AW Extra 12/12/13 – Suspended Outlet
Suspended Outlet This is one of my favorite shop upgrades.By adding this suspended outlet over my work area I always have electricity close at hand. It sure beats running an extension cord across [...]
Q & A: Do blade stiffeners and stabilizers really help?
Do Blade Stiffeners and Stabilizers Really Help? Q: I’m trying to get a super-smooth cut on my contractor’s saw. I’ve seen blade “stabilizers” for sale. Do [...]
Q & A: Why Does My Wood Have Stripes?
Why Does My Wood Have Stripes? Q: I put a clear finish on a beautiful ash table I made and found faint stripes an inch or two wide going across each board. Any ideas on what caused them [...]
AW Extra 11/14/13 – Perfectly Parallel Fence
Perfectly Parallel Fence Here’s a quick and easy way to align your tablesaw fence with your miter slot.Plane down a board until it fits into your miter slot without play. Now slide the [...]
Q & A: Why Predrill Screw Holes?
Why Predrill Screw Holes? Q: I think predrilling screw holes is a real drag, so I rarely do it. Most screws seem to work fine without all that bother. Why are you always advocating [...]
AW Extra 10/31/13 – Cool Tip for Changing Sanding Sleeves
Cool Tip for Changing Sanding Sleeves Changing the sanding sleeves on a spindle sander can be as tough as removing an old rusty bolt. Next time, try this trick: Put the drum in your freezer for [...]
Q & A: Prescription Safety Glasses
Prescription Safety Glasses Q: I hate fumbling with goggles over my prescription glasses, so I’ve given up. Don’t regular glasses protect my eyes well enough in the workshop? A: No. Normal [...]
AW Extra 10/24/13 – Rigid Routing Sled
Rigid Routing Sled A routing sled is a great help when coping the ends of rails and stiles. But I had a problem when I built my first sled. The pressure from the toggle clamp caused the [...]
AW Extra 10/17/13 – Anti-Slip Dust-Collection Table
Anti-Slip Dust-Collection Table Here’s a pair of sanding helpers that work great together. The rug pad provides a soft anti-slip surface.The Peg-Board, combined with the holes in the rug [...]
AW Extra 10/10/13 – Working Alone
Working Alone Solitary Strategies for Three-Handed Tasks By Tim Johnson One of woodworking’s major attractions is being able to say, “I built that myself.” On the surface, this [...]
Q & A: How Fast Should a Forstner Bit Spin?
How Fast Should a Forstner Bit Spin? Q: I just bought a set of Forstner bits for my drill press.The first time I used one I made more smoke than sawdust! How do I figure out the right [...]
Q & A: Can I Sharpen My Router Bit?
Can I Sharpen My Router Bit? Q: I’ve got a carbide router bit that’s caked with pitch and leaves a rough cut. Can I rescue it or should I buy a new one? A: A bit can be brought [...]
