Popular Woodworking Magazine » Techniques

I Want to Give You ‘Go Fever’

Christopher Schwarz — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:49:49 +0000

In some high technology circles there is an expression they use when engineers move too quickly to launch a project. They have “go fever” and are willing to overlook horrible mistakes in order to launch a product. When teaching woodworking – especially casework – I find that most students need to take down their protective netting, … 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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Test Drive: Carbide Marking Knife from Czeck Edge

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:18:22 +0000

If you don’t like (or cannot) sharpening a marking knife, the new Czeck Edge “Super Kadet II” knife is likely the right choice for your tool chest. Based on the well-balanced and well-made “Kerf Kadet” knife, this version is like its older brothers with the addition of a tungsten carbide blade. Why a carbide blade? … 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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Tuning Bench Planes at Vesper World Headquarters

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:24:57 +0000

Honestly, I’ve tuned so many dang metal planes in my lifetime that I’ll never worry about having enough iron in my diet. They might mine my carcass for the mineral when I’m dead. For me, it has always been an analog process: Do it by hand with inexpensive supplies. Today I spent the day tuning … Read more »

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Inside Colen Clenton’s Adjustable Try Squares

Christopher Schwarz — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:17:07 +0000

I first heard about Colen Clenton’s tools from Joel Moskowitz of Tools for Working Wood in Brooklyn, N.Y. On Joel’s recommendation, I purchased one of Colen’s squares and was deeply impressed by its craftsmanship and accuracy. I asked Joel how I could e-mail Colen and ask him a few questions about his tools for an … Read more »

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Taming the Circle Cutter – the Tool I Love to Hate

Robert W. Lang — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:21:45 +0000

Perhaps the headline should read “the tool I hate to love.” Every now and then I need something round, or an odd-sized hole, and I turn to the “adjustable circle cutter.” I know it as a “fly cutter” and it is never my first choice. It’s a simple device, but it looks scary, and for … Read more »

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TS-2: Perfection Made Rare

Christopher Schwarz — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:57:02 +0000

Years ago I worked with a professional woodworker who built all his own tools, used the least-expensive machines available and turned out work that was undeniably world class. He scoffed at buying clamps (he made his own). He invented precision tools when he needed them. And he could make inlay tools from shop garbage. And … Read more »

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Dovetails with Help from the Drill Press

Christopher Schwarz — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:16:29 +0000

When I make a lot of half-blind dovetails, I’ll use a drill press to help bore out the waste between the pins. The video below shows how I do. Some caveats to consider before you try to cram your boot between my buttocks via a comment below: 1. Ya, I use machines at times to … Read more »

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The Real Reason to Practice Your Woodworking Skills

Robert W. Lang — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 10:47:45 +0000

I spent much of Friday in the shop, tuning up machines in preparation for an upcoming magazine project. The thing I will be building is rather small, but with some involved details. I wanted the table saw and router table to be as precise as possible, and I also wanted to get some practice in … Read more »

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