Saying Goodbye

Rob Johnstone photoOn December 28th (coincidentally my late Dad’s birthday), I lost a friend and the world lost a good man. Nordy Rockler, a man I met more than 22 years ago when I joined the company he founded — Rockler Woodworking and Hardware — passed away at 98.

Nordy was a gentle soul, a man of integrity who had a kind word for those who crossed his path, even a dorky associate editor fresh on the job. He and I could talk woodworking, politics, North Minneapolis and fishing…agreeing and disagreeing, all with good will. His vision and work ethic built a company that I am proud to be a part of.

As John Donne stated so well, none of us are an island, and the loss of a good man diminishes us all. Even so, Nordy left a good and substantial legacy that will continue to build us all up for a long time to come.

I will miss him. My heart goes out to his family, especially Ann, LiLi and AJ — hoping that soon their memories of Nordy during happier times will come to the fore.

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal

Storage Solution for Glue Bottles

Bottles of Titebond wood glue stored upside down

Keep the glue running from half-used glue bottles with a handy bottle holder made from a thick piece of scrap.

Wine Cabinet Joinery

We used the Leigh D4R Pro Dovetail Jig to create precision dovetail joinery for a tall wine cabinet project. Watch the dovetail joinery technique for the cabinet’s construction in this video.

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Building your own cabinets can seem like a daunting task, but we’re here to help! Watch seasoned cabinet maker Ernie Conover as he gives some sound advice about how to approach this significant home improvement project.

Starting cabinet building video

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