Popular Woodworking Tool TestsRSS

Here you’ll find tool tests and reviews from the editors and writers of Popular Woodworking Magazine. Culled from woodworking articles, videos , and blogs, we put both hand tools and power tools through their paces so you’ll know which ones pass muster and which ones are better left on the shelf. Whether you want to stay up to date on the latest invention introduced to the woodworking world or are searching for the finest hand-made handplane being produced today, you’ll find it here, from a source you can trust.

New Lee Valley Carcase Saws

Cutting joinery by hand isn’t a romantic journey to the charms of bygone days. For me, it’s a way to obtain better results in less time. I got tired of fiddling with table saw setups and making test cuts. I didn’t like dealing with cuts that were sometimes great and sometimes had a ragged edge … Read more »

New Saw From Glen-Drake Toolworks

The first stroke of the saw is the most critical when hand-cutting joinery. If you can start with a smooth stroke right on the line, you’re most of the way to success. Momentum will take over, and a good saw will track in the kerf left by the first stroke. Many woodworkers struggle with this; … Read more »

Ceros: A Closer Look

The new sander from Mirka, “CEROS,” is about to change the way many woodworkers sand. This innovative tool brings the look and feel of air-driven sanding to the electric-powered user. You have to give the Ceros a closer look. Here’s a short video that demonstrates the difference in noise levels , forget your compressor sounding … Read more »

Peart's Punches for Perfect Square Holes

One of the hallmarks of Greene & Greene-style furniture is the square plug. It’s a detail that shows that the maker is willing to go the extra mile. If you’ve ever made a project with a bunch of square plugs, you know that extra mile can turn into many extra miles. There are several ways … Read more »

Planes That Make Me Say SQUEEEEE! (And They Work)

Cute as a bug’s ear , though far more useful than any insect’s tympanal organ , are the new detail rabbet planes from Veritas (the high-end, made-in-Canada house brand of Lee Valley Tools). These wee planes are machined so the sole is square to the sides, and they’re very narrow, so they’re good for laying … Read more »

Going Around in Circles – the Good Way

I work among a group of tool addicts, and I fit right in because I am one too. My tool dependency manifests itself in a couple of ways; I hoard the wrenches for routers, but the real monkey on my back is layout tools. My grandfather was a tool and die maker and one of … Read more »

Tool Review: Kreg's New Quick-change System

If case you haven’t been watching the calendar, we’re little more than a week away from Christmas. And if you’re working on projects that are the center of your holiday gift giving, you’ll need to step it up a bit. This might just be the time to switch from watching glue dry to something faster. … Read more »