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Michael Dunbar
These once-standard tools still have a place in the modern shop. Here’s what you need to know about the use, care and keeping of drawknives and spokeshaves.
Yoav Liberman
Precision vises serve a purpose beyond their conventional use of securing workpieces on the drill press. In my workshops, these tools prove invaluable, especially when it comes to tasks like planing thin strips of wood. Read part 1 here. Take, for instance, the challenge of working with a long, slender piece of Sapele wood clamped…
Pop Wood Editors
Tool: M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless 1/2 in. Router Shop Now Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $349 (bare tool) Over the last decade, the tool industry has made leaps and bounds when it comes to battery powered tools. Look at a battery pack from ten or fifteen years ago to today… It’s mind boggling how far…
Collin Knoff
Tool: 18V Brushless Cordless Compact Router R860444 Shop Now Manufacturer: Ridgid MSRP: $179 (bare tool) Ridgid has been on a bit of a tear recently updating and expanding their cordless tool lineup. That streak seems poised to continue with the release of the new R860444 18V Brushless Cordless Compact Router. The router features a 1/4″…
Mark Thiel
Zero clearance inserts are wonderful for eliminating tear out, but unfortunately, they also eliminate dust collection. To give my collection system an opening to pull sawdust through, I cut a 1/2-in.-dia. hole at the front end of the blade slot. In this location, the hole doesn’t adversely affect the benefits of my zero clearance insert….
Tool: 18V Brushless Jig Saw R86344 Shop Now Manufacturer: Ridgid MSRP: $179 (bare tool) A thought occurred to me the other day — is the jigsaw the most versatile power tool? It can crosscut and rip. Make straight cuts or curved. It can even cut bevels and compound miters if used correctly. This mental…
David Thiel
Turn a contractor’s tool into a precision woodworking machine. I don’t know of too many woodworking shops, whether home or professional, that don’t have a miter saw as part of their equipment. A miter saw is a fine alternative to a radial-arm saw or circular saw for rough-cutting lumber. It’s also an accurate alternative to…
Tool:Electric Sawmill G0960 Shop Now Manufacturer: Grizzly MSRP: $3159 As a sawmill owner, I cut lumber for a variety of outlets. Most, I cut for myself. I then dry it and sell it to woodworkers like yourselves. (Heck, I even horde some of it for my projects, but don’t tell my wife that). Other times,…
Logan Wittmer
Tool: CPM Magnacut Blades Shop Now Manufacturer: Lake Erie Tool Works MSRP: $46.99+ As a hand tool junkie, I look at a few things when deciding if a tool is up to snuff. One of those is the condition of the blade. Luckily, replacement blades are readily available, at least in hand planes. The team…
Tool: HP-6FX Multiplane Shop Now Manufacturer: Bridge City Tool Works MSRP: $789 If you’ve ever taken a look at Bridge City Tools, you’ll know that they have a history of having futuristic-looking tools that perform as well as they look. Last year, Bridge City released an update to their HP-6 multiplane. The new HP-6FX is…
Tool: Optima Chisel Plane Shop Now Manufacturer: Blue Spruce Toolworks MSRP: $119.99 It goes without saying that a chisel is a staple in almost any shop. However, there are some operations where you really need a hybrid—something between a chisel and a plane. Enter, the chisel plane. Many manufacturers have produced these goofy planes throughout…
This saw till is a great way to keep your saws organized, protected, and close at hand. Project #2405 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 3 Days • Cost: $150 There is a debate among hand tool woodworkers about saw tills. Officially, there haven’t been any historical accounts of a saw till in an old-time…
Tool: Assorted Backsaws Shop Now Manufacturer: Blue Spruce Toolworks MSRP: $109-$329 A couple of years back, I introduced our readers to Jared Greene, a saw maker from South Carolina. In the time since, Jared’s talents have been recognized by the folks at Blue Spruce Toolworks, and during Handworks 2023, they released their new line of…
Tool: Big Eye Rip Fence Shop Now Manufacturer: Harvey Woodworking MSRP: $1249+ There are times when there is a product released that I think really met the mark. One of those is the Harvey Big Eye Rip Fence. For years, there hasn’t been a quality aftermarket fence available. Now, I think there is, as the…
Danielle Lowery
Tool: P2 Laser Shop Now Manufacturer: xTool MSRP: $4999 If you spend any amount of time flipping through woodworking content online or on YouTube, you’ve probably been introduced to lasers, and maybe even the xTool P2. The P2 is a laser that’s just a bit larger and more powerful than other in its class. The…
Tool: Helical Cutter Head Shop Now Manufacturer: WGM ToolWorks MSRP: $340 (varies) In the last issue, you may have seen a photo of my helical cutter head for the large, vintage jointer that I’m restoring. On the hunt for more economical helical heads for “standard” sized machines, I came across a company selling quality heads…
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