Issue 208
Issue 208
The Fall Follies
Fall is my favorite time of year for three main reasons: it is the kickoff of “back to the shop” woodworking season, it is the beginning of football season, and it is the opening of bird hunting season. Do you see a theme running through this? The only problem is that all these favorite activities compete for my time and attention — and to top if off, I occasionally have to work, too! As you can imagine, this leads to a fair bit of stress.
I have tried to combine them, but with poor results. For example, I was putting a finish on some end tables while listening to my Minnesota Vikings play football at the same time. As I applied the rub-on finish, the Vikes would sometimes do well and then occasionally blow a bit play, hey it’s football. But as a result, my efforts would vary with the plays, rubbing harder, faster, softer. This led to an uneven finish, which later had to be touched up and redone. I also discovered that even if you pound the table with an open can of wipe-on poly sitting upon it, the results can be a bit messy. (My Vikings this year have played absolutely lousy football, but somehow have managed to get themselves into a tie for first place in their division – I can’t figure out whether to cry or cheer as I am watching and listening to them.)
Fortunately, I have not tried to combine hunting and woodworking — I think that has disaster written all over it. The good news is that having too much of a good thing is a great problem to have. So I will bask in my good fortune and quit writing so I can follow up on all three!
– Rob Johnstone
Industry Interviews
-
Work Sharp Wide Blade Attachment: When Size Does Matter
“When we launched Work Sharp at the end of 2007,” Kyle Crawford recounted, “we immediately started listening to customer feedback.”
-
Work Sharp Wide Blade Attachment: When Size Does Matter
“We’re passionate about making sharpening easier and better,” Kyle Crawford, Product Manager for Work Sharp told me, “and we listen to our customers.”
What's In Store
-
Wood Repair System from Knot-Tec
The 12 glue sticks that come with the Knot-Tec Wood Repair System are in four colors that blend with wood to create a form around knot holes which allows a woodworker to use that area of the board.
-
SmartDriver from Black & Decker
Black & Decker’s LI4000 SmartDriver has a retractable screw holder with magnetic tip: the drill, not the operator, holds the screw.
-
M12 Hackzall Reciprocating Saw from Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s M12 Hackzall Reciprocating Saw weighs 2.6 pounds and runs on a 12-volt Lithium-Ion battery.
-
Drill Doctor 350X: Looking Sharp for Less
The entry-level version of the Drill Doctor from Professional Tool Manufacturing, the 350X, is now widely available for around $50.
-
Router Bits Moving During Cuts?
When I’m using my router table the bit sometimes works its way up. I was wondering if I am trying to take too much off or could it be my router?
Today's Woodworker
-
Jim Tolpin: Experiencing and Teaching the True Joy of Woodworking
By any set of standards, Jim Tolpin is a maven of the woodworking world. Throughout a 40-year career, he has built everything…
Q & A
-
Vacuum System
I am looking for a good vacuum system and sander where the vacuum attaches directly to the sander.
-
Round- vs. Square-Edged Tenons
Is there a structural difference between square-edged tenons and those with edges rounded to fit a routed mortise?
-
Creating a Piano Finish
How does one create a “piano finish”?
-
Can You Use Router Bits in Shapers?
A woodworker has an opportunity to buy a shaper and wants to know if he can use his router bits in the shaper?
-
Quality of Chinese-made Router Bits?
Are they a good buy or should I pass them by?
Feedback
-
New Haiku, Good Wood, Poor Plans, Missed Points and Multiple Functions
A few late entries
Keep the haiku coming
For one more issue.
Contributing Bloggers
-
How Many Tools and How Many Trips
How many tools will a job take and how many trips back to the shop? After some 50 years of home repair, I’ve come to expect to go back for more tools at least three or four times. More than that and I really feel dumb; less than three and I feel pretty smart. But why can’t I think of everything the first time?
Not yet categorized
-
What Router Bits Do You Use on MDF?
Does anyone make router bits sized to make dado grooves that fit standard MDF thicknesses?
Reader's Project Gallery
-
Cradle and Motorcycle
Here are a couple of my latest projects. Both for our new Grandson! – Tom Klopfenstein, Wauseon, Ohio
-
Unique Wood Cross
This cross is made from the trunk and tap root of a West Texas Mesquite tree. The seed became a…
-
The Bench
One of my favorite projects. – John R. Smith, Cleveland, Ohio
