorsen House. Our purpose is to raise funds for a seismic retrofit to the house (it sits atop the Hayward fault), but there are several smaller projects going on, too.Web site: Find out more about the Friends of the Thorsen House. Panel Pattern: Download a full-size pattern of the center panel in PDF format: Thorsen Bed Pattern Online: Visit the author’s web site to see photos of his work, read his blog or purchase his book, “Greene & Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop.” In Our Store: “Thorsen House Side Table,” an adaptation of the Thorsen House plant stand. Read more »

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Dan’s Whetstones

Article Index — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:38:59 +0000

This family business is the world’s largest producer of natural Arkansas oilstones.By Larry Williams & Don McConnell Pages 48-51As planemakers at Old Street Tool, we do a lot of sharpening and have developed a sharpening process that is easy to maintain, efficient and effective (see “Traditional Honing Technique,” page 50). And, because we occasionally teach and do trade shows, we are often asked about our sharpening process, especially regarding the use of Arkansas oilstones.Web Site: Visit Dan’s Whetstone’s site. In Our Store: “Making Traditional Side Escapement Planes,” a DVD by Larry Williams. To Buy: “Traditional Molding Techniques: The Basics,” a DVD by Don McConnell. Read more »

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Fast Fix For Teetering Legs

Article Index — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:32:18 +0000

A simple table saw technique levels four legs in no time flat.By Gary Rogowski Pages 52-54Rock-n-roll. That’s what four-legged pieces have a habit of doing – even with perfect joinery and a careful and unhurried assembly. Even with all the care and attention you paid to building it correctly, it doesn’t sit flat on your floor but moves back and forth rocking on two legs. What gives?Video: Watch a short video on how this leg-shaving technique is done using a table saw. Web Site: Visit Gary Rogowski’s Northwest Woodworking Studio site for information on classes and to view a gallery of his work. Blog: Read about an alternate method to solve the wobbly four-leg syndrome. In Our Store: Get our 76-page Essential Guide to Table Saws in convenient digital download format. Read more »

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Veritas ‘Workshop Striking Knife’ Tool Test

Article Index — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:22:29 +0000

By Megan Fitzpatrick Page 16 Spear-point marking knives are my favorite marking knives because they’re a good all-around choice for most layout tasks in the shop. Because a spear-point knife has two bevels and a flat back, it can easily register against a guide on either the right or left side – very handy when … Read more »

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Tool Test: Micro Fence Micro Plunge Base

Article Index — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:35:47 +0000

By Steve Shanesy Page 16 In the world of routers and routing accessories, it seems that small is big these days. The popularity of trim routers has been growing for some time; in fact, it’s now been a couple years since we praised Micro Fence’s plunge router base for the Bosch Colt, and we recently … Read more »

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Tool Test: Blue Spruce Firmer Chisels

Article Index — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:24:17 +0000

These traditional tools are a throwback for a thoroughly modern maker. By Christopher Schwarz Page 14 Perhaps the last tools I ever expected to come out of the Blue Spruce Toolworks are the most traditional set of modern bench chisels I have ever used. After all, Dave Jeske of Blue Spruce has spent all of … Read more »

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Design Matters: A Practiced Eye

Article Index — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:42:05 +0000

Straight lines will help you generate pleasing curves.By George R. Walker Pages 18-20I know a potter who’s worked clay on a wheel for more than a quarter-century. His practiced eye has a keen sense for curved forms, honed by shaping tens of thousands of pots. I admire his work and also the fact that he still gets excited at the thought that there’s more to be learned about curves.Blog: Read more from George R. Walker 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 »

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