Techniques

Mortise Centering Jig With this jig I can rout mortises exactly centered on the workpiece— no measurement or layout necessary. First I drilled and tapped two holes in my router base plate [...]

A gentlemen, not much older that I (that means elderly), wrote me this week after seeing my American Woodworker SketchUp blog. He asked me if there was a good application out there for drawing in [...]

Build the infamous and seemingly impossible Chinese stool with Bob Lang, in a special weekend class at the Popular Woodworking Magazine Shop. Once in a great while, we invite readers into the [...]

Collapsible Work Table This shop solution was submitted by Michael and Christine Powell, Bellingham, Wash. Every shop needs a work table or two. In cramped shops, it’s great to have the [...]

Plywood Carrier You don't have to be built like an orangutan to carry plywood! This simple carrier extends your reach and turns an awkward job into an easy one. It's quick to build out of [...]

Extra-Large Bandsaw Fence By Jack Phillips I never throw anything away. Some day, I tell myself, the stuff in that neglected pile of junk will come in handy. I was right! I resurrected my old [...]

Chad’s Sawhorse Workbench Stacking sawhorses serve a dual purpose. By Chad Stanton I usually need a pair of sawhorses when I’m working outside the shop, but sometimes I also need a [...]

A friend wrote me an email asking how to trim a conference table with the Follow-Me tool. The shape of his table was more than your usual basic shape. So I thought this would be a good teaching [...]

Trying to teach design is like trying to push water uphill – or so I’m told. Despite the warnings and eyerolls from some fellow woodworking instructors, I’ve tried to build in a design component [...]

That’s me in the above photo, practicing my woodturning basics with the help of a friend and his lathe. It’s amazing how much you can learn about turning in just a few hours. [...]

Q & A: Best Grinder for Woodworking Q: I’d like to buy a grinder that will handle a variety of maintenance projects and also be good for sharpening my woodworking tools.What should I [...]

Thickness Gauge I use this handy device constantly to check and compare thickness on a variety of projects. Slide the gauge over the edge of the stock, keeping the graduated edge flat on the [...]