Despite the reports of trying financial times, I am pleased to see so many new woodworking products being released. I guess it's going to take more than a recession to keep us Canadian woodworkers down eh? All you have to do is take a look at the long list in this newsletter of new products that have been made available to us. Notably, Veritas keeps on churning out high quality tools with the hand tool user in mind.
Speaking of hand tools, a writer who will be appearing in our magazine next year has a book coming out this November entitled 'Made By Hand - Furniture Projects from the Unplugged Workshop'. Tom Fidgen takes the reader through his woodworking processes – techniques that only involve hand tools. I've always said if you want to save money in the shop, learn more hand tool skills.This book will teach you skills like how to chop mortises by hand - removing the need for a router or mortiser as well as other essential hand tool skills.
Don't forget about the upcoming wood shows. I'll be in Abbotsford, Edmonton, and Calgary giving lectures on Hand Tools and Design. As well, I will be avaiable for the duration of the show in a Q&A booth where you can drop in and chat about woodworking, ask questions or tell me what you think of the magazine. Those who know me know that I love to talk shop so I encourage you to drop in and say hi. I will also have a workbench in my booth where I will be working on a couple handmade Christmas projects – so you never know when an impromptu hand tool demo will crop up. I look forward to meeting our readers so please stop by and introduce yourself.

Work safe . . . work proud.

Vic Tesolin
Editor, CWHI Magazine

Made By Hand – Tom Fidgen
Tom Fidgen has written his first book on woodworking entitled 'Made By Hand - Furniture Projects From the Unplugged Workshop' - the definitive book of how to build woodworking projects using hand tools. While there are a number of books on hand tools for woodworkers that provide information about hand tools and their individual uses, no one has put these tools to use on a project. In that regard, this book is unique and will fit in perfectly with the rapidly expanding category of hand-tool woodworking. The six projects and companion DVD offer excellent views of the hand tools in use, and the critical body positioning necessary. Tom will also be appearing in future issues of Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement magazine with articles aimed at those woodworkers who want to learn more hand tool skills. You can pre-order Tom Fidgen's book by going to his website.

The new and improved model 10-550 M1 800 CFM Air cleaner from General International now features a filter cleaning sensor with indicator light, to help take the guesswork out of filter changes, and has expanded programmable run-time options.
The new sensor is designed to detect air flow/pressure changes caused by clogged filters and the indicator light illuminates to let the user know that the filters need cleaning.
Designed to quickly and quietly filter and improve workshop air quality, the 10-550 M1 will capture up to 98% of 5 micron airborne dust particles and up to 85% of 1 micron particles. It features efficient 2-stage filtration including a disposable pleated outer filter and a 3-pocket inner felt filter, and is designed for quick, easy, tool-free filter changes.
Additional programmable run time settings have also been added so that the unit can be programmed, either on the machines panel or by using the supplied remote controller, to run either continuously or from one to fifteen hours in one hour increments. The auto-timer then shuts off the machine at the end of the programmed cycle.
The 10-550 M1 features sturdy all steel construction and is also supplied with 4 top mounted eyebolts which can be used for ceiling mount installations.
The 10-550 M1 is currently retailing for $380.00 CDN – valid until Feb 28th, 2010 - and can be ordered from most General/General International retail distributors. A complete list of distributors can be found on our website at www.general.ca.

Work Sharp Expands Capabilities of Highly Successful Sharpener for Woodworkers

Professional Tool Manufacturing, an industry leader in sharpening and grinding tools for woodworkers, has released two new wheels for the popular Work Sharp sharpener. The wheels expand the capability of the Work Sharp, and respond to the needs of woodworkers who want the ability to easily de-burr parts, remove various coatings, and polish material to create a mirror finish on almost any material. With the addition of these wheels, the Work Sharp dry sharpener provides a more complete sharpening system compared to a typical bench grinder.
Designed for both fine woodworking professionals and woodworking hobbyists, Work Sharp solves several common problems associated with sharpening hand tools:  inconsistent results, grinding/honing the proper edge, keeping bevel edges square and grinding the entire bevel face. These new wheels integrate with Work Sharp to deliver the ease and precision which has been the rave of the extensive catalog of Work Sharp reviews.
With the Surface Conditioning Wheel (MSRP $24.95) users can de-burr parts, remove rust, paint, and other various coatings along with light sanding and surface preparation tasks on their Work Sharp. For those who want to create a mirror finish on almost any material, or perform some light de-burring, or honing tools to a precision edge, the new Felt Polishing Wheel (MSRP $29.95) will be a great addition to their Work Sharp. Both wheels can be flipped over for additional surface area to work with. Work Sharp can be found at: Home Hardare, Normand, KMS Tools, Morley Miller Machinery, Tegs Tools, and Welbeck Sawmill.

For more information, visit www.worksharptools.com.

New Eco Paint Products Make Home Projects Green Friendly

Research published by Statistics Canada states that tens of billions of dollars are spent annually in Canada on household repairs and renovations.  Many of these projects require painting and the associated equipment.  Now, SHUR-LINE has produced eco products made from recycled and renewable materials to help reduce the impact of home renovation projects on the environment. 
The handles of SHUR-LINE’s new eco brushes are 100% bamboo, a renewable material.  The bristles are 100% recycled polyester and the metal ferrule that holds the bristles in place is made from recycled aluminum.  Also, the packaging is made from 100% recycled material.  These high quality brushes are suitable for use with all paints and stains and provide one coat coverage.
SHUR-LINE’s new eco rollers are made of 100% recycled materials and the packaging is biodegradable.  The premium rollers work with all paints and stains and also provide excellent one coat coverage.
The eco paint products can be cleaned after each use allowing them to be reused for multiple paint projects.
The new SHUR-LINE eco products are available at Home Depot stores across Canada.  The eco brushes have a suggested retail price ranging from $6.99 to $12.99 depending on the model of the brush and the eco rollers have a suggested retail price of $5.99 to $9.99.

Studio Furniture of the Renwick Gallery provides historical look at modern American furniture making

Studio Furniture of the Renwick Gallery published by Fox Chapel is a beautifully designed catalogue of the Renwick Gallery’s collection of American studio furniture. Inside, author Oscar P. Fitzgerald documents each of the 84 pieces, and provides intimate interviews with many of the surviving artists, who share their inspirations, workshop practices, and more. Appreciated for its careful craftsmanship, beautiful wood, sculptural form, and narrative nature, the studio furniture collection on permanent display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum constitutes one of the largest assemblages of American studio furniture in the nation. From the one-of-a-kind Ghost Clock sculpture by Wendell Castle to the rocking chairs from Sam Maloof, the collection highlights the astonishing variety of the studio furniture movement. Studio Furniture of the Renwick Gallery provides a vital resource for the history of modern American furniture makers and chronicles how the collection was amassed by the former administrators of the Renwick Gallery. A foreword by noted scholar and curator Paul Greenhalgh gives readers a brilliant overview of the studio furniture field. No student, collector, or furniture enthusiast should be without this coffee-table style book, available in hard or soft-cover that so beautifully illustrates such an important movement in modern craft.

SawGear is a tough, portable tool that attaches to your mitre saw right at your job site.  Just enter your dimension, slap your material against the rugged stop and cut your part, no fiddling around, no fitting, and no re-cutting again. It’s right every time.  
In the building industry, margins are getting thinner and competition is getting more aggressive.  This tool helps framers and finish carpenters spend up to 25% more of their time in the productivity zone rather than correcting inaccuracies both in cut pieces and overall assemblies.  Jobs are completing ahead of schedule with SawGear and the quality workmanship has become the norm giving the contractor the competitive edge.  For more information check out sawgear.com.

Evapo-Rust Super Safe Rust Remover

Evapo-Rust is a water-based, environmentally friendly rust remover that eliminates flash rust in 10 minutes and deep rust in hours. Just dip your rusted items into this reusable solution. One gallon removes rust from up to 300 lb, or approximately 20 sq ft of rusted steel. It will not harm un-rusted steel, brass, copper, aluminum, galvanization, rubber, plastic, PVC, Viton, vinyl or clothing. No special equipment or protective clothing is required and solution is reusable. For more information, visit www.evaporust.ca or call toll free 1-877-267-6566. Evapo-Rust is available at Busy Bee Tools.

The Dremel brand is expanding its line-up of EZ Lock-compatible rotary tool accessories with the introduction of the Detail Abrasive Brush in three different grit strengths. The brushes’ unique, flexible bristles are designed to improve users’ sanding capabilities by helping them get into tight, intricate spaces and contoured shapes without damaging their work piece.  
The Detail Abrasive Brush is compatible with all multi-speed Dremel rotary tools and fits on both the 402 and EZ402 mandrels.
Each bristle on the brush is impregnated with sanding abrasive that wears down as the accessory is used to expose new grit, extending the accessory’s life and eliminating the need for abrasive compound. The brushes’ design allows users to remove only the exterior surface layer of their work piece without damaging the base layer. Detail Abrasive Brushes can be used for cleaning detailed surfaces on materials such as wood, aluminum, plastic, metal, steel and vinyl; and smoothing or de-burring wood after carving or routing. The brushes’ shape allows users to access contoured and hard-to-reach spaces such as crown molding or a chair railing. Each sanding brush is color coded by grit strength for easy identification.
The Detail Abrasive Brush is available beginning in August 2009 at most hardware stores and home improvement centers nationwide. Brushes retail in packages of one, for a suggested retail price of $9.99. 

Rockler SpeedCope

Coped joints have long been the inside corner joint of choice among finish carpenters. To make them, a profile must be cut into the end of one piece matching the exact contour of the piece it will meet. The profiled piece then lays over the other piece of moulding, creating a tight joint. Traditionally, woodworkers would bevel the end of the soon-to-be profiled piece and use a coping saw to hand cut the profile along the bevelled edge. The SpeedCope accelerates this process with a stable platform that gives woodworkers the necessary control to make delicate cope cuts with a power jig saw.
Especially useful for high-volume production in the shop or on the job site, the SpeedCope mounts securely on bench tops or saw horses and is extremely stable, with built-in clamps to hold work pieces in place. Its sturdy base supports virtually any jig saw, giving users plenty of control to follow their intended cutting path.
The SpeedCope will accommodate moulding up to 7-1/4" wide and adjusts easily for 45º and 90º inside mitres, as well as chair moulding, panel moulding and more. With such versatility, it is the perfect tool for anyone facing a large moulding job, as well as those who simply want a
reliable, high-quality coping solution.
The Rockler SpeedCope (item #20047) includes a do-it-yourself moulding DVD and retails for US$149.99. It is available at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware stores nationwide, Rockler’s independent resellers, Rockler.com or from the Rockler catalogue. For store locations or a free catalogue, please visit www.rockler.com or call 1-800-279-4441.

Don't Just Make it...  Make it 3D!

CarveWright's revolutionary carving machine has just become even more revolutionary. The STL import software gives the user the ability to import 3D models as STL's, slice them up for carving and reassemble them into a physical model. It's adding a whole new dimension of possibilities to the CarveWright System. As all CarveWright software, they strive to create the most intuitive and easy to use software solutions on the market. See all the Tutorial video's and see how they are revolutionizing 3D fabrication. Check out www.carvewright.com for more info and to view the videos.