When I started working as the editor of Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement magazine, I left Rosewood Studio where I worked to work at home. One of the things that I miss most about being in a school environment is that I'm not teaching much anymore. I really enjoy passing on woodworking knowledge because I feel that it is important not to lose these skills - seeing that these skill have been passed on for at least 2000 years.

To my excitement, I will be getting back in the teaching saddle again. I will be giving lectures at the wood shows in Abbotsford, Edmonton, and Calgary. I will be presenting lectures on "Practical Furniture Design" and "Uniting Power and Hand Tools in the Wood Shop". Check out the information in this eNewsletter to find out about dates and times for the shows as well as information on the lectures including how to register. You will also find info about admission fees and a coupon to save you money at the door.

I will also be at the shows in between lectures at a Q&A booth where people can chat with me about woodworking challenges and successes. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to getting out there to do some teaching and to meet our readers to talk shop. I hope to see you there.

Work safe . . . work proud.

Vic Tesolin
Editor, CWHI Magazine

New Books From Fox Chapel

Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw(Fox Chapel) will surprise readers with its collection of projects that look like they were painstakingly turned on a lathe. Instead, these handsome bowls, vases, dishes and jars were made easily with just one affordable tool – the scroll saw.
Using a simple method of cutting a concentric set of rings, Carole Rothman, a former teacher and award-winning cake decorator, can achieve the same graceful form and beauty usually found in lathe-turned objects. Twenty-eight projects walk readers step-by-step through choosing the appropriate wood, cutting rings with a pattern, drilling entry holes, stacking & gluing the rings
together, sanding and finishing. ISBN: 978978-1-56523-433-8
Retail Price: $19.99

 Pandora couldn’t resist opening a box, and readers won’t be able to fight the temptation to turn the pages of New Masters of the Wooden Box (Fox Chapel Publishing, available October 2009). Inside they’ll find 34 innovative artists who are crafting remarkable boxes that throw function to the wind, and beg to be admired, touched, marvelled upon and ultimately, opened. The box has an age-old past, as ancient as civilization itself, when containers did just that – contain things – like spices, bibles, candles, sewing needles and snuff.
Contemporary boxes are fundamentally different. They are no longer defined by their use, but made as a form of self expression and creative exploration. The whimsical, sculptural and conceptual boxes featured in New Masters of the Wooden Box have been selected for a touring museum exhibit sponsored by the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. This book is a must-have for woodworkers and art lovers alike. ISBN: 978978-156523-392-8
Retail Price: $29.95

Now available from General International the new model 15-155 M1 13” Horizontal single drum sander.
Featuring full steel frame construction and a precision machined 5” diameter drum for smooth vibration free performance, the 15-155 M1 is equipped with a 1.5 HP main motor and a separate variable speed controlled feed motor that allows feed speed adjustments from 6 to 20 fpm for customizable fine finishing results, after planing operations, in both hard or soft woods.
The unit is equipped with independent safety switches with removable keys for both conveyor and main motors, a high-quality industrial rubber feed mat for durability and better grip, an adjustable triple spring roller system to eliminate chatter and a quick change spring loaded paper clamping system for fast easy abrasive paper changes. 
Featuring a maximum sanding thickness capacity of 3 ¾” the 15-155 is equipped with a large polished steel hand wheel to adjust the conveyor table height, a front mounted graduated scale showing sanding thickness in both inches and metric and a hinged metal cover fitted with a standard 4” dust outlet. This sander is supplied with a flared base steel stand, for added stability, and weighs in at a very sturdy 298 lbs.
The 15-155 M1 is currently retailing for $1139.99 and can be ordered from most General/General International retail distributors – a complete list of distributors can be found on our website at general.ca.

Festool announces an updated version and new accessories available for the award-winning DOMINO DF 500 Q Joiner.

“The updated version of the Domino is the same versatile machine, but now includes modified features, including a new fence and base support bracket,” says Rick Bush, Festool Product Manager. Bush continues, “And, we now have a new 4 mm tenon and matching cutter to further expand the accessories and applications range of the Domino joiner.”
Updated fence
The updated fence features square stop flaps (instead of pins) that can be locked to the rear and a clear plastic cursor for easier alignment to a mark. It works with all existing accessories, including the cross stop, trim stop, handrail fence, and base support bracket.
Updated base support bracket
The updated base support bracket is longer than the previous support bracket and provides additional support across the face of the fence. The built-in stops move the center of the cut from 37 mm (1-15/32”) to 20 mm (25/32”) from the edge, which is ideal for narrow stock.
New accessories
Festool also expanded the Domino tenon range with the addition of a new 4 mm Domino tenon and cutter. The 4 x 20 mm solid Beech wood tenons expand the application range of the Domino joiner. The small tenons are ideal for smaller applications and drawer construction. And, can also be used for butt joining 12 mm (~1/2”) stock, and bevel joining 14 mm (9/16”) stock.

The Domino makes true mortise and tenon joinery easy and fast. With its ability to make accurate, durable, and repeatable joints, the Domino goes beyond the capabilities of a biscuit joiner, dowel joinery, or other joining methods. For more information about the Domino joiner and the new accessories, go to festoolusa.com.

Bench Dog Tools, Inc., a distributor of premium router tables and woodworking accessories, is proud to announce the release of its new Bullnose Trim Gauge, a combination layout tool and measuring aid that simplifies trim installation on standard 3/4" rounded drywall corners.
Applicable to both crown and base moulding installations, the Bullnose Trim Gauge makes it easy to mark and measure for tight fitting three-piece corners. Its two wings are spaced exactly
5/8" apart — the optimal width for the inside edge of the center piece in any 3/4" bullnosed corner trim assembly — meaning that by simply laying the Trim Gauge over a corner and making two vertical marks users can lay out precise end points for the longer trim pieces. With the end points marked, simply measure to your marks from the adjacent corners and cut a piece of trim to length. If both corners are rounded, the Bullnose Trim Gauge can also be mounted and used to anchor the tape measure. For these applications, users would use the Trim Gauge to mark one corner, and then nail it onto the other corner and finally measure from the second corner to the original mark, allowing individual users to make precise measurements on their own.
The Bullnose Trim Gauge is available at woodworking stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. Dealer locations can be found at benchdog.com or by calling 1-800-786-8902. Suggested retail pricing is US$11.99.

Festool announces the launch of the EHL 65 E One-handed planer (EHL 65). This planer can handle the toughest demands, yet offers single-handed operation to help users work faster, easier, and smarter.
“The new EHL 65 is among the best in the industry with respect to its dust extraction capabilities,” says Rick Bush, Festool Product Manager. Bush continues, “And the dust extraction port rotates and is designed for use on either side of the machine for maximum flexibility.”
The EHL 65 is well-suited for planing carcasses, panels, doors, or trim. It features “on the fly” micro adjustable depth control for cuts up to 5/32” (4.0 mm), or rabbets up to 29/32” (23 mm) in 1/256” (1 mm) increments. The ergonomic design and powerful 720 watt (6.0 Amp) motor deliver maximum power in a lightweight 5.3 lb. package, giving exceptional one-handed control.
 The base of the EHL 65 features an angled groove for chamfering operations, which can be controlled in 1/256” (1 mm) increments. Unlike conventional handheld planers, the EHL 65 features a single, replaceable, spiral cutting knife designed to give smooth, glue-ready, ‘chatter-free’ cuts with less noise (76 dB).
The EHL 65 comes standard with a parallel stop, planer head, solid carbide blade, and Systainer 2. For more information about the EHL 65 E planer, go to festoolcanada.com. 

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware introduced its new Downdraft Table Panels, giving woodworkers a simple ready-made solution for a non-slip, perforated downdraft table surface. Designed to improve the breathability and productivity of any workshop, the new Rockler panels provide the ideal surface for a dust collecting sanding table. Grippy rubber grommets help keep work pieces from slipping. Removable stops can be positioned anywhere to secure different sized pieces. And an abundance of air holes helps maintain suction for effective dust control.
“We’re very excited about these panels,” says Steve Krohmer, Rockler’s vice president of product development. “They eliminate one of the most difficult parts of downdraft table construction: building the top. Plus, they give you the freedom to build whatever size table you need.” The panels can be combined to work with many downdraft table sizes. Rockler has also created a free, downloadable table plan specially designed to fit four panels. The free plan is available now at rockler.com.
A two-pack of Downdraft Table Panels retails for US$24.99. They are available for purchase at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware stores nationwide, Rockler.com, Rockler’s independent reseller locations and from the Rockler catalogue.