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From the Publisher
Paul Fulcher
 While
I was at the recent Ottawa Woodworking show, I was happy to meet so many
woodworkers that had built, or were going to build, the shadow box display case
for war medals, which we featured in our last magazine. I've asked several of
them to send in pictures, so watch for them in an upcoming eNewsletter. We will
also be featuring some of those pictures in the next issue of the magazine.
At the show, I also met a lot of readers who were happy about getting Garnet
Hall patterns back in the magazine. If you haven't already seen Garnet newest
pattern, be sure to check it out in the Dec/Jan '07 issue.
In addition to intarsia, Garnet will also be doing some different types of
projects for the magazine in upcoming issues.
For now, read on to see what's new with Bostitch, Veritas, Hettich, and more.
This eNewsletter also has some great book suggestions for these long winter
nights.
Thanks, and enjoy!
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Bostitch Strapshot Metal Connector Nailer
BOSTITCH has announced the
introduction of its new Strapshot metal connector nailer. Ideal for tight
spaces and hard-to-reach areas, the compact Strapshot Nailer is less than
10.5" tall to fit easily between boards placed 12" on center. Its in-line
magazine fits conveniently into 90˚ angled corners for added
maneuverability. The Strapshot also features a precision trip mechanism for
exact placement of the nail into metal connector holes. Weighing only 4.8
pounds, the Strapshot is almost two pounds lighter than its closest single
blow competitor. Moreover, many contractors still use makeshift framing
nailers for this application, which can weigh as much as 3-1/2 pounds more.
The Strapshot’s lightweight, compact design allows a contractor to navigate
around and between obstacles nimbly while performing overhead applications
without pause. Also, its over-molded grip helps to maximize comfort and
minimize slippage on hot or rainy days. The Strapshot nailers accept 1-1/2"
paper tape collated nails ranging .131" to .148" in diameter.
Steel wear
guards with rubber skid pads protect the Strapshot’s housing from daily wear
and tear while a tool-free 360˚ adjustable exhaust directs blow-back out and
away from the user. Priced at $285.00 and comes with a 7 year limited
warranty.
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Steel City Tool Works Extends Their Rebate Program
 Steel
City Tool Works announces an extension on their introductory rebate
program. The program scheduled to end January 31, 2007 will now be extended
until March 31st. "We received such a positive response from dealers and
end-users that we elected to prolong the program," said Scott Box, VP &
General Manager. Rebate amounts still vary from $50.00 to $200.00 depending
upon the product. All tools are backed by Steel City’s five year warranty.
For more information about Steel City’s Rebate Program, see a Steel City
distributor or visit their website. |
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Windsor Beader
 The
Kansas City Windsor
Tool Works has a new tool - the Windsor
Beader. It's based on the 19th Century Beader made by Poole &
Williams. KCWTW has improved on the original design and added some new
features. The No. 7 is made of Honduran Rosewood and Silicon Bronze and
comes with a six cutter set. It is priced at $149.95 plus $10.00 shipping. |
Hitachi 4" Dry-Cut Masonry Saw
 Hitachi
Power Tools has announced its new 4” Dry-Cut Masonry saw, the CM4SB2.
Designed with a powerful 11.6 Amp motor, it cuts smoothly through tile,
marble granite, concrete brick and similar materials. The CM4SB2 was built
to withstand the tough conditions of a dry-cutting environment. A specially
sealed armature and switch protect the tool in these conditions, allowing it
to perform with outstanding durability. The hefty 11.6 Amp motor produces a
no-load speed of 11,500 RPM for greater cutting efficiency through the
toughest materials. The uniquely sealed armature coil is protected from dust
and debris. This special seal also helps to minimize tool vibration
producing only 1.4 m/s2. The CM4SB2 produces a noise level at 85 dB. A
dust-proof switch prevents debris from entering the tool in that location
and a metal seated ball bearing wards off damage to the motor caused by high
temperatures and vibration, adding to its overall performance and
durability. The CM4SB2 offers the shortest base edge-to-blade distance in
its class making it easy to cut into the tightest spaces. A one-touch lever
adjusts the depth of cut quickly and easily. The elastomer covered handle
provides a sure grip and improves comfort. Compact at 8-1/8" in length and
lightweight at only 6.2 lbs, this saw is easy to use all day. It comes with
a premium Hitachi 4" continuous rim diamond blade, wrench, box wrench
(10mm), 20mm flange and 7/8” flange. |
16th Annual Whitby Woodcarving Show
 The
Brooklin Woodcarvers
are pleased to invite the public to their Seventeenth Annual Woodcarving
Show and Competition, to be held at the Heydenshore Pavilion, 589 Water
Street, Whitby, Ontario, on Saturday, March 31st, 2007.
The woodcarving expo will be hosting many Ontario carving clubs with
demonstrations and awards for the top carvings in the Novice, Intermediate,
and Advanced classes. There will be vendors selling woodcarving supplies and
refreshments will be available on site. You could win one of our numerous
door prizes in the hourly draws.
For further information contact one of the following members:
Randy Pater, Judy
Connor, or Robert Woodill.
Clubs, Guilds, Associations:
Send us information about your upcoming shows and exhibitions
for inclusion in the enewsletter. |
Optimat Hinges from Hettich
 Hettich's
new line of hinges for face frame furniture includes the Optimat 3, Optimat
3 E and the Intermat snap-on hinge with the face-frame mounting plate. The
one-piece face-frame hinge Optimat 3 for ½" and 1-1/4” overlay has an
integrated height adjustment and is available at an entry-level price. In
addition to height adjustment via the oblong hole, Optimat 3 E also
facilitates overlay and depth adjustment via an eccentric cam. The advantage
is that doors can be quickly adjusted in all six directions. All hinges in
the Optimat line are distinguished by the low cup depth of 10 mm and the
minimal reveal between the door and frame. The snap-on Intermat hinge with
face-frame mounting plate offers the high-end market the further benefit of
Silent System for quietly closing doors. Silent System offers solutions for
a wide range of applications. End-users can infinitely vary the cushioning
effect to suit their own particular preferences courtesy of a small
adjusting wheel. |
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Anver VPFL-4 Power Lift
 A
low-cost, compressed-air powered vacuum lifter for easily handling
wood furniture from the top, without slings or straps that cause damage, has
been introduced by the Anver Corporation.
The Anver VPFL-4 Series Compressed Air Vacuum Lifter is
a below-the-hook lifter that features a choice of foam or rubber suction
cups and a rapid vacuum attach-and-release slide control valve.
Suitable
for lifting wood and wood furniture from the top, this simple to operate
lifter eliminates the use of straps or slings that can scratch and damage
wood surfaces.
Suitable for applications ranging from home workshops
to production and maintenance operations, the Anver VPFL-4 Series Compressed
Air Vacuum Lifter needs only 8" of head room, 72-90 psi shop air, and can be
equipped with a wide variety of suction cups.
Standard features include an air filter, vacuum
check valve, vacuum gauge, and ergonomic front handlebar.
The Anver VPFL-4 Series Compressed Air Vacuum Lifter is priced from $895.00
up, depending upon vacuum pad attachment. |
| Veritas Pullshave |
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 There
are a lot of options when it comes to shaping the seat of a chair or hollowing
out a gentle curve for the arm rest of a chair. You could use an adze, inshave,
scorp, travisher, compass plane, power grinder equipped with a circlet cutter,
card scraper or go at it with sandpaper. Which ever method you use, it's a lot
of work.
If you do any amount of hollow work, then you'll
want to take a look at this new pullshave from Veritas (Lee Valley Tools). I
think it's going to set the standard when it comes to hollow work. The Veritas
Pullshave makes it very easy, and quick, to remove wood. Surprisingly, it
doesn't take that long to get the knack of using this tool. And you can really
remove a lot of wood once you get a rhythm going. You can adjust the blade for
finer work, but you will still need to use a scraper or sandpaper for final
clean up.
The pullshave is essentially a spokeshave
with a single, centrally located handle. You adjust it much like a spokeshave,
using the two knurled knobs. The blade is curved, which might intimidate anyone
who has only honed straight blades. However, it really isn't that difficult.
Like anything in woodworking, practice, practice, and, did I mention,
practice. Like all Veritas hand planes, this one is
exceptionally well made - the tooling is as good as it gets, and all the parts
fit together well. The African Rosewood handle and Bubinga knob are nicely
shaped and comfortable in use. A super tool at a very good price. |
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Shop Drawings for Greene & Greene
Furniture
Robert Lang |
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| Item: |
ISBN: 1-892836-29-7
144 pages, softcover, 2006, 8 1/2" x
11" |
Rating: |
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| Source: |
Order through your local bookseller |
Price: |
$20.43 |
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The Greene brothers were among the last
practitioners of the Arts & Crafts movement. Most of their best work was done
from around 1900 to 1910. Over their career they designed several hundred pieces
of furniture and accessories. Robert Lang has meticulously described 23 of their
furniture pieces.
The Greenes were heavily influenced by Oriental design,
and their furniture became noted for its graceful and sinuous lines,
incorporating smooth rounded edges, elaborately pegged joints, and intricate
inlay. The 26 projects in this book are
among the most appealing of the Greene's work. They include the Gamble Entry
Table, Gamble Mirror, Robinson Dining Table, Blacker Medicine Cabinet,
Blacker Hall Seat, Thorsen Plant Stand, and Gamble Chiffonier.
The photos in this book are very good, the descriptions informative and well
written, and the illustrations first rate.
For the intermediate level woodworker the drawings are sufficient to build any
of these pieces. Novice woodworkers might want to buy the large
scale detailed plans at Robert Lang's web
site. For more information visit the
Greene and
Greene Virtual Archives. To make your own Greene and Green masterpiece, buy
the book.
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Foolproof Wood Finishing
Teri Masaschi |
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| Item: |
ISBN: 1565233034
172 pages, softcover, 2006, 8 1/2" x
11" |
Rating: |
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| Source: |
Fox Chapel Publishing. Order through your local bookseller |
Price: |
$24.95 |
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Teri Masaschi is a frequent contributor to woodworking
magazines, and her facility with wood finishing comes through in this book.
The 7 chapters cover the full gamut of finishing
techniques, albeit in a general fashion. The book is written in an easy to read
format, amplified with good photographs. There is also a glossary and list of
product sources that readers will find useful.
I'd recommend it as a first finishing book for novice woodworkers. Like the
subtitle implies, it deals with the "how-to's" of finishing without going into the
"whys". Once you get to the point of wanting to know more about the
underpinnings of finishing you'll want to get Bob Flexner's "Understanding Wood
Finishing" (also available from Fox Chapel Publishing).
Masaschi's book begins with a brief introduction to the concepts, tools and
equipment in finishing. She then shows six pages of photos of finished projects.
This is followed by a concise overview of wood preparation (sanding, sealing and
pore filling). The next chapter covers colouring (pigments, dyes, blending
colours, and glazes). The fifth chapter talks about the most common finishes you
are likely to be using - varnish, shellac and lacquer. She also covers brushing,
wiping and rubbing out. Chapter six gives eight common finishing recipes for
cherry, walnut, oak and mahogany. The book ends with tips and techniques for
dealing with those inevitable repairs you need to make. |
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Wood Essence Distributing
Wood Finishing Products
 While
you can get some of the more common finishing products from your local hardware
or building supply outlet, they typically don't carry the more specialized or
higher quality products. Up until a few years ago that often meant ordering from
specialty suppliers in the US.
Now you can order a wider range of specialty
products from Wood Essence in
Saskatoon. Jeff Richardson, owner of Wood Essence, carries several of the
leading brands of finishes and accessories on the market, including: Mirka
Abrasives (both sheets and discs), Abralon finishing and buffing pads, Surbuf
buffing pads (the best way to apply waxes and polishes), DaVinci synthetic
brushes (an excellent brush for shellac and water based finishes), premium
shellac flakes (dark all the way to ultra blonde), Color FX pre-mixed (aniline)
dyes, Mixol universal pigments, Bartley gel stains, gel varnish and wood
fillers, both the Fuhr and Target line of water based coatings, Liberon premium
steel wool and Liberon Black Bison waxes, Menzerna rubbing and polishing
compounds, and Gross Stabil parallel head clamps (much like the Bessey K body
clamps).
Two other reasons to purchase your finishing
supplies at Wood Essence are the great prices and the excellent service. Jeff is
very knowledgeable about his product line and will help you make the right
product selection.
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DaVinci Brush |
Abralon Pads |
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Gross Stable Clamps |
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Walleye
Eric Meder, Winnipeg
Completed
in August of 2006, Eric put about 55 hours work into this carving.
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Storage Chest
Phil Clark, Sorrento, BC
This wine cabinet was a wedding present for Phil's daughter
that includes re-cycled tiger maple wood that is 150 years old (the darker wood
in the cabinet). The cabinet is 60" high, 31-1/2" wide and 19" deep.
In 1969, Phil bought a tiger maple drop-leaf dining table made
around 1850. In 1980, he gave the table to his daughter as a graduation
gift. In 2005, he found the table in her basement covered with boxes
because it was unusable – the drop leaves had warped badly.
What to do? His daughter asked him to re-cycle the wood
and surprise her with the outcome. Hence, a wine cabinet.
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Cradle
Walter McQuade, Parksville, BC
This rocking cradle
was made 18 years ago for Walter's No.1 grandson, who is now 6' 3 and getting
ready to go to college. |
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If you would like to see your work in this
newsletter, send us an image along with information about your project. Images
look best with an uncluttered background. Use the highest setting on your
digital camera - we will reduce the image to fit in the newsletter.
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Issue #30
Dec 2006
Visit our web site
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here
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our Marketing Manager
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Advertising Sponsors
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By Tool Guys.
For Tool Guys. |
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