The Core Hand Tools
For the cost of one large piece of machinery, you can set up a complete shop with hand tools. Here's what you need to get started.
Woodpeckers Folding Saddle Square Review
Tool: Folding Saddle Square Shop Now Manufacturer: Woodpeckers MSRP: $59.99+ Making accurate marks is one of the most fundamental tasks in a wood shop, yet it can be quite challenging to [...]
Blue Spruce Micro Square Review
Tool: Micro Squares Shop Now Manufacturer: Blue Spruce Toolworks MSRP: $64.99-$109.99 Having one or two really nice squares is essential in the shop. Being able to check parts for square, [...]
A Unique Style of Ruler to Check Out
A few months ago, while visiting the Rockler store in Cincinnati, I spotted a small ruler hanging by the checkout counter. It was promoted at a cost of around $6. I’ve always had a fondness for [...]
Kellogg Depth Gauge Review
Tool: Extra-Fancy Depth Gauge Shop Now Manufacturer: Kellogg Fine Tools MSRP: $80 Sometimes, having a simple tool is best. That doesn’t mean that your simple tool can’t be fancy, however. [...]
Tooley Park Big Compass Kit Review
Tool: Tooley Park Big Compass Kit Shop Now Manufacturer: Tooley Park MSRP: £150.00 ($201.50) A few issues ago, Popular Woodworking shared a set of scribers from a company in the UK [...]
Customary Marks
These furniture maker’s symbols are an international language. They have been used for generations because they’re easy to make and easy to understand. A board’s working face and edge are [...]
Restoring a Divider: Part 2
Tapping a New Thread When you can’t find the right thumb screw for an old tool (see Part 1 here), your best option is to drill and tap a new hole to accommodate a modern fastener. In the case …
Skunk Tool Works No. 444 am Review
Tool: No. 444 am Shop Now Manufacturer: Skunk Tool Works MSRP: $129 As a rule of thumb, if something doesn’t have multiple uses in my shop, I don’t generally keep it around. That even goes [...]
Tooley Park Scriber Review
Tool: Scriber Buy Now Manufacturer: Tooley Park MSRP: £28 20% discount on the scribers this week (ends Sat 8th Feb) with the code TPF1 at checkout! There are often times, where there’s [...]
The How & Why of Cutlists
Why you’re better off to look this gift horse in the mouth. There is a trap lurking within the pages of our magazine. It is also in most woodworking magazines, and many books. It is called the [...]
Easy-Grip Marking Gauge
Over the years I have used about every type of marking gauge made. I prefer the newer wheel gauges because they’re easy to adjust and tighten, but I think they’re hard to grip. To solve this [...]
