5 Mistakes Beginners Make with Block Planes
When I teach beginners, one of the most common phrases I hear is, “I cannot get this (insert tool name) to work. What’s wrong?” They hand the tool to me and the fun begins. Though block planes [...]
Best Woodworking Deals on Prime Day 2021
Here’s a roundup of some of the best Prime Day deals on woodworking tools. These prices are only good through the end of the day, so shop now! Up to 20% off Akro-Mils products Up to 50% off [...]
Replace A Missing Clamp Pad, Part 2
Last week I showed how to source and install a missing swivel pad over the ball of a clamp’s screw. That kind of pad only works in a ball and socket situation, so what can we do with clamps that [...]
Replace A Missing Clamp Pad, Part 1
I recently was gifted a few old bar clamps from a fellow member who belongs to our local FreeCycle group. FreeCycle.org is an internet-based group that promotes the free exchange of items and [...]
Veritas Side-Clamping Honing Guide Review
Tool: Veritas Side-Clamping Honing Guide Shop Now Manufacturer: Veritas MSRP: $39.50 When I saw that Lee Valley has release two new honing guides last month I knew that I have to give [...]
Porter-Cable 6-Amp Power Planer
Tool: 6-Amp Power Planer Shop Now Manufacturer: Porter-Cable MSRP: $69.98 Say you’ve got a huge, uneven roughsawn board. It would make a fantastic top for a coffee table, but how are you [...]
Set ‘Em Up, Knock ‘Em Down
Tool: Sawhorse Supports Shop Now Manufacturer: Rockler MSRP: $17.99 An extra work surface is always handy in the shop. We’ve all thrown a large piece of plywood down on a couple of [...]
Protect Your Chisel and Gouge Edges With Heat Shrink Tubing
While most newly-purchased chisels are supplied together with their integral guard, any vintage tool, mortise chisels, corner chisels, and all gouges do not come with such protection. A few [...]
Extreme Block Planes
Tool: Nx60 Shop Now and DX60 Shop Now Manufacturer: Lee Valley MSRP: $209+ These low-angle block planes from Lee Valley are beautiful marriages of fine art and sound engineering. [...]
A Good, Affordable Sanding block
One of the most mundane – but important- tools in our toolbox is a sanding block. We, and I include here my students in grades four to twelve, are using our sanding blocks during the last [...]
Lee Valley Knife Hinges
Tool: Knife Hinges Shop Now Manufacturer: Lee Valley MSRP: $24.90+ The first time I installed knife hinges I did so with an inexpensive pair, thinking it would be a good way to learn [...]
Czeck Edge Carbide Birdcage Awl
Tool: Carbide Birdcage Awl Shop Now Manufacturer: Czeck Edge MSRP: $74 The first thing you notice when you grasp a Czeck Edge Hand Tool birdcage awl is how well it fits in the hand. [...]
