Last week, I learned how to use a CNC router. As a bit of an old-time computer geek (I was an early adopter on both the Commodore 64 and Atari 800s - eight-bit computers were the bomb), I was confident that I would eventually get the hang of it, and sure that it would be a rocky path at the beginning. At the end of the day (well, three days if someone was counting), I was able to make the machine do what I wanted - mostly. Tool-path-wise, there are more Rubicons to cross, but I am eager to do so.

But, as my workshop efforts often do, this raised a question in my mind. Is CNC routing right for home shop woodworking? Is it cheating, or just the natural next step for technology in a shop? I am thinking that you might have an opinion … and I would like to hear it. And, as always, if you send me a piece of your mind, it will likely end up in our Feedback department so that other woodworkers can benefit from your offering.

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker's Journal

P.S. Check out our blog entry - the Journal's sister company, Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, is planting trees in a program directly tied to wood product sales - a great idea!