Woods to Know

Birch, White

White Birch, also called Paper Birch, is widely distributed across Canada. A medium sized tree, it has a distinctive thin, white, smooth bark that peels off in sheets. The wood is fairly straight grained with a fine, even texture. It has pale brown heartwood and creamy white sapwood, somewhat resembling maple, particularly western maple. It machines well, but has poor dimensional stability. However, it glues, stains and finishes well. Pre-drill for screws. First Nations people used white birch extensively for making canoes, baskets, snowshoes and a host of utensils. Today it's used for veneer, plywood, pulpwood, and of course, furniture. White Birch has a specific gravity of .571, which puts it in line with Cherry and Walnut on the density scale (Hard Maple has a specific gravity of .659 while Aspen is .408). Expect to pay about $5.75 per board foot.

Shop Tip

Re sawing

The next time you need to mill lumber, think about re sawing with your bandsaw instead of your table saw. As you can see from the photo, the kerf made by a bandsaw is about half the size of the kerf made by a table saw (even using a thin kerf blade). Especially for expensive exotic woods, this means less waste. Also, re sawing long or wide boards on the band saw is safer and easier. See Vol 7 No 1 of Canadian Woodworking for a description of the "Little Ripper", a great accessory for the bandsaw; or visit www.stockroomsupply.com.

Web Resources

Classique Hardware

Nice looking, good quality decorative hardware can be a challenge to find. Classique Hardware, from Alymer, Quebec, have an interesting web site chock full of cabinet hardware including kitchen cabinet knobs, handles, pulls and hinges; antique reproduction hardware; locks and keys; casters and hooks; and architectural hardware for new upscale houses, log homes and house restorations including door sets, door knobs, cremone bolts, door hinges, and door knockers. Whew! Prices are very good, and delivery is excellent. www.classiquehardware.com.

Canadian Supplier

Electrophysics

If you work with solid wood, then a moisture meter can be a very useful tool. Electrophysics, located near London, Ontario, is Canada's leading designer and manufacturer of moisture meters. The company makes both the traditional pin type meter as well as the more technically advanced pinless meter. All their products use solid-state electronic components and advanced integrated circuitry. In the critical moisture range of 6% to 12%, their pin-type meters are accurate to half of one percent, while their pinless meters are accurate to one percent. All the meters come with a two year unconditional guarantee. There are twelve models to choose from, with prices starting at $78, and yo can order on-line. www.electrophysics.on.ca or 800-244-9908

New Products

The Sunnex LE leveler consists of a rubber molding vulcanized to a leveling bolt. The one piece integral mount provides excellent stability and an anti-slip surface grip. They come in load capacities from 75 to 170 pounds per leveler. Use them on any shop machinery as well as workbenches and assembly tables. Available from Industrial Machinery Exchange, www.machexch.com or 519-622-8353.

Neatform looks like corrugated card board, but its made out of MDF. The corrugations in the MDF enable you to bend it into as small as a 6 inch radius. The outside surface is hard, and sanded to 120 grit. Its available in 1/4" and 3/8" 4' by 8' sheets. The nice thing about Neatform is that you can apply your veneer to it before your bend it. Learn more about the product at www.neatconcepts.com; get from McKillican: www.mckillican.com

Ridgid Tools are bringing a number of new tools to market, including three cordless saws: circular saw, reciprocating saw, and jig saw; a worm drive circular saw; a heavy duty variable speed drywall screwdriver and a variable speed laminate trimmer; an 18-volt cordless hand planer; impact wrench, and a 12-volt right-angled impact driver. The laminate trimmer looks especially appealing. It features 1 1/4 inch collet, 20,000 to 30,000 RPM variable speed, a 6 amp motor, die cast base, interchangeable edge guides, a micro adjust bearing guide, and thumb-wheel micro-adjust depth setting. All that weighing in at only 3.4 lbs. It should be at your local Home Depot this month. www.ridgid.com

The Quarbar is a new Canadian made multi-purpose pry bar. The tool is ideal for those involved in carpentry, demolition and remodeling work. Its design permits you to straddle floor joists, studs and trusses, providing a greater surface area to apply the force required to separate and remove material. The handle experiences a dramatic increase in lifting and pulling power with minimal damage to removed material. Comes in three sizes, starting at $68.50. Order on-line at www.quadbar.com or call 866-466-2006.

Shop Tested

Irwin ProTouch

The new Irwin ProTouch retractable utility knife is a pretty cool tool (for a utility knife). It has an ergonomic design, with the cutting angle tilted 19 degrees. One neat feature of this tool is its inside storage for up to five blades. You simply press a button on top of the knife to release the blade for removal. To open the body for access to the blades you press a button on the side of the knife. What makes this tool a real winner are the bi-metal blades. They are almost unbreakable, and they retain their edge longer than any blade on the market - up to three times longer than a carbon steel blade. I used a single blade to trim asphalt shingles I was installing on a 550 square foot roof. Not too shabby. At $7.37 this is great value. Available from House of Tools, Sears and Home Depot. www.irwin.com

Courses

Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking

If you admire the work and teachings of James Krenov you'll be pleased to know that a new school of fine woodworking has opened in Roberts Creek, BC. The school is headed by Robert Van Norman, a graduate of the College of the Redwoods and a former instructor at the Rosewood Studio in Ontario. They offer a nine month Craftsman Program as well as a range of one week courses. Look for more on the Inside Passage in an upcoming issue of Canadian Woodworking Magazine. Check them out at www.insidepassage.ca or call 877-943-9663.

Readers Showcase

Carol sends us this picture of a pine shelving unit. Way to go Carol.

Well proportioned arbour courtesy of Ron.

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