Issue 254
Issue 254
Hot and Dusty
Recently, in the print magazine, I waxed poetic over the halcyon experience of summer woodworking. How I loved to open the overhead door of my shop and work well into the sunlit Minnesota evenings (it’s not quite midnight sun up here, but close). And that, while there were some bugs to swat and some drops of sweat to wipe away … it was one of the best times of year to be in the shop.
This endearing dialogue, like most of my well-intentioned efforts, got me into trouble in no time at all. Just today, I received a letter from a reader, along with a newspaper clipping. The front page of the newspaper had a photo of a bank thermometer reading 123-degrees, I assume in the Fahrenheit scale. Our reader’s letter offered observations such as that wax in that climate turned to liquid, electric motors turned not well at all, and woodworkers often turned to swimming pools. Graciously, he admitted that summer woodworking was swell – but only weather permitting. (Perhaps he, too, chose the midnight hour to make sawdust.)
The only comment in my original editorial that seems to have met with near universal approval was the concept of using a leaf blower to dust your shop. I must confess that I learned that trick from television woodworker Scott Phillips … but it sure seems to have struck a chord with our readers.
Happy summer dusting!
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
Tricks of the Trade
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Paint Your Plugs
Since outlets are scarce in my shop, four machines have to share one outlet. I got tired of guessing which of the four identical black plugs was the right one for the machine I wanted to use.
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Put a Lid on Your Dust Collector
In a busy shop, dust settles on every horizontal surface, including the top bag of your dust collector.
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For Blade Lube, Check the Pantry
Ordinary cooking spray does a lot more than keep food from sticking. I spray some on a rag and wipe down my band saw blade between uses.
What's In Store
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Scotch Tough Duct Tape-Transparent
New technology from Scotch Tape makers 3M has now created Scotch® Tough Duct Tape-Transparent.
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Ryobi 14-piece Forstner Bit Set
The patented X-wing design of these bits provides increased visibility, with target marks viewable even at 700 rpm.
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Mobiado Classic 712EM Wood-Encased Cell Phones
The Mobiado company has updated their Executive Model cell phones to the Classic 712EM, with exotic wood inlaid into an anodized aluminum frame.
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General International 75-260 M1 17-in. Extended Stroke Drill Press
If you need a heavy-duty drill press with extra “reach,” consider General International’s new 75-260 M1.
Today's Woodworker
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Henry Hiner: “Throw Me Into the Briar Patch”
Henry Hiner throws himself into his own “Briar Patch” – the name he has given to the multi-use workshop he began building three years ago.
Q & A
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Kiln for Bowl Turning
Do you have information on construction of a kiln for bowls?
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Easiest Way to Make a Scarf Joint?
My son and I are building a small sailboat and the plans talk about scarf joints for the battens along the side to which the plywood is attached. What is the easiest way to make them?
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Dust Collection: Separator or Cyclone?
Should I put a separator on my Delta with five-inch pipe, or should I purchase a Grizzly GO703 cyclone and also install piping?
Industry Interviews
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Stanley Black & Decker’s “Infusion of Resources” Bolsters Delta Product Development
I’ve been curious about how the subsidiary companies within this umbrella are adjusting to the new corporate structure and what opportunities it provides to their development of woodworking products.
Feedback
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A Chemists’s Thoughts on Melamine, Plus Reactions to Rob’s Shop and Bowl
Rob’s tale of his lost Forstner bit in his editorial last time out brought some sympathy – and quite a bit of empathy – from our readers.
Reader's Project Gallery
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Dogwood Box
I made this box for my wife for our 12th wedding anniversary this year. The box is primarily Flowering Dogwood. The diamond-shaped inlay on the front panel is Ancient Kauri wood with the wood cut to maximize the chatoyancy.
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Turned Vase
Below is my latest turning project. I made this for my wife because she is always complaining I make things for everyone but her. I used Cherry, Wenge, Maple, Padauk.
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Loft Bed with Desk & Bookcases
I built this double bed size loft bed with desk and bookcases for my grandson. It is made of maple and uses various hardware bought from Rockler.
