Issue 161
Issue 161
The Stuff of Woodworking
I have a bit of a strange question for you: What process do you go through when deciding what sort of lumber to use for a project? Personally, I find selecting lumber to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of woodworking. Sometimes it’s a process of discovery: “Hey, what the heck is that big chunk of wood in the corner?” (Likely it had been hidden under three pieces of MDF too big to just throw away and a couple of jigs that were constructed to work with my last table saw.) Other times it is a very deliberative process. I want to see quartersawn cherry door panels surrounded by plainsawn cherry stiles and rails. Sometimes the choice is imposed … a new coffee table in a room full of oak furniture and trim; I guess it is going to be made of oak. But even in a situation like this, I can’t resist pushing the envelope just a bit. Oak furniture it is … but with walnut or ebony accents?
In any case, I am interested in how you approach the subject. Is it strictly based on price? Is it a choice made by others in your family? (Say, perhaps a spouse with a strong sense of what would look right in the house?)
You get my drift. Let me know how you go about choosing lumber. I am sure there are as many approaches as there are woodworkers.
— Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
Industry Interviews
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Woodworks
Like the little engine from the popular children’s book, this woodworking show is chugging along,
What's In Store
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Rockler Pipe Clamp Bench Blocks
Rockler’s Pipe Clamp Bench Blocks make so much sense that I can hardly stand it. Simple in concept, the blocks are a means to hold your pipe clamps in position while you glue and clamp up assemblies.
Today's Woodworker
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Jennifer Shirley: Hoosier Favorite Turner
As a working single mother with a teenaged son, Jennifer Shirley already has a lot to juggle. As everyone knows, juggling takes balance and, after all, what is more balanced than a lathe?
Q & A
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Stacking and Cutting Multiple Blanks
I’m making quarter inch thick pieces for puzzles. Is there some way to stack blanks and cut them out several at a time?
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Slipping Bar Clamps
I have a few Quick-Grip clamps that slip, even though I have cleaned the bar and lubricated it with WD-40. Is there a remedy?
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Mixing Shellac
I mix my own shellac for French polish. I’ve been told it deteriorates in storage, but not how. Care to fill me in?
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Continuing Cedar Differences
Is there a significant difference between Eastern red cedar and Western red cedar?
Feedback
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Wobbly Legs and All
Some advice to woodworkers everywhere: Don’t give up, and keep reading. As Michelangelo was reported to have said, “ancora imparo” (“I am still learning.”)
