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Dust Collection
Hardwood





POPULAR SEARCH
Dust Collection
Hardwood




Canadian Woodworking is distributed 6 times a year. Every month, we pack our magazine with tips, plans, tool reviews and more. Our articles focus exclusively on the subject of woodworking; from intarsia, to dust collection. Take a look at our current issue. If you like it as much as we do, feel free to subscribe, or request a free trial issue.

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On The Cover: Compressors

By: Michael Kampen (April/May 2008)
April/May 2008 From framing a wall, to using tiny headless pins on a fine piece of furniture, compressed air drives a multitude of tools that make these tasks a breeze. These days, compressors are everywhere and in every size, from the behemoth at the local garage that runs all day, to the small emergency units that plug into the cigarette lighter in your car. Compressors have evolved to suit the needs of the trades people. Some situations, such as a service station or production shop, would need a large capacity of high-pressure air. Other situations require portability for working remotely at a jobsite. Different applications call for different compressor designs. In this Air Tools series, we start off with looking at compressors - how they work, and which one you’ll need in your shop. Compressors featured in this article are: Porter Cable (Pancake C2002, Horizontal CPF4515, Industrial C7550); Performance Plus (Twin Stack 8488, Upright 8498); and DeWalt Wheelbarrow D55570). Find out about: The Importance of Air Pressure; Tank Size; The Pump; Duty Cycle; Moisture; Hoses; Control Panel; Maintenance; and Price.

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Easy Project: Recycle Centre

By: Michael Kampen
With stories about landfill sites nearing capacity appearing regularly in the news, it’s hard not to be aware of the growing need to divert some of this material by recycling whenever possible. Build this simple rolling recycling station to keep your recyclable material sorted and your garage or utility room tidy. This is a basic project that can be completed easily in a weekend using inexpensive plywood and simple construction techniques. There are no fancy ornamentations or details to worry about – its sole purpose is to hold four bins and provide a work surface to sort your recyclables. Michael makes this project an exercise in ease. He gives you a full colour photo of the finished recycle centre, three full colour step-by-step photos, two detailed illustrations (one showing the measurements and layout of the half lap joint, the other showing all of the project´s parts and joinery. He also provides a complete materials list, a tip on how to cut up large pieces of plywood, and a sidebar telling you all about a great new program to help you with your cut list: The CutList Plus Woodworking Software.
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Cabinet Project: Tambour Spice Cabinet

By: Lee Brubaker
Tambour doors were first employed in France during the 1600s and their use became widespread during the 1800s with the advent of roll top desks. Today you can often find them in kitchens, mounted on built-in or movable cabinets, between the countertop and the upper cabinets. Generally they are used for storing breads or small appliances. Learn how to make a simple tambour with this project, and you can later apply the same processes to building something much larger, like a tambour (or roll top) desk. Lee gives you two full colour photos of the completed cabinet, one showing the tambour open, the other closed. He also gives you six detailed illustrations showing all of the parts and joinery, a full materials list and a very handy supply checklist.
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Puzzle Project: Michael Kampen

By: Tangrams
There is nothing like a simple puzzle to occupy a lazy afternoon. The best types of puzzles are those that are hard to put away, and this project is definitely one of those. The origin of the tangram has been lost to time, but the first written record appeared in a Chinese publication in 1813. The game, unchanged since its conception, was predominantly played by women and children and as such was not considered important or serious enough to be written about and studied, so little is known of its origins. A tangram consists of seven small boards, called tans, which can be fitted together to form a myriad of shapes, including birds, animals, flowers, people, and geometric designs. Simple in concept, but devilishly complex in execution. You can create your own puzzles, or download lots from the internet (www.Tangrams.ca is an excellent site). Michael gives you two full colour photos of the tangram set, an illustration showing how to cut your board, and a complete supply checklist. This is an extremely easy project that has proven to be a favourite puzzle (and gift) for many people around the world.
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Intarsia Project: Leaping Trout

By: Fred Martin
Got a favourite lure that you would love to display, or a fish story that you would love to recount. Then this simple intarsia project is just the thing. Fred gives easy to follow step-by-step instructions, four step-by-step photos, a full colour photo of the finished trout, and a detailed illustration showing wood colour and grain direction. He also gives you a full supply checklist and a detailed materials list.
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Carving Project: Key Holder

By: Francois Theriault
Give anybody a knife and a piece of wood and their natural instinct is to start making notches. The art of chip carving is a natural progression of this tendency, and has been used by most cultures to decorate everyday objects effectively with a few, simple tools. This carving project is a practical and fun little piece, that will appeal to the beginner woodcarver. The technique is fairly simple, consisting of mostly straight cuts with some simple curves. Francois recommends that you use a soft wood such as pine or basswood for this project, as they are best suited for chip carving. Francois gives you easy to follow instructions, including: Pattern Transfer; Preparing the Board; Cutting the Triangles; Mounting Pegs and Hanger; and Applying the Finish. Francois also gives you a full colour photo of the finished project, five step-by-step photos, two illustrations showing the peg and hanger layout, and a detailed pattern that you can cut out and use. She also provides two beautiful colour photos showing the best in carving knives, including the famous Moor Style Chip Knives.
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Tool Picks:

By: The Editors
Every so often a tool is introduced that we think woodworkers should take notice of. In this issue we feature three: the Samona Tongue and Groove Set; the WorkSharp 3000; and the King Universal Folding Mitre Saw Stand.
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Craft Project: Cane Saw

By: Tom West
While canes (or walking sticks) aren’t as trendy or as prevalent as they once were, the dapper woodworker can still be the envy of the neighborhood with this unique and stylish ‘cane saw’. The cane saw was so named by my wife. Being an avid woodworker, I had decided to incorporate a handsaw grip in the design of my cane. The handle that we most likely associate with a handsaw was designed by Disston in the 19th century. You really have to see this project to get it, but believe me, this easy-to-make project is sure to get smiles wherever you walk. I met a gentleman at a woodshow only three days after he had received this project in the mail, and he had already made 12 of them. On top of that, they were all gone, and he had orders for more! Definitely a popular project and gift.
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Shop Tools: Cordless Screwdrivers

By: The Editors
For a lot of shop projects and home maintenance tasks, less is more. Cordless tools that make repetitive tasks easier have been around for many years, and as the technology has improved, the tools have became lighter, smaller and more powerful. Read all about this new breed of screwdrivers, and discover: Why Lithium Power Makes Small Possible; Voltage Variations; Speed Variations; Handle Styles; and Other Things to Consider Before Buying. Screwdrivers featured in this article include: Black and Decker LI300; Black and Decker VPX1101X; Bosch PC20-2; Craftsman 09252201310; DeWalt DW920K2; Dremel 1120-01; Hitachi DB3DL; King 8313; Makita 6722DW; Milwaukee 0490-22; Skil 2346-01; Triton TC36LS.
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Routing Basics: Specialty Bits

By: The Editors
A basic selection of straight, edge profiling, and joinery bits will handle just about all your routing needs. But for jobs that are a bit out of the ordinary, you need a different kind of router bit. Manufacturers are constantly bringing new special purpose bits to market that make routing tasks easier and our time in the shop more productive. In this article, our editors feature four of their favourite specialty bits. Bits covered in this article include: Adjustable Slot Cutters; Screw Slots; Edge Banding; and Replaceable Inserts.
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Home Improvement: Hardwood Flooring

By: Carl Duguay
Walk into any room and chances are that the first thing you notice is the flooring. Very few flooring options have the visual impact of hardwood. It exudes warmth, elegance, and natural charm. Hardwood floors have been popular for decades because of their practicality, beauty and value. They offer a lot of advantages over carpet and linoleum. Hardwood flooring is: easy to clean (it doesn’t accumulate dust and debris like carpeting does); long lasting (as long as you maintain it properly, in the event of damage it can be re-finished); durable and hard-wearing (it stands up to heavy foot traffic, but be careful of those high heels); hypoallergenic (doesn’t trap dust, pollen, animal dander and allergens); sustainable (a range of sustainably harvested hardwood products are now available); versatile (you can choose from a range of colours, board widths, surface textures and finishes); an excellent investment (increases property and re-sale values); easy to install (for those with basic woodworking skills). Carl explains (and shows with full colour photos and illustrations): The Differences Between Engineered Flooring and Solid Wood Flooring. He also gives you helpful tips re: Installation and Finishing.
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Product News: Granite Tops

By: Carl Duguay
When you think of granite it is likely in the context of the flooring often found in prestigious public and commercial buildings, in fountains, columns, monuments and other public structures. Or you may associate granite in its polished form with kitchen countertops, shower surrounds, fireplaces, or bar tops. But how about table saw tops or jointer fences? There has been a lot of discussion generated since Steel City Tool Works (SCTW) recently announced the introduction of granite as an alternative to cast iron for machinery table tops and fences. Clever marketing ploy or brilliant product innovation? Carl gives you the inside look at this new product and concludes that, for the user, the benefits of granite over cast iron would seem to be well worth the additional $50 or so that it adds to the purchase price. And to cap it off, the granite tops come with a ten year warranty, which gives some indication of SCTW’s confidence in the product. Find more info at: www.steelcitytoolworks.com
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Woodworkers Gallery: Workbench

By: Brent Smith
This workbench by Edward G. Robinson, from Burlington, Ontario, incorporates a unique bench top design. The top for this workbench evolved as a result of Edward’s research into the effects and control of seasonal wood movement. He also wanted a bench that would serve as a carver’s bench and a traditional joiner’s bench, with an ability to support a variety of clamping options. This article shows two beautiful full colour photos of Edward’s bench and gives more detail on where you can find more details and photos. Hint: check out Canadian Woodworking’s Woodworking Forum.
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Wood Chuckle: Jerry Has An Idea

By: Don Wilkinson
Don has had some entertaining clients at his DIY workshop, and Jerry is certainly no exception. Find out how Don and Jerry hit it off.
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Shop Jig: Featherboard

By: The Editors
Safety should always be ‘top of mind’ when working in the shop, so this jig is an essential workshop jig. Use one end of this featherboard jig to hold stock tight against the rip fence. Use the other end to safely rip multiple thin strips from a wider board when you need to edge band sheet stock. This article teaches you: How to Make the Jig; and How to Use the Jig.
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Furniture Project: Arts and Crafts Style

By: Michael Kampen
What could be more comfortable than curling up on a cool evening with a nice quilt, a good book and a cup of tea? This Arts & Crafts influenced rack is the perfect place to display and store your quilts. Michael makes the construction of this quilt rack simple and straight-forward. He provides a full colour photo of the finished rack, 3 full colour photos showing how to do the mortise and tenons, a detailed illustration showing all of the parts and joinery, a complete materials list, and an illustration showing four variations of the upper rail.
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