Popular Woodworking Magazine » Robert W. Lang

Sneak Peek at August Popular Woodworking Magazine Cover Project

Robert W. Lang — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:40:55 +0000

Here is a sneak peak at the cover project for the August 2013 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. This project is also the subject of a video from Robert W. Lang that will be available soon. Subscribe now, and you won't miss out. Read more »

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Make Moulding with SketchUp

Robert W. Lang — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:15:25 +0000

When it comes time to make mouldings with SketchUp, many woodworkers struggle. They get the hang of making each piece a component, and figure out that a moulding is simply an extruded face. Where things go south is when it comes time to turn a corner; how can that be accomplished with as little blood, … Read more »

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New This Year at Woodworking in America: Silas Kopf

Robert W. Lang — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:09:34 +0000

Sila Kopf, renowned marquetarian will be one of the featured speakers at this year's Woodworking in America conference, held October 18-20, 2013 in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Read more »

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Hand Tool Maintenance-Don’t Ruin Your Tools!

Robert W. Lang — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:59:30 +0000

Woodworking, like fishing, covers a lot of territory, so the audience for our magazine and web site is a diverse lot. When I learned how to make stuff out of wood, the Internet didn’t exist and there was only one magazine and few books available on the subject. Lacking these modern resources, I was forced … Read more »

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Plan B Might Be Better – The Value of a Second Opinion

Robert W. Lang — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:14:11 +0000

The most important skill in woodworking is problem-solving, and you don’t develop that skill by following spoon-fed, step-by-step directions. It is also extremely difficult to learn that skill all by yourself. I try to visualize what the results should look like, then apply the tools I have and the techniques I know to get there.Then … Read more »

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Working With Small Hinges

Robert W. Lang — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:02:16 +0000

In the back panel of the project I made for the upcoming August 2013 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine is a small door. Hanging doors on butt hinges is no big deal if you’ve done it a few times, but this door proved interesting. The picture above makes it look typical, but the piece of … Read more »

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Photo Shoots and the Temptation of Batch Production

Robert W. Lang — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:52:53 +0000

In real life when you finish a project, you deliver it to a customer, wrap it up as a gift or put it in your house and hope your family says nice things about it. In the curious world of magazines, there is an extra step in between “I’m done” and “what do you think, … Read more »

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How To Glue Miter Joints-Wait a Minute

Robert W. Lang — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:55:43 +0000

Miter joints can be a real source of frustration. The pieces need to be the exact length and the cut surfaces need to be as close to perfect as you can get them. If they don’t look great right off the saw, use a shooting board and a plane, or rub the surfaces on a … Read more »

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Veritas Miniature Router Plane in Action

Robert W. Lang — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:33:44 +0000

I haven’t joined in the current love-fest for the router plane. It’s way down on my list of essential tools. I find it a fussy thing whose main purpose seems to be making perfectly flat surfaces where they aren’t needed, and as a means to avoid picking up a chisel. That being said, when Lee … Read more »

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LED Perfect for Workbench Light

Robert W. Lang — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:46:32 +0000

Our shop has a lot of things in common with our readers’ shops, especially those who work in basements or abandoned coal mines. The overhead lighting leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve recently been working on a project with ridiculously small details and decided I needed a dedicated workbench light. I found a great … Read more »

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