May 2005

	Canadian Woodworking Newsletter #11 May 2005
If you can't view this newsletter properly, you can view it on our website.

Table of Contents

Tips & Techniques
Web Resources
Canadian Supplier
New Products
Shop Tested
Events
In the Next Issue
Readers Showcase
Sponsors

First off, we have included a new section in our Table of Contents to let you know what's coming up in our next magazine. For instance, in the June/July05 issue (which will be on the newsstands - or in your mailbox - by the end of May) we pay tribute to Danny Proulx, a longtime contributor to Canadian Woodworking Magazine. We feature the third installment (a buffet and hutch) of a dining room suite by Danny. Click on the "In the Next Issue" in the Table of Contents for more of what's coming up in the magazine.

We have also expanded our 'Tips' section to include shop techniques. I hope that you like these additions, and welcome your feedback.

We've been getting a lot of feedback on our 'Web Resourses' section of the newsletter. Thanks to all of you who have contacted us. The Internet can be very helpful, but it can also be overwhelming. If you have a web resource that you would like to share with other woodworkers, please let us know.

Keep those photos, links and suggestions coming. Your participation ensures that our newsletter content is practical and timely.

To send something for a future issue, click here.

Thanks for being a part of this valuable resource.

Enjoy!

From left to right: nail set, center punch, prick punch, pin punch, automatic center punch, automatic hinge locating center punch (Photos courtesy of Starrett)

The Punch

Punches come in a range of configurations for various jobs. Some of the most common punches are shown on the left. When buying a punch choose one with an octagonal handle - it will prevent the tool from slipping around in the hand and rolling on the workbench. There isn't much of a trick to using a punch - hold it at 90° to the work and smack it squarely with your hammer. Most of us will be familiar with the nail set, which facilitates countersinking nail heads. They are available in a range of end size diameters, from 1/32" to 5/32". Things will go better if you match the correct nail set to the nail size. The job of a center punch is to mark the center of a hole to be drilled or nailed.

It's particularly useful when

drilling metal, as the drill bit will have a tendency to 'wander' until it bites in. Center punches are available in both round and square shank, from 1/16" to 1/4" diameters (measured at the top of the tapered point). The tips are usually ground at a 60° to 90° angle .

The prick punch is essentially a center punch with a sharper point angle, and is used where a high degree of precision is required. This is the punch I use in the shop to mark screw holes.

You're more likely to find a pin punch in a machine shop or garage. They are used to drive metal bolts or pins through holes. The ends of these punches are flat, and range in diameter from 1/16" to 3/8".

Of special interest to woodworkers are the automatic center punches and automatic hinge locating center punches. The difference between the two is that the hinge punch has a sleeve that sits in the hole of the hinge enabling the point to mark a precise concentric hole for the screw. I've been using one for years and really like it.

When buying a punch choose a good quality one made from hardened, tempered steel; one that has an accurately ground point. It will last a lifetime.

	If you haven't been to the Woodweb site, then you're missing one of the most extensive woodworking resources on the Internet. It ain't pretty, but is sure is productive. While the focus of the site is the woodworking industry,
DIYers and part-time woodchuckers will find a wealth of information and resources here. I find the forums very helpful when I've a specific technical question, while for general information I often check out the 'Knowledge Base'. It's comprised of an extensive collection of articles on just about every woodworking topic. Woodweb is one of my top ten woodworking web sites.

	Woodworkers with Disabilities is a Canadian web site set up to show that with the proper equipment and design people who use wheelchairs can still enjoy woodworking.

Jacques Coulombe Ltd

I was looking for a Canadian dealer for Zona saws when I can across Jacques Coulombes web site. While the site is subtitled: Woodturning and Woodcarving Tools, they have a smorgasbord of goodies. Clapham's waxes, Gross Stabil clamps, Leeson motors (in my experience, the best motors on the market), a complete line of Mohawk finishing products, Triton portable workbenches, the complete line of Richelieu hardware, and, of course, the Zona saws. Ordering is by phone (877-866-5799 ) or fax (514-253-0681), and delivery is prompt. If you can't find it locally, you can probably find it at Jacques Coulombe.

	Leigh D1600 The Leigh D4 set the standard, and continues to be the product of choice, for dovetail jigs. The new Leigh D1600 incorporates many of the D4's capabilities in a smaller package. You can still cut Through, Half-blind, Sliding, Angled, Rabbetted and End-on-End joints with ease and precision. The D1600 features infinite spacing of pins and tails, a maximum board width 16", through dovetails up to 13/16"
thick, half-blind dovetails up to 1" thick and sliding dovetails up to 1" thick. It comes standard with: Cutter Nos. 80-8, 140-8 and 120-8 2 Piece brass template guide (711TP) Cam action speed clamps Cross cut bar Screw driver Fully illustrated manual Bridge piece material Contact Leigh for a dealer near you.

	Milwaukee Right Angle Drill Attachment Milwaukee introduces a new heavy duty Right Angle Drill attachment that allows you to get into tight spaces and drill holes or drive screws quickly and easily. The RAD attachment (model 49-22-8510) is ideal for cordless 2.4 volt or larger drills or impact drivers and fits any 1/4" or larger chuck. It is compact, measuring only 2” wide to allow it to fit into tight spaces. The high torque
capabilities of the RAD attachment handles enough power to drill and drive most accessories. With the ability to control up to 235 inch-pounds of torque, the Milwaukee RAD attachment surpasses most corded and cordless RAD tools available today. The RAD accepts 1/4" hex drive accessories including screwdriver bits, hex drive bits, twist dill bits, flat boring bits, extensions and chuck adapters.

	Lee Valley Tools Lee Valley has introduced a number of new tools, including a set of Henry Taylor paring chisels, a massive Kelton
turning handle, the Kreg Drawer Slide Mounting Tool (see Issue 10, April 2005 of our newsletter for a review of this product), and a re-issue of the Veritas Sliding Square. We can always count on Lee Valley for making spring a much more anticipated time of year.

Limited Lifetime Service On Ridgid® Power and Pneumatic Tools

RIDGID® announced today that its professional power and pneumatic tools will now carry a 'Limited Lifetime Service Agreement'. This new service agreement – the only one of its kind in the power tool industry – provides free service and parts on normal wear items, including batteries and O-rings, for life, for the original tool purchaser. In addition to the

service agreement, RIDGID® professional tools continue to carry a 90-day satisfaction guarantee as well as the industry-leading three-year limited base warranty. The announcement was made in conjunction with the launch of an all new line of RIDGID® professional-grade pneumatic tools with the exclusive FastenEDGE Technology™, which offers the best features found on any pneumatic tool anywhere. These tools also come with the RIDGID® Limited Lifetime Service Agreement.

These new pneumatic tools join a line of 40 professional-grade corded, cordless, bench top and stationary tools available at The Home Depot®.

Available for all RIDGID® hand-held power tools, bench top, stationary and pneumatic tools bought on or after April 15, 2005, the Limited Lifetime Service Agreement is effective upon registration of the tool via the RIDGID® web site or by mail-in registration. All corded, cordless, bench top and stationary tools bought previous to April 15, 2005, can be registered for the Limited Lifetime Service Agreement for 120 days (or until August 12, 2005) for free.

Complete details on the new service agreement can be found at the web site or by calling (866) 539-1710.

Bye-bye formaldehyde

Columbia Forest Products announced it has begun the conversion of all its veneer-core hardwood plywood plants to formaldehyde-free manufacturing processes, using a patented, soy-based adhesive cooperatively developed by Columbia, the College of Forestry at Oregon State University and Hercules Incorporated.

Hercules awarded Columbia a license to utilize its patented adhesive system on an exclusive basis for all of Columbia's North American decorative panel markets. The new adhesive, whose makeup is primarily soy flour, will allow Columbia to completely eliminate formaldehyde from its veneer-core and Woodstalk® agrifiber-core panel products. The company expects the conversion to be complete within one year's time. Urea formaldehyde (UF) is used in the majority of North American and imported

hardwood plywood panels and has recently been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, as "carcinogenic to humans." Currently there are few no-added-formaldehyde (NAF) alternatives to UF-based adhesives on the market, and all are significantly higher in cost.

Founded in 1957, employee-owned Columbia Forest Products is North America's largest manufacturer of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer and employs more than 3,000 people throughout the United States and Canada.

More Torque with Bondhus Protanium®

All Bondhus hex and star tools are now produced using its proprietary Protanium® High Torque steel. Bondhus starts with the highest quality custom mixed raw material, draws it to tight tolerances, and

finishes it with proprietary methods that guarantee the tools deliver more force to the screw head than competitor tools. Independent laboratory tests prove tools made with Protanium® High Torque steel are up to 20% stronger than competitor tools. Stronger steel and sharper corners mean Bondhus tools are less likely to ruin screw heads – and the harder tip ensures the corners stay sharp longer.

The Shaker Furniture Handbook

T.D. Rieman and J. Burkes, Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 2005, ISBN 0764320017, paperback, 126 pp, 126 photos.

$40.95

While this book is part of the Schiffer Book for Collectors series, you don't necessarily have to be a collector of Shaker furniture to enjoy the book. What makes Shaker furniture so appealing is the interplay between form and function. According to the authors, of paramount importance to Shaker craftsmen was the goal of building functional as well as aesthetically pleasing furniture. Unlike much of the contemporary furniture of the time, Shaker furniture often included asymmetry in their design. And because they lived a communal life, much of their furniture was of institutional size, such as 20 foot trestle tables and 27 foot long cupboards. For those who

think that Shakers have to do with salt and pepper, Rieman and Burkes include a concise four page intro to the history of the 'United Society of Believers', aka, the Shakers, and to their design influences. The rest of the book features furniture from the various Shaker communities across the US. The bulk of the book is taken up with high quality colour photos. It would have been decent of the authors to include dimensions of each piece. Nonetheless, this is an excellent book that any lover of furniture or fine craftsmanship will appreciate.

20th Scarboro West Scouts: winners of the Soapbox Building Competition

Al Murphy's 1st place win in the Woodturning Novice category

Toronto Woodworking Show Winners

There was an abundance of talent at the 2005 Toronto Woodworking Show. Everyone seemed to have a great time, particularly the crew from the 20th Scarboro West Scouts, who were the 1st place winners in the Soapbox Building Competition, taking home the $1000 prize.

The 1st Place Winner in the Woodturning Novice Category was Al Murphy from the Golden Horseshoe Woodturners Guild.

Other winners included:

1st Place Winner in the Woodturning Open Category: Robert Rollings

2nd Place Winner in the Woodturning Open Category: John Madill, Kawartha Woodturners

3rd Place Winner in the Woodturning Theme Category: Robert Rollings

The next Toronto Woodworking Show is slated for November 18-20, 2005. For more details click here.

Shaker style workbench by Jim Shaver

Floating top console by H.C. Sakman

The June/July issue of Canadian Woodworking Magazine, Issue #36, will feature a number of excellent woodworking projects to help you enhance your woodworking skills. The feature project is a beautiful ‘buffet and hutch’ to complete your dining room suite (the matching table and chairs were featured in Issues 34 and 35). Other projects include: a classic Shaker-style workbench; a stunning ‘floating-top console’; and a steady rest for your lathe. It also has great ‘how-to’ articles on tongue-and-groove joints, sharpening your hand planes and chisels; and single switching your router and shop vac. If you are not a current subscriber, request your free trial issue at Canadian Woodworking.

	Ray Leger, from the lovely town of Memramcook, New Brunswick, sent us pictures of these two stunning carousel horses. The one in the top photo is 5 feet high and 6 feet from nose to tail. Ray made the horse from 2" kiln dried basswood. Ray is a self taught carver and furniture maker, and has made a number of carousel figures, including lions ,tigers, giraffes, and three seahorses, all from photos taken from carousel books. According to Ray, "I made the plans, milled the lumber, cut, glued, carved, sanded and then using artist oils I painted it, and it only took 350 hours, time well spent." Time well spent indeed Ray.

	Kevin Crozier, from Moncton, just up the road from Memramcook, saw a picture of this fireplace a couple of years ago in some magazine. He finally decided to build one for his new house. Its made of pine and finished with a Minwax Ipswich pine stain. Nice work Kevin.

	Rick Gibson (Bothwell, ON) made one of these spice racks for his daughter, another for a daughter-in-law. Great job Rick!

	Richard Lafleur, from Moncton, NB, has got to be one thrifty (and clever) guy. He's taken an old BBQ stand and converted it to a miter saw stand. Might not look too pretty, but it works. We'd like to see other examples of 'recycled' shop accessories. Don't be shy about sending us photos.