Battens: Just one proven method to keep you on a level playing field. The best way to keep a tabletop flat is to make it flat in the first place…

Tool: Ultra-Shear Ultimate Stack Dado 2.0 Shop Now Manufacturer: Woodpeckers MSRP: $397.57 Over the past few years, Woodpeckers’ Ultra-Shear line has become my go-to for router bits and saw blades….

Make accurate and safe crosscuts with ease – and set the stage for clever accessories Most power-tool woodworkers have at least one table saw sled. And while a sled can…

Welcome to The Splinter Report, where I gather the assorted interesting and amusing things I’ve seen in the woodworking world. This week we’re looking at getting older, fan blades, and…

Tool: 15″ Benchtop Planer with HCX Helical Cutterhead 10055 Shop Now  Manufacturer: Oliver Machinery MSRP: $1869.99 For years, bench-top planers have been capped at around 13“. Recently, though, a few…

When cutting circles on the band saw with a jig, starting the cuts tangent to the right diameter is a problem; this method simplifies it. I started with an extension…

A Rare Look Into A Chinese Tool Manufacturer. Recently, I received an invite for a rare opportunity — a chance to travel from the US to China to visit a…

Fall is the season for Amazon Prime Big Deals Days. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite woodworking deals from this year, plus a few you should avoid. Day 2…

Tool: ETSC 2 125 Random Orbit Sander Shop Now  Manufacturer: Festool MSRP: $598 (kit includes sander, 2x 4Ah batteries, charger, dust bag, edge guard, and Systainer) If you’ve been reading…

This shaping powerhouse has fallen out of favor of router tables, but in some instances, it may be the better tool in your shop. When it comes to being a…

It looks like the SawStop battle is over, at least for now. It was only a year ago when it seemed a certainty that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission…

Tool: Compass ST-1500 Sliding Table Shop Now  Manufacturer: Harvey Woodworking MSRP: $1579 There are some tools that, on the surface, appear exorbitant. Sliding tables (or sliding table saws, for that…

Welcome to The Splinter Report, where I gather the assorted interesting and amusing things I’ve seen in the woodworking world. This week we’re looking at table saw safety, a crossword…

Kreg Tools has been a leader for years in jigs related to pocket-hole joinery. Running the gamut from a small, single-hole clamp-on drill guide to elaborate bench-based and stationary systems, the…

Here’s a no-frills, adjustable block for making stopped cuts. Cut three pieces of 3/4″ plywood sized to fit your tablesaw’s rip fence. Install a T-nut in one of the side…

A table saw and a simple jig make a time-consuming task quick and easy. Woodworkers use all sorts of techniques to scoop out their chair seats. Many commonly resort to…

Tool: JWBS-18SFX 18 Inch Bandsaw 1.75HP 1PH 115V Shop Now  Manufacturer: JET MSRP: $2949.99 A bandsaw is a wonderful tool. It can make cuts that follow curves, cut joinery, size parts,…

Tool: M18­ FUEL 5″ Random Orbital Sander 2837-20 Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $229 (bare tool)  Of all of the power tools to leap cordless, sanders are one of the last…

This beauty dates from 1939. The motor hangs off the back, like a contractor’s saw, but the trunnions are bolted to the body, like a cabinet saw. The body is…

Not too big, not too small. This chest is a handy size for a basic set of tools. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the June 2009 issue of…

Tool: Versa-Fence Face Upgrade Shop Now  Manufacturer: Woodpeckers MSRP: $169.99 I think it’s a safe bet that the table saw is at the heart of most shops. Today, Sawstop saws…

Portable router tables are a great way to save space in your shop. We’re taking a look at the different options available and laying out the differences between them. Router…

Tool: Black 8″ Helical-Head Jointer JWJ-8HH-BLK Shop Now  Manufacturer: Jet MSRP: $2499.99 The company JPW (Jet, Powermatic, Wilton) has a long, rich history of offering quality, well-built power tools. (Note…

Here’s my first thoughts about that router jig that emulates a Festool Domino. Last month, I described some router jigs that enable trim routers to cut mortises like a Festool Domino. Like…

Tool: M18 FUEL 7-1/4″ Circular Saw 2834-21HD Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $499 (tool, 12ah battery and charger, framing blade, and bag) (Also available as 2834-20 bare tool) Don’t feel…

Tool: M12 FUEL Brushless 18-Gauge Compact Brad Nailer 2541-20 Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $249 (Bare Tool) I’ve been a slow converter to cordless power tools. However, with today’s advancement…

There’s not enough room in my garage shop for a tablesaw with a 52-in.-capacity rip fence. But no worries—I don’t need one! To make wide cuts, I simply install a…

I’ve been a Festool Domino fan since they came out. The ingenious tool combines a biscuit joiner’s plunge action with an oscillating router to cut precise, repeatable mortises for loose…

Tool: ALPHA HW615 Band Saw Buy Now Manufacturer: Harvey MSRP:$3,399 A band saw is an invaluable tool in the shop. In fact, I know several extraordinary woodworkers that don’t even own…

The key to good rip cuts is a good rip fence. The Biesemeyer table saw fence is so much a part of the modern shop that the name is almost…

Tool: Gen II 18V One+ HP Compact Brushless Drill/Driver (PSBDD02K2) Buy Now Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $139 (includes drill, two 1.5AH batteries, & charger) I have to confess this review is coming…

Tool: 18V Brushless Colt Palm Router Kit (GKF18V-25PL14) Buy Now Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $399 (includes router, fixed base, plunge base, L-Boxx, 4ah 18v battery, charger, misc dust attachments) There is probably…

Tool: Ultra-Shear Flat-top Blade Buy Now Manufacturer: Woodpeckers MSRP: $149+ Several issues back, I introduced our readers to a new lineup of blades from Woodpeckers. Their Ultra-Shear blades are some of…

This traditional joint ensures the only cup on your tabletop will have coffee in it. The breadboard end is a traditional device for preventing a broad panel such as a…

Tool: 12″ Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw C3612DRAQ4 Buy Now Manufacturer: Metabo HPT MSRP: $629 In my shop I have fairly high standards for a miter saw. It must be a…

Tool: 18V ONE+ HP Compact Brushless Barrel Grip Jig Saw (PSBJS01B) Buy Now Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $139 A jigsaw is a great tool for all sorts of quick cuts in the…

I needed a 1/4″ zero-clearance throat plate for cutting dados the other day, but my throat plate only had a 3/4″ slot in it. I didn’t want to interrupt my…

After sharing tips on leveling the table saw wings and aligning the blade with the miter gauge slots, I’m concluding this series with calibration advice on setting the 90-degree and…

Hand tools complement and complete work begun with power equipment. Most folks I talk with in the woodworking hobby seem to follow a similar path. They start out by emulating…

Occasionally I need to drill a hole into the end of a rail or other workpiece using the drill press. I’ve found that a metal shelf bracket makes a handy…

Discover a bit about clean, accurate boring. There are many tools in modern woodworking you can use to bore holes: powered drills (both corded and cordless), drill presses, hand-powered eggbeater…

I’ve always had bad luck with really small drill bits–if I don’t break them, I lose them. I’ve stopped buying new ones, and now clip the heads off finish nails…

In my previous post, I shared two useful tips to streamline the assembly of a SawStop cabinet saw. In this installment, I’ll focus on aligning the tabletop and the miter…

Routers — love them or hate them, there are an overwhelming amount of options available. Here’s the breakdown on how this midsized lot performs. A router is a fundamental woodworking…

My tablesaw’s top often does double duty as an assembly table. It’s a guaranteed-flat surface. When I glue or screw together a project, it won’t come out twisted. Sometimes I…

A little over a year ago, several boxes arrived in our garage, containing the parts for what would become the most expensive piece of equipment I’ve ever invested in: the…

Tool:18V Brushless Planer GH018V-26N Shop Now  Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $229 (Bare Tool) Every once in a while I’m fortunate to be struck by serendipitous situations in this job. After building…

I’m not sure if I qualify as a tool nut–machine crazy is more like it. I started out using a ShopSmith, but I now have 17 industrial-grade machines. It all…

Tool: 15-Amp 10-In. Job site Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Wheeled Stand GTS15-10Shop Now Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $649 While many woodworkers dream of the largest cabinet saw they can get their…

Tool:M18 FUEL 6-1/2″ Circular Saw 2833-20 Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $229 (Bare Tool) Milwaukee recently announced their next generation of tools and batteries at their annual Pipeline showcase. You…

How do you support an uneven piece on the drill press? Make something that’s the opposite shape, of course. After making 60 of these knobs, I realized that the directions…

I’ve had trouble making square and smooth edges on face frame parts, but this planer jig solved all my problems. It produces accurate and consistent results. For the jig’s base,…

[Updated 7/17 4pm CST] Amazon Prime Day 2024 is here, and we’re rounding up the best deals for woodworkers! Keep checking in throughout the next two days as we update…

Trimming small parts on a table saw using a miter gauge can be a little nerve wracking. In order to trim small parts safely, I mounted a handscrew to a…

About 30 years ago, my girlfriend led me to a dark, cluttered basement workshop to meet a sweet, 70-ish gem of a man: her grandfather, Hayes. He was surrounded by…

Tool: Ultra-Shear Blades Shop Now Manufacturer: Woodpeckers MSRP: $129.99+ Building upon the successful launch of Ultra-Shear router bits, Woodpeckers has released a new line of table saw blades sharing the…

We set out to compare 11 premium dado blades to help you sort out which might be right for you. Dado blade stacks, comprised of two outer blades and a…

Ease and speed versus the idealization of the past – sometimes. When Lord Acton wrote that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” he was referring to politics, but he could as easily…

Using a tablesaw to cut rabbets on the end of a board is nothing new.  If you’ve only got a couple to make, it’s hardly worth the time it takes…

In the first part of the story, I showcased my small bandsaw and discussed the basic procedure of aligning the blade over the tires and checking for drift during a…

While our new 1955 Crescent band saw was brand new on the pallet, that doesn’t mean it was in ready-to-go condition. The tires had deteriorated over the years, and we…

Tool: Scale Miter Gauge Shop Now Manufacturer: SawStop MSRP: $249 One of the universal truths of life is that the miter gauge that comes with any saw is dang-near worthless….

Ensuring your band saw’s blade runs square to the table and miter slot is crucial for accurate ripping and cross-cutting. A blade that cuts without any drift makes sawing along…

Logan is really digging the new Harvey Big Eye Rip Fence System. In this video, he walks you through the standout features he appreciates.  

Logan has finally found a band saw he considers to be adequately large — a 36-inch 1955 Crescent that was purchased as government surplus and never used. In this video,…

Sooner or later, the wooden runners of your tablesaw jigs will wear and become sloppy, resulting in inaccurate cuts. Having just replaced my kitchen floor, I’ve made new runners using…

I needed a sacrificial fence for cutting rabbets with my tablesaw. All of the designs I’d seen required drilling holes in my saw’s fence or positioning clamps strategically out of…

Tool: Big Eye Rip Fence Shop Now Manufacturer: Harvey Woodworking MSRP: $1249+ There are times when there is a product released that I think really met the mark. One of…

How to make strong mortise and tenon joints with a plunge router and a tablesaw. Imagine turning the clock back 500 years and visiting a fellow woodworker in any large…

Achieving exact thickness is really important when making splines to reinforce box corners. The splines have to fit perfectly in the saw kerfs—a few thousandths of an inch one way…

Tool: Helical Cutter Head Shop Now Manufacturer: WGM ToolWorks MSRP: $340 (varies) In the last issue, you may have seen a photo of my helical cutter head for the large,…

Machine joints that look hand-made. Imagine cutting through dovetails with pins and sockets spaced any way you like—as if they were cut by hand. Now imagine cutting them without using…

Tool: The Katz-Moses Universal No Deflection Stop Block – V2.0.1 Shop Now Manufacturer: KM Tools MSRP: $38.99 The KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle was reportedly coined by Kelly Johnson,…

Tool: M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless 1/2 in. Router Shop Now Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $349 (bare tool) Over the last decade, the tool industry has made leaps and bounds…

Tool: 18V Brushless Cordless Compact Router R860444 Shop Now Manufacturer: Ridgid MSRP: $179 (bare tool) Ridgid has been on a bit of a tear recently updating and expanding their cordless…

When sawdust got packed into the back end of my planer’s blast gate, I couldn’t close the gate all the way.  I solved this annoying problem by cutting a notch…

Tool: VRS-200 Vertical Router Sled Shop Now Manufacturer: Infinity Tools MSRP: $319 Infinity Tools, out of Florida, has been known to design and manufacture some of the highest quality tools…

Zero clearance inserts are wonderful for eliminating tear out, but unfortunately, they also eliminate dust collection. To give my collection system an opening to pull sawdust through, I cut a…

There’s no need to fear the most versatile machine in the modern shop. There are good reasons that the table saw is at the center of many shops. This machine…

Tool: 18V Brushless Jig Saw R86344 Shop Now   Manufacturer: Ridgid MSRP: $179 (bare tool) A thought occurred to me the other day — is the jigsaw the most versatile…

Turn a contractor’s tool into a precision woodworking machine. I don’t know of too many woodworking shops, whether home or professional, that don’t have a miter saw as part of…

Tool:Electric Sawmill G0960 Shop Now Manufacturer: Grizzly MSRP: $3159 As a sawmill owner, I cut lumber for a variety of outlets. Most, I cut for myself. I then dry it…

Maximize your drum sander’s potential. 1. Skip the Scrape Eliminate laborious hand scraping of dried glue: contrary to popular belief, you can take glue-ups directly to your drum sander. The…

Tool: 18V Brushless Cordless 6-1/2 in. Track Saw R48630B Shop Now   Manufacturer: Ridgid MSRP: $399 (includes saw and two 27.5″ tracks) Ridgid is the latest tool manufacturer to throw…

When crosscutting a series of short pieces from a longer board using the table saw’s miter gauge, it’s dangerous to use the rip fence as a stop. The freed pieces…

Tool: CTS Compact Table Saw Shop Now   Manufacturer: SawStop MSRP: $899 Most woodworkers are familiar now with the SawStop line of table saws and their patented safety system that…

Tool: DELTA 2 Portable Power Station Shop Now   Manufacturer: EcoFlow MSRP: $999 A while back Yoav wrote about the advantages of using a portable power station to run small…

Accurately drilling an angled hole with a hand drill is a challenge – particularly if you’re using a brad point or Forstner bit. This angled drilling guide solves the problem…

Tool: Grr-Ripper 2 Go Shop Now   Manufacturer: MicroJig MSRP: $29 MicroJig, the company behind the much acclaimed, Grr-Ripper push block, recently released a new, trimmed-down version of the very…

Crosscut sleds have been around for a long time, but few are ideal. Many are heavy and hard to store. Most develop an extra-wide saw cut in the fence and allow the blade to throw sawdust in your face. My design solves all these problems.

Vintage woodworking machinery can be a great bang for your buck.  Vintage woodworking tools have always held a certain appeal to me. Earlier this year, I was out in California…

Tool: Bear Crawl “Papa Bear” Mobile Base T28923 Shop Now   Manufacturer: Grizzly MSRP: $93.95 Being able to move heavy machinery in my tiny garage shop has been a game-changer…

For small cabinets, I prefer to use small, discreet shelf pins that I make myself. I also make sleeves for the pins to fit into. Sleeves help hold the pins…

Tool: Thickness Planer 10044 Shop Now   Manufacturer: Oliver MSRP: $999.99 Oliver Machinery, a name recognized as a manufacturer of vintage woodworking machinery, has returned to the marketplace. Oliver, while…

Tool: M18 Track Saw Kit 2831-21 Shop Now   Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $639 (includes saw, 6ah battery, charger, and Packout XL toolbox) Few tools in recent memory have been as…

Last week the PW staff had the opportunity to spend an evening at Festool USA’s HQ in Lebanon, Indiana. In addition to learning some fun facts (the design is nearly…

Demystifying volts, amp hours, and types of cordless tool motors. More and more, cordless tools are becoming everyday fixtures in the woodworking shop. The most common of these is the…

Can you assume that a board is straight, just because you’ve jointed its full length? Nope. It can still be as bowed as ever. You really should check it before…

It’s just like sawing a cove molding, but now the wood is round. “You’re kidding me!” That’s everybody’s first reaction when I tell them that I’ve figured out a way…

The limited crosscut capacity of my cabinet saw made it a challenge to cut wider boards, so I designed an infeed table that hangs on a wall when not in…

Let’s face it: running a twisted board through the planer doesn’t make it flat. The board will still be twisted when it comes out. The trick is to use a…

Tool: Whiteside Plus by Dimar Industrial Saw Blades Shop Now   Manufacturer: Whiteside MSRP: $76+ I had the opportunity to spin the newest blades from Whiteside Plus by Dimar. I…

Tool: 9 1/4″ 36V Track Saw XSH10 Shop Now   Manufacturer: Makita MSRP: $542 As the owner of a sawmill, I have a variety of sizes of lumber that I…

If someone walked up to me and told me I wasn’t a very smart man, I’d have a hard time arguing with them. There are often times when I do…

I have a hard time throwing things away, such as these chucks from a couple of worn-out drills. To put them back into service, I bought a 3 ft. long,…

Welcome to the 2022 edition of the Popular Woodworking gift guide! This year we’re featuring a ton of great gifts for woodworkers, no matter what skill level they’re at. Know…

Flying Sawdust Last summer, due to the heat, I covered my portable saw with a canvas tarp and retreated to the cooler air inside my basement shop.  For two months,…

This versatile hand tool should be every woodworker’s first plane purchase. As a “professional woodworker” I often get asked what’s the best bang-for-the-buck tool by people getting into this craft….

Tool: R97801 18V SubCompact Drill/Impact Kit Shop Now   Manufacturer: Rigid MSRP: $199 (includes two 2.0Ah batteries, charger, carrying case) The tool Rigid’s lineup reinvention continues with the R97801 18V…

Tool: PCL401 18v ONE+ Cordless 1/4 Sheet Sander Kit Shop Now   Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $109.97 (includes 4.0Ah battery, charger, 3 sheet of sandpaper) The tool Ryobi’s new 18v ONE+…

Even with a zero-clearance throat plate in my tablesaw, a thin cut-off slips through now and then. These pieces can clog a vacuum hose or damage the blades of a…

Tool: 8240 Cordless Rotary Tool Shop Now   Manufacturer: Dremel MSRP: $99 (includes 2.0Ah battery, charger, storage case, and several accessories) Dremel has been a whirlwind recently, releasing several new…

Shop-made hardware and precision joinery are the foundation for this Danish-inspired folding seat. Weave the seat: Paper Cord Weaving Download: LoungeChairPlans PDF Danish furniture is making a comeback these days….

Not everyone’s ready to tackle hand-cut dovetails. Here’s how to get the most from your router and jig. Dovetails are prime joints. Long history, great appearance and cachet. Used in…

Resawing can be a wild ride. You never know exactly what’s going to happen when you cut open a board! Just getting your tablesaw or bandsaw to work right can…

In Conversation with Plane Maker Karl Holtey. Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. In 2015, acclaimed hand plane maker Karl Holtey…

Tool: 18V ONE+™ 5″ Random Orbit Sander PCL406B Shop Now   Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $59 (bare tool with 3 sheets of sandpaper) Usually, the first steps of reviewing a tool…

We take a look at six drills to see what sort of progress these tools have made in the past decade. There was a point in time when drill comparisons…

Tool: M12 Fuel Brushless Drill/Driver 2503-22 Shop Now   Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $169.99 (Includes charger, hard case, 2ah battery, and 4ah battery) We don’t tend to perform drop tests on…

Tool: 12v Cordless 3/8 Drill/Driver Shop Now   Manufacturer: Hercules MSRP: $39.99 (bare tool) + $34.99 (charger) + $24.99 (battery) The Hercules 3/8 12v drill isn’t the flashiest, most high-tech…

Tool: 12v Brushless Drill Shop Now   Manufacturer: Hoto MSRP: $149.99 (Includes internal 2 ah battery, charging cable, 8 drill bits, and 10 screwdriver bits) I’m sure many of you out…

Tool: 12v MAX Brushless Drill/Driver DCD701F2 Shop Now   Manufacturer: DeWalt MSRP: $149 (Includes charger, case, and two 2ah batteries) I’ve written before about tools being unobtrusive during use, and the…

Tool: 12v Brushless Drill/Driver GSR12V-300B22 Shop Now   Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $129 (Includes charger, case, and two 2ah batteries) Shopping for a drill is often an exercise in compromise. You…

Hoisting heavy sheets of plywood and MDF onto my tablesaw is not my idea of workshop fun. That’s why I devised this pivoting rack— and began storing my sheet stock…

I designed an outfeed support for my table saw that doesn’t take up any floor space. It’s made of plywood, hardwood and a store-bought roller. Three main design features enable…

Tool: 18V ONE+™ HP Airstrike Brad Nailer Shop Now   Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $189 (bare tool) Most woodworkers want their tools to be as unobtrusive as possible during use. Ideally,…

Ripping very narrow stock on the table saw can be a bit dicey because your push stick runs so close to the blade. If you’re not careful to keep it…

Runaway Router My first router, a 1968 Stanley, was a heavy, single-speed machine. I remember it well because of what happened the very first time I used it. I chucked…

Tool: PowerStack Battery Shop Now   Manufacturer: DeWalt MSRP: $119 The staff here at Popular Woodworking just wrapped up a 12v drill competition that will appear in the August issue…

Have questions about the features of your drill? We have answers. Check out the short video below, then keep on scrolling for more detailed breakdowns of the clutch and gear…

This workshop tip saves both time and money. Make your table saw inserts two-sided to pull double duty on projects.

Moby Dick, the Great White Planer The newspaper advertisement was brief: “PLANER, 24″, $450. Call.” My friend Charles Poth and I had been looking for just such a machine. We…

Like most planers, mine snipes, overcutting a bit at both ends of a board. Sometimes I’ll simply cut off the sniped areas if I can afford the extra board length….

One of the most exciting new tools that my students and I got to try and use this year was the 6 Piece Bushcraft Survival Auger Kit with T-Handle and…

I use lots of wedges in my shop, sometimes as disposable clamp pads for tricky glue-ups or for general shimming chores. Sometimes they’re incorporated into a project, as when making…

Lasers are popping up on all sorts of tools. Are they useful – or just clever marketing? We investigate. Editor’s note: David asked this question way back in 2005, but…

A Forstner Bit can drill holes other bits only dream about. Forstner-style bits can go where no other drill bits dare. The reason is simple: A Forstner bit is rim-guided…

What power tools do you need to start your woodworking journey? “What tools should I buy first?” is one of the more common questions I get from friends who are…

Hey! In our last episode of I Can Do That, we introduced the table saw. This time, we’re covering three table saw basics that will take your woodworking to the…

Editor’s note: Special thanks to reader Bob L, who pointed out that putting a rare earth magnet that close to a moving saw blade can have catastrophic consequences. If you…

Tool: PM2820EVS Drill Press Shop Now  Manufacturer: Powermatic MSRP: $2709.99 The PM2820EVS drill press from Powermatic incorporates a very interesting motor design, combining an electronically controlled variable speed motor paired…

Accurately set up for and safely make these versatile curved shapes. It was the 1970s. I was a young, lost woodworker out cruising the West Coast in search of inspiration,…

While preparing to sand some cutting boards for customers, I decided to do the sanding outside after noticing how blissful the weather was. After all, why have dust in the…

How does Dremel’s newest rotary tool stack up to one from 30 years ago? Tool: 8260 Cordless Smart Rotary Tool Shop Now  Manufacturer: Dremel MSRP: $169 (includes tool, battery, and…

Tool: GEX18V-5N Brushless 5 In. Random Orbit Sander Shop Now  Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $129 (bare tool) Bosch recently introduced new 12V and 18V brushless cordless random orbit sanders. In addition…

I re-sharpen disposable planer blades a few times, using a shop-made jig, before tossing the blades away. I use a set of three diamond hones to sharpen the blade at…

I recently thought I’d outfit my portable “benchtop” table saw with a zero-clearance throat plate to reduce tear-out and to prevent narrow strips from falling down through the wide throat…

Not Your Average Rotary Tool As a woodworker and self-proclaimed tool connoisseur, I have found a big difference between the “consumer” and “professional” grade tools. Recently, I had the chance…

Tool: MP160 Jointer Planer Shop Now  Manufacturer: Wood-Mizer MSRP: $4995 Wood-Mizer has started developing standalone woodworking machinery. This combo jointer/planer caught our eye because it does both operations without flipping…

My portable planer uses disposable blades. When the first set got dull, I didn’t throw them away–I turned the two blades into very useful drawknives.  I wrapped duct tape around…

Tool: 12V Max Brushless 2-Speed Screwdriver Shop Now Brushless 3/8″ Hammer Drill/Driver Shop Now  Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $100 (Screwdriver with battery) $120 (hammer drill/driver with battery) In the shop, unless…

Welcome to What Really Grinds My Chisels, an occasional feature where the Popular Woodworking editors tackle subjects they feel passionate about. I recently received a press release from a large…

As it often happens with my ideas, the moment I start thinking about some type of innovation or another I gravitate to my sketchbook and try to evolve it on…

As I mentioned last week, a common way to flatten a board that is too wide for your jointer is to build a planing sled and then pass the board…

Like most of the woodworking community, I spent more time in my shop during 2020 and 2021. Over the last two years, I used a variety of tools and gained…

Most woodworkers are homeowners, but not all homeowners are woodworkers. This article is more for the latter group; an introduction of sorts to the essential tools every homeowner should have…

As woodworkers, we rely on electricity to alleviate some of the heavy lifting burdens of milling, sawing, and drilling. Many of us use these machines quite often and I believe…

For a long time, there was resistance from many in the woodworking community to battery-powered tools. Going “unplugged” usually meant reduced power, frequent charging, and the inevitable battery failure before…

I own three bandsaws. Two are hand-me-downs from neighbors and the most recent arrival is a brand new Grizzly 17”  that I bought. The Grizzly is a great machine but…

The fundamental rules (and devices) to keep you clear of danger at your saw. I once heard that 90 percent (or more) of all table saw accidents involve some type…

A good substitute for traditional methods, this joint is strong and easy to make. A couple of hundred years ago, most drawers were assembled with hand-cut dovetail joints – half-blinds…

After milling the parts for the shelf’s frame, rabbiting them, and cutting the miters, (read the first part of this story here) I connected them to the legs with screws….

Tool: Ultra-Saw US20V Shop Now  Manufacturer: Dremel MSRP: $179.00 I recently had the opportunity to test Dremel’s first cordless multi-saw, the Ultra-Saw US20V. This type of compact saw is becoming…

Six years ago my neighbor and friend Dave gifted me his vintage Sears Craftsman 12” band saw. I love this machine and use it quite a lot. Sears used to…

Grab your torch and pitchfork; the hand-tool guy has a table saw. Editor’s note: this article appeared in the November 2016 issue of Popular Woodworking People react with shock and…

Here’s a hi-tech way to set your tablesaw’s miter gauge to within 1/10 of 1° of any angle. It really works well for cutting picture-frame miters. The key is to…

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…

Methods that allow wood to move with the seasons. About a decade ago, I made a drop-leaf table for a book of projects. When it came time to mount the…

Jointing with a Planer I across some wonderful oak boards for a small table I wanted to build. The problem was the boards were too wide for my jointer, and…

  Harvey Tools recently released a new line of shop tools aimed at the hobbyist under the Ambassador name. We got a chance to put both the 14“ bandsaw and…

Tool: Installation Drill/Driver Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $179 (bare tool) I use mostly 12-volt cordless tools in my shop. Modern technology helps you do a lot with lighter, more compact tools….

While we lust for a 20″ monster, most woodworkers would be just as well off (or better) with a ‘suitcase planer.’ When I started woodworking in about 1993, I wanted…

Tool: Ryobi One+ HP Brushless Series Shop Now  Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $99+ I recently had the chance to sample the new line of ONE+ HP Brushless Power Tools from RYOBI. Like most…

When you’ve been around for 100 years, you’re allowed to celebrate yourself, and that’s just what Powermatic is doing. Throughout 2021 they will be releasing seven tools to commemorate their…

Tool: TID 18 impact driver Buy Now T18+3-E drill/driver (non swappable collet) Buy Now Combo Pack Buy Now  Manufacturer: Festool MSRP: Starting at $199 for bare tool Premium Impact Driver and Drill Editor’s note:…

Tool: Laser Drill Press  Buy Now Manufacturer: Delta Delta’s 18″ drill press is specifically designed for woodworking. The difference is in the table: It’s a big improvement over the tables designed for…

Tool: Glide Miter Saw Buy Now Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $649 That’s right—glider, not slider. This innovative miter saw from Bosch has the same huge capacity as a 12″ slider—without the rails….

Tool: Dremel 4000 Buy Now Manufacturer: Dremel MSRP: $149 The Dremel 4000 was designed to be easier to use and longer lasting than previous models. It’s recommended for carving, engraving, routing, grinding,…

Tool: MakerX Ultimate Combo Kit Buy Now Manufacturer: Worx MSRP: $229.99 Battery technology comes to a few of the craftier tools in a woodworker’s kit. Worx has paired a 20-volt battery/power…

Did you know that woodchips can tuck themselves under a planer’s blade? Well, as crazy as it sounds it really happen to me last week.  We have a great thickener…

I have read with envy about spacious shops with room for many dedicated stationary tools. But alas, my shop is confined to a 200 sq. ft. corner of my basement….

Tool: ZEROPLAY Miter Bars [Buy Now]  Manufacturer: Microjig MSRP: $35.95 A crosscut sled is one of the handiest jigs you can build for your tablesaw, but making the runners is fussy work….

In an effort to inform our readers about the latest and greatest, Popular Woodworking has surveyed the rich landscape of tools and equipment available and made our picks of woodworking…

Tool: Powermatic 15HH Manufacturer: Powermatic MSRP: $3199 A powerful planer gets the job done much faster. Remember the ’65 Ford Thunderbolt? The ’67 Olds Cutlass? The ’69 Pontiac GTO? They’re classic muscle…

Super-Accurate Tablesaw Tilt Tablesaw tilt gauges are inherently inaccurate. After all, the degree lines are usually at least 1/16″ wide. I use a digital angle gauge instead, which is accurate…

Sponsored by SawStop When I think of SawStop, I think immediately of the technology behind the brand and the saw. The fact that the blade stops with 1/10 of a…

These modern machines are for more than just the space-challenged woodworker. I’ve got a nice woodshop, but it wasn’t always that way. I started with a contractor saw in the…

Make your ‘MegaSled’ into a shop workhorse.  Previously, we built the MegaSled – a table saw sled designed to accommodate a series of joinery jigs. The jigs and attachments I…

Too many times we look for complex solutions when the answer is right in front of our eyes. This is an old trick, but a good one – drilling pilot…

Tool: Smart-Bit Depth Setter Manufacturer: Starborn MSRP: $18.99 Starborn Industries has set the benchmark for driving screws. The Smart-Bit Depth Setter allows you to sink screws to a consistent depth every time….

When you slide open a small drawer that fits nice and tight, it’s a pleasure to see well-crafted joints.  Small, handcut dovetails answer well, but sawing and chopping them requires…

Tool: Table Saw Setup and Sanding Disks Manufacturer: Infinity MSRP: $29.90 This tablesaw set-up/sanding kit from Infinity really hits the mark for me. As I’ve noted in the past, a tool with…

This article originally appeared in the June 2010 issue of Popular Woodworking. The dream of a “barn find” looms large in most people’s imagination, whether it’s 1,000 board feet of…

Tool: Powermatic PM1000 Manufacturer: Powermatic MSRP: $2400 (50″ fence) This saw packs a professional punch for your home workshop. Powermatic’s PM1000 table saw isn’t over-shadowed by its big brother, the PM2000,…

  Tool: 18-900L Drill Press Manufacturer: Delta MSRP: $1499 In many woodworking shops, the drill press might be the most under-utilized piece of machinery in the shop. Many common drill presses need…

Tool: 12-1/2″ Variable Speed MIDI-LATHE Manufacturer: Delta MSRP: $659.99 If you need a lathe in a small shop and don’t have the room or just don’t want to wrestle with a full-size…

Whenever I make a right angle cut on my tablesaw, I use a sled. If I’m cutting large panels, I use a big crosscut sled. I pull out a smaller…

Tool: Super General T.K. Manufacturer: Infinity Price: $109 Do you avoid changing blades on your tablesaw? Do you feel like your tablesaw doesn’t have enough power? Is your current blade coated…

Think of it almost like a DIY track saw. Crosscutting a full sheet of plywood on a tablesaw is pretty difficult, particularly when you don’t have any help. I use…

I had to crosscut narrow strips to make a cutting board. The boards were too wide for my miter saw, so I decided to use my tablesaw’s crosscut sled. I…

Face jointing boards requires some safety precautions to keep your fingers out of the danger zone. I made this simple push plate with a cleat on the back end. Two handles…

A storage tray is a useful addition to any stationary tool. After adding this one to my tablesaw, I don’t know how I ever did without it. I made the…

The handles on hand-wheels are uncomfortable. The one on my lathe, for example, was difficult to turn when drilling into hard wood with a Forstner bit. Using a chunk of…

Store and use key benchtop tools on a single mobile unit. Innovative features such as a lever-operated mobile base and dual-height pullout tool platforms give this bench a five-star rating,…

Hose-Free Nailer Editor’s Pick Tool: Ryobi P320 Airstrike 18 Volt One+ Manufacturer: Ryobi Price: $99 (bare tool) No hose? No compressor? Now that’s an idea I can get behind. The new…

Trimming miters used to drive me crazy, because I couldn’t hold the piece I was trimming securely enough against the miter gauge. The piece would always slide away from the…

A zero-clearance throat plate is a must-have for every tablesaw. It prevents small offcuts and thin strips from dropping down alongside the blade which is really annoying. Some manufacturers sell…

From the Editors and Contributors In an effort to inform our readers about the latest and greatest, Popular Woodworking has surveyed the rich landscape of tools and equipment available and…

Pegboard isn’t just for walls—it’s perfect for organizing stuff wherever you need to store it. I’ve bolted a piece of perfboard to the end of my table saw’s extension table…

Tool: Jobsite Saw Pro Manufacturer: SawStop Price: $1400 SawStop released the first version of their portable table saw about five years ago. Packaging their flesh-sensing blade brake technology in a…

While working on my pegboard cabinet and trying to integrate into it most of my frequently used tools I noticed that one of them, a Woodriver spokeshave, didn’t have a…

After years of fumbling with clamps, I decided there must be a better way to attach featherboards to my tablesaw’s rip fence. Two T-tracks screwed to the fence allow me…

Get more out of your table saw with these four handy jigs. These simple jigs take advantage of the table saw’s speed and accuracy without tempting you to perform risky operations.

Choose complementary blades for perfect results. In the dark ages of woodworking, before carbide, you never used the same blade for ripping and crosscutting. Cutting plywood required yet another blade….

Make your brad nailer safer and easier to use with these tips. From avoiding the blowout curse to making your nailer last longer, it’s surprisingly simple to get more out of this tool.

Super-tune your table saw for absolutely straight, smooth and burn-free cuts.

Shooting boards are typically pretty simple. A bench will have several variations nearby, but there are plenty of times when I have wanted a few more boards. This is where the Veritas Shooting Board shines.

The DCW210 5-inch random orbit sander is the latest woodworking tool in DeWalt’s 20-volt MAX cordless line. We gave it a try.

A storage tray is a useful addition to any stationary tool. Add a table saw tray to your shop to keep tools handy, yet out of the way.

Resawing on the bandsaw allows you to cut logs into lumber, make thin boards from thick and cut your own veneer. Here’s how.

A collection of our favorite router tricks recently unearthed from our archives. A router is truly one of the most versatile tools in the shop. Enjoy!

Cordless Drill Mortise Mill Editor’s note: This product no longer appears to be available. This mortising jig is small, but don’t be fooled by its toy-like appearance; the JessEm Pocket…

The The BT&C Planing Stop is a small toothed plate, intended to serve as a buffer stop when planing a board on the bench.

I was pretty impressed with the Makita cordless track saw when I reviewed it back in June, but there’s one thing that has been bugging me recently. The hose. The…

Leigh — known for accurate and clever joinery jigs — has a new box-joint jig for routers (for handheld use or on router tables). It’s designed to create 1⁄2″- and 3⁄4″-wide box joints and looks similar to other jigs, so I was ready to be under whelmed until I set it up and started checking out the features.

Tool: 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Compact Router Kit Manufacturer: Makita Price: $350, buy it here Trim routers are quickly becoming a standard item in cordless lineups. It’s hard to beat the…

Upgrading tools is a really touchy subject. As a hobbyist/enthusiast there’s a fine balance between needs, desires, and budget. I can remember those nagging mantras…“buy once, cry once,” “buy your…

Pocket holes are my go-to for quick and easy assemblies – shop furniture and jigs made out of plywood – as well as making face frames and cabinets.Castle’s newest pocket…

Here’s a tip on how to cut curves on the bandsaw. When cutting a circle or an odd shape from a square piece of lumber on a bandsaw, you’ve probably…

I recently received a press release that Powermatic brought a new version of their popular 3520 lathe to market.  The new version, “C”, is the 4th generation of the 3520 lathe…

This past week I’ve been out in the Popular Woodworking shop, doing a bit of maintenance. Many of our machines were bought many years ago – while they’ve been maintained…

First a disclaimer: This is a recollection of impressions following the installation and test running of our new 6” Grizzly spiral Cutterhead jointer, that we bought at full price this…

From time to time, Festool offers their reconditioned tools in a big sale, which presents an opportunity to purchase their tools at a decent price point. Several of my tools from…

Compact & Feature-Packed DeWalt introduced their new 20 Volt Max compact impact driver last year, and I absolutely loved it. Now they’ve improved it by switching to a brushless motor,…

Track saws are a favorite among on-site installers and carpenters, for breaking down sheet goods, trimming floors and other operations common on the job. Their portability and accuracy make them a…

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is currently considering requiring “active injury mitigation” (AIM) technology on all table saws that, writes the Power Tool Institute (PTI) in a press…

As with most things in woodworking, there’s more than one way to fit doors and drawers. Nothing beats a handplane for precision, flexibility, and speed when you have a solid…

There are many ways to cut this popular edge-to-edge joint. by Bill Hylton from the April 2005 issue A tongue-and-groove joint is an edge joint with a mechanical interlock. The…

This legendary planemaker’s career has been dedicated to innovation. There is no straight path between a childhood spent in a camp for displaced persons in Germany’s Black Forest at the…

In the video below, Doug Dale discusses the evolution of jointer knives, and shows how he changes the segmented cutters on a helical head.If you’ve ever been to the Marc…

Featherboard Ripping Stop I’m always on the lookout for different ways to use the things I already own. I found that I didn’t need to buy or make an extra…

Lightweight but solid, this two-knife model is a decent starter machine. Web site: grizzly.com Blog: See the inside of a straight-knife planer and a helical-head version. Blog: Get the skinny on spiral…

A Low-angle bench planes allow you to change the blade’s effective cutting angle to suit specific tasks. Because the bevel points up on a low-angle plane, the effective cutting angle can be varied based on the iron’s bevel angle.

Turn on the sander and exert just enough pressure to keep the pad in place.The rust should be gone in a matter of seconds.

Use a bandsaw, not a tablesaw. It’s not good shop practice to rip a board less than 12 in. long on the tablesaw because it may kick back at you.

Q: My tablesaw screeches like nails on a chalkboard whenever I adjust the blade. WD-40 made the noise go away for a while, but now it’s back. What do I…

Router Table Box Joints Making box joints on a router table is a time-saving alternative to making them on the tablesaw. You don’t have to fuss with a dado set,…

Question & Answer Is your miter saw square? Q. I want to adjust my miter saw so it’s dead-on accurate, but I don’t have a fancy square. How do I…

Black & Decker’s new 8V MAX* Impact Screwdriver Black & Decker’s new 8V Max* Impact Screwdriver will make a powerful impact this fall, boasting up to 10X more speed+ and…

Tablesaw Tool Drawer It seems like I’m always misplacing my push sticks, blade wrench, featherboards and other small tablesaw accessories.To solve my problem I added a shallow drawer under the…

Make Quartersawn Picture Frame Stock If you’ve got some spare 8/4 (2-in.) lumber lying around your shop, it’s easy to transform it into stunning quartersawn wood for your picture frame….

The Ultimate Shop-Built Crosscut Sled It's safe, it slides like a dream and replaceable throat plate makes it last forever! By Travis Larson A good tablesaw sled makes perfect crosscuts…

Coved Doors on the Tablesaw Make beautiful raised panels without a router table and expensive bits. By George Vondriska The tool of choice for most small-shop woodworkers who want to make raised panels…

Tablesaw Tenoning Jig A precision joint-making tool for less than $30. By Frank Gregg A tablesaw tenoning jig is an essential tool for most woodworkers. But commercial units cost $100…

Redesigned Planer Delta has just introduced a new 13″ planer, the 22-590. It replaces the 22-580, a model that received top marks in our planer tool test back in 2003….

How Can I Avoid Kickback When Resawing on a Tablesaw?   Q: Is there a splitter that can be used for resawing on a tablesaw? Mine is hooked onto the…

Should I Run My Tablesaw on 120 or 240 Volts?   Q: My contractor’s saw pops a breaker every once in a while, and that’s driving me crazy. I noticed…

Double-Duty Roller Tables I like getting double duty out of my tools whenever possible. So, when I decided to build outfeed tables for my miter saw and tablesaw, I worked…

Tablesaw Tapering Jig I recently built a pair of garden benches that required several identical parts that were tapered on both sides.To make the job easier, I built this jig…

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….

Tablesaw Storage Cabinet All of your tablesaw accessories close at hand By Eric Smith The last time I could find them all, I counted 18 accessories for my tablesaw. Dado…

Woodworking in America is just a week away, so it’s best if you register for the conference (great woodworking information), or purchase your ticket for the marketplace (great tools) right…

This week I was in the shop working on an upcoming magazine article. On the case back there are two dados that locate and hold the drawer dividers of the…

Super-Size Disc Sander A 15″ disc sander like the new 15-205 from General International, is a great addition to any shop if you’ve got room on the floor and in…

Q & A: Silencing a Squeaky Tablesaw Q: My tablesaw screeches like nails on a chalkboard whenever I adjust the blade.WD-40 made the noise go away for a while, but…

Q & A: Planer or Small Drum Sander? Q: I’d like to try using more rough lumber, but I’m not sure whether to choose a portable planer at around four…

Q & A: What’s the Deal with Combination Planer/Molders? Q: I’m shopping for a planer, and am also planning to do a bunch of trim work in my house: crown…

Q & A: One Step at a Time Q: ARGH! I cut all the parts according to the cutting list and my face-frame came up short! I worked out the…

Q: I’ve got an old plane that my grandfather left me. I’d like to use it, but its cutting iron is really rusty. Do I need to buy a new…

Q & A: Sawing Aluminum Q: Can I cut aluminum with my chop saw? A: Yes.Most carbide blades work fine for occasionally cutting aluminum, but we recommend using a special,…

Q & A: Slot Cutter vs. Plate Joiner Q: I saw an ad for a slot-cutting router bit. I have a router and buying the bit instead of a plate…

Woodworking is not a difficult endeavor. It’s not, really. It is woodworkers that make it difficult. Over-thinking and sweating the small stuff causes us to pause, or even stop. It’s…

How to Buy a Bandsaw This workhorse is one of the four basic stationary tools in most shops, and can greatly expand the kinds of projects you can build.  …

Joint Rough Lumber with a Planer I came across some wonderful oak boards for a small table I wanted to build. The problem was the boards were too wide for…

My recent dining table project build allowed me the perfect opportunity to dig into my stash of exceptionally wide – and wonderful – air-dried black walnut lumber. In that pile…

I don’t generally think of power tools in the same reverential, (perhaps) overly romanticized tones that come to mind when I consider hand tools. I can stare at my grandfather’s…