December 2019

Woodworker's Journal

“America’s leading woodworking authority”™

Woodworker's Journal5 min read
Letters
When I say that the heat is on, I’m speaking in a literal sense. My new woodworking space now has a heater. Here in Minnesota, if you don’t have a heated woodworking space, you likely are not doing much woodworking during the approximately eight wint
Woodworker's Journal4 min read
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q After reading the August Tool Tutorial article on benchtop sanders, I’m wondering if there’s any task a disc sander can do (or does significantly better) that a belt sander can’t? Like many, I have a small shop and shop budget. I have been eyeing t
Woodworker's Journal2 min read
Lopping the Loaf
Plenty of guesses to our August Stumpers tool nipped in, but they did leave us in a bit of a pinch. Matthew Reid of Needham, Massachusetts, offered, “The item in the August issue is a set of sugar nippers. Sugar used to come in cones or ‘loafs’ (henc
Woodworker's Journal3 min read
Tricks Of The Trade
A trammel is invaluable for drawing big circles, but you don’t need to buy one. I made mine from a long scrap piece with a screw drilled through one end to serve as a pivot point. A small scrap block, shown above, holds the pencil. Just drill a hole
Woodworker's Journal4 min read
Turning a Pepper Mill & Matching Salt Shaker
Over the last forty years, I have turned a good many pepper mills using a variety of grinding mechanisms. This project absolutely requires the purchase of a grinding mechanism, and it also demands that the mechanism fit superbly in the wooden body an
Woodworker's Journal2 min read
More than Wood: Cutting Different Materials with Your Scroll Saw
Although it’s primarily a woodworking tool, the scroll saw can also cut a variety of materials when appropriate blades and cutting techniques are used. In thicknesses of 1/2" or less, Corian can be used to make attractive cutting boards, trivets, coa
Woodworker's Journal6 min read
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▪ Rockler Router Bit Center/Depth Gauge Quickly set your router fence a precise distance from the center of the bit—ideal for dados and flutes. Also works as a height gauge for bits and blades. Notches measure from center of 1/4" and 1/2" shank route
Woodworker's Journal5 min read
Tile-topped Plant Stand
Plant stands are a very popular project and have been made in all manner of shapes and sizes. This elegant little version uses white oak that we colored with some Mission brown dye, and I think it turned out great. It was a fun shop workout. If you’v
Woodworker's Journal2 min read
Whiskey Barrel Stave Candle Holder
There’s something about candle light that evokes the holidays. Their flickering glow creates a warm setting that can bring a relaxing calm to a long winter evening. This barrel stave candle holder is a simple-to-build and fun-to-use project that also
Woodworker's Journal4 min read
Wireless Speaker
In spite of my kids’ disbelief, it wasn’t so long ago that every speaker in a sound system required a couple of wires plugged into it to make it work. But thanks to Bluetooth® technology, you can sync a smartphone, tablet or laptop to Bluetooth-enabl
Woodworker's Journal2 min read
21st Century Desk Caddy
Sometimes what is old becomes new again — like desk caddies. They were popular back in the day, but as our world became more high-tech they rode off into the sunset along with their buddy, the fax machine. Still, the services that desk caddies provid
Woodworker's Journal3 min read
Holiday Suggestions for Your Wish List
Rockler’s Bench DogR family of hand planes feature ductile cast-iron bodies, solid-brass fixings and sapele handles and knobs. They’re available in eight models: No. 4 and 41⁄2 Smoothing Planes, No. 5 and 51⁄2 Jack Planes, No. 7 Jointer Plane, No. 60
Woodworker's Journal9 min read
Power Jointers: Surface Prep Made Easy
Centuries ago, our woodworking forebears spent a great deal of time with hand planes such as the #8 jointer (below) in order to take the twist, cup, bow and crook out of their lumber. Hand planes ensured that boards could be made flat, straight, squa
Woodworker's Journal2 min read
Tool Preview
Back in the day, it was pretty common to determine a first impression of a construction worker’s skill level by the type of tools in his truck. When I entered the trades, a person showing up at a job with high quality tools showed a commitment to cra
Woodworker's Journal3 min read
Game Table Trio
Games, especially board games, are a great holiday pastime. This little table has three classic games engraved in the tabletops: cribbage, chess/checkers and Nine Men’s Morris, all in a small end table format. When it is not being used for gaming, on
Woodworker's Journal3 min read
What’s In Store
Rockler’s 1.5hp Dust Right® Wall-Mount Dust Collector, 1250 CFM (item 54352; $529.99) has a flow rate of 1,250 cubic feet per minute (CFM) — enough to handle coarse or fine debris from any woodworking machine. Its Y-adapter connects to two 4" hoses,
Woodworker's Journal2 min readChemistry
Pre-finishing and Glue
Q When working with small parts, I often find it easier to stain them before assembly. I get better results. The problem I run into is when I forget to properly mask off a glue joint first, and the glue won’t stick. Is there a good solution? Shelly W
Woodworker's Journal2 min read
Did You Know?
The old superstition of “knocking on wood” for luck is actually a very practical method of testing for rotten wood in a ship’s hull. A good resounding knock would indicate whether the planks were sound, rotten or wormy and would need to be replaced.

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