Tile Board Drawing Pad

          While working on a project, I used to draw sketches, keep notes and record shopping lists on writing pads. Unfortunately, they always got lost.  ...

Shop Plan Protector

          I like to work from plans, but paper is hard to protect in a workshop. My plans often become so torn, crumpled and soiled that...

Handy Blast Gate Lever

Reaching down to open and close my tablesaw's blast gate was a real pain until I built this pivoting mechanical arm from pieces of 1/8-in. flat steel and 3/8-in. rod....

Using Melamine

Melamine is the professional cabinetmaker’s best friend. Build a cabinet with it and you have a complete, durable interior that requires no sanding (yes!) and no finishing (oh, yeah!). Pros...

MDF vs. Particleboard

How two versatile woods can be both a blessing and a curse. by Karen Nakamura Cheap, plain and definitely not wood. That’s how many woodworkers describe particleboard and MDF (medium-density...

Economical Inserts

Commercially made zero-clearance inserts cost about $20. I make my own for less than $3 from 3/8-in.-thick polyethylene cutting boards, which are flat and rigid. A 14-in. x 17-in. cutting...

Hide-Away Bin for Short Stock

I don't like to throw wood away; offcuts and other short boards work great for small projects, jigs and shop fixtures. But until I built this mobile cart, my shop...

Tablesawn Circles

It's easy to cut perfectly round tabletops of almost any size on your tablesaw. All it takes is a simple jig (Fig A) and careful setup. With this method, you...

Surefire Marking Gauge

Screwing plywood pieces with drywall-type screws is quick and easy, but drilling holes in a straight line can be tricky. That’s why I made this handy little marking gauge that...

Instant Wheel Dressing

I use my grinder almost exclusively for beveling my chisels, so I like to keep the tool rest set to produce the 25-degree bevel I prefer. Having to reset the...

Versatile Router-Bit Storage

When it comes to router-bit storage, I could write a book. I've tried everything, but I think my latest design is a keeper. I prefer to keep my bits protected...