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On The Cover: Step Tansu

By: Rob Brown (Aug/Sept 2005)
The step tansu became popular during the early Edo period in Japan, in the 1600’s, when livable space was at a premium. Japanese for ‘trunk’ or ‘chest’, tansus ranged from small three step units to larger five and eight step units. The large step tansu fit into the architecture of a house serving two functions at once – easy storage for blankets and large household items, and easy access to the loft above. Traditionally, the height of a step tansu was directly proportional to the height of the second floor. Japanese homeowners were taxed according to the livable area in their home. In order to save a little money come tax time, owners often relocated their large step tansu away from the loft. No access to a loft meant the loft was not livable, therefore untaxed. Those truly dedicated to tricking the tax-man, would construct their step tansu in two halves – an upper and a lower, and fasten the top half of the tansu with a hinge near the middle step, folding the upper portion into the lower portion creating a square cabinet, avoiding all suspicion. This tansu was designed for beauty and storage rather than access to a loft, but the tansu’s history will make an interesting story for you to tell everyone when they ask about yours. For this project, Rob covers: design; materials; construction; and finishing. He gives you seven full colour photos, showing the completed piece and noteworthy details. He also gives nine illustrations and detailed materials and hardware lists. This is not a project for beginners, but if you are intermediate or beyond, this cabinet is sure to take your work to the next level.

Outdoor Project: Canoe Repair

By: Kevin Good and Doug Scott
Few things are more Canadian than canoeing. Perhaps more than any other object, the canoe represents the history and culture of Canada. So when the gunwales, bow and stern deck plates of their canoe rotted away from exposure to the elements it was almost as if an important piece of Canadian history had been destroyed. Fortunately the repairs were fairly straightforward. This project is presented by Kevin Good and Doug Scott. In it they lead you through the gunwale preparation and installation, deck plate measurement, fabrication and installation, grab handles and finishing. The project details are backed up with four full-colour photos showing the canoe before and after repairs along with details of the scarf joint used on the gunwales. They also provide three detailed illustrations showing the gunwale preparation and installation, the scarf joint and the grab handles. Also included is a near full page explanation of epoxy and how to work with it. If you have been putting off any repairs to your canoe, grab this issue and dive in. Kevin and Doug show you just how easy it is.

Cabinet Project: Chimney Cupboard

By: Michael Kampen
Chimney cupboards have been with us for hundreds of years. Originally, they were found in kitchens, but in more recent times they have been used in bathrooms to store linens. It is a great way to increase your storage space, regardless of where you use it. Michael shows you how to easily build this attractive and traditional looking storage space. He shows a large full colour photo of the finished cabinet, and three detailed colour photos showing the crown moulding, the magnetic latch and the bottom moulding. He also gives a 3D exploded view of the cupboard with all of the parts clearly labeled. Along with this he includes detailed materials and hardware lists with all of the necessary parts and measurements. Just to make sure all is well, he also gives a 3D exploded view of the glass assembly.

Furniture Project: Demilune Table

By: Eric Jollymore
Demilune tables have been around for some time now. Originally they were quite ornate, but the one Eric has made here is much more restrained. Eric leads you through the construction of the table with detailed descriptions of: the top; the legs, the rails; assembly; and finishing. He also gives a beautiful full colour photo of the finished table, four 3D exploded view illustrations showing construction details. Best of all, he gives you a traceable template for the leg profiles. It is the legs on this table that really set it off, so this pattern is especially helpful.

Shop Project: Marking Knife

By: Michel Theriault
An accurate line is the cornerstone of good woodworking. It sets the standard for how well the wood you’ve crafted will come together in the finished work by guiding the steel of your tools through an exact plane in the wood. The marking knife is one tool that will not only improve the marks you make to guide your cuts, it will also be a welcome addition to your collection of hand tools. If you don’t already have one, you’ll soon realize how useful it can be. If you’re already using a store bought knife, you’ll appreciate using one that you’ve made yourself. Michel shows you just how easy it is by clear and detailed instruction. He also gives you a full colour photo of the finished marking knife, two full full colour action shots showing routing the handle and sandwiching the blade. He also shows three 3D exploded views of the knife and assembly, and a complete materials list.

Turning Project: Ball Box

By: Paul Ross
This ball box offers an excellent opportunity to develop and practice your hollow turning, as the body wall of this piece is the same thickness at all points. By adding a lid and finial, it has been made into an attractive box. Paul teaches you to: rough out the cylinder; turn the spigot, shape the ball; and add the lid and finial. To claify these steps, he supplies nine full colour photos leading your though the entire process.

Carving Technique: Relief Carving

By: David B. Johnson
Relief carving is very appealing. Wood for carving is readily available, little working space is needed, good results can be achieved quickly, and probably most important, the finished work can be displayed easily (like a painting). In fact, it sounds so good one must wonder why everyone isn’t doing it! David is a world class carver, yet he has an incredible knack for simplifying instruction so that even a novice can produce stunning results. In this article, David covers: perspective; highlights and shadowing; and texture. He explains and gives examples of these topics with the use of nine full colour photos. When you see the article you’ll be reminded that a picture is worth a thousand words, because in his photos he shows clearly and practically: how size diminishes with distance; overlapping of objects; foreshortening; cast shadows; texture as pattern; and texture as shadow.

Wood Joinery: Frame and Panel

By: Michel Theriault
The frame and panel (F&P) joint is typically used for doors in cabinets. It can also be used for cabinet panels and internal frames and structures. It makes a nice looking door that can accommodate the expansion and contraction of wide panels that occur as a result of seasonal changes in humidity. To show you how to make this joint, Michel gives detailed instruction, a full colour photo of the joint (both assembled and unassembled), two full colour photos showing routing the rail, stiles and ends, and a photo of a matched set of F&P router bits. Follow along with this ongoing series on joinery and you will soon be able to make every joint in the book!

Wood Finishing: Waterborne Finishes

By: Carl Duguay
You might be surprised to know that waterborne (or waterbased) finishes are just about as durable as varnish finishes. That’s because waterborne finishes are comprised of acrylics or polyurethane dispersed in water. They are non-flammable, almost odourless, have fewer solvents in them than their oil based cousins , clean up easily with water, dry quickly, and are non-yellowing. If that isn’t enough, because they dry so quickly you won’t get a lot of dust adhering to the finish. Carls explanation of waterborne finishes is clear and concise. He covers: safety; clean-up; what you need; products; preparing the surface; sealing, staining and filling; number of coats; and how to apply. He rounds the information out by giving you 5 full colour photos showing the difference between wiping on or brushing on a finish. He also shows the difference a sealer coat can make. Watch for the next two issues in this three part series. The next one is on ‘Rubbing Out a Finish”, the third will be ‘Applying Stains”.

Tool Techniques: Scrapers

By: Hendrik Varju
A card scraper is the kind of tool that doewn’t make a lot of sense at first glance. You’ll probably read about them several times but ignore them. After all, sandpaper works well and takes little skill to use. And when sandpaper gets dull, you just throw it away and grab a new ‘sharp’ sheet. However, soon after learning how to use a scraper, you’ll appreciate its benefits. It will create shavings instead of sawdust, removing far more material in a shorter span of time. It’s also a great tool for quick smoothing of problem areas, and is handy for removing small areas of finish missed by a chemical stripper. Learn from Hendrik, a true craftsman, how scrapers work and why you should be using one in your woodworking. Hendrik gives 5 full colour photos showing various scrapers, how to file their edge, how to hold them, and the kind of shavings that you might expect to get with them. He also gives detailed instruction (along with four detailed illustrations) on how to get your scraper sharp and keep it that way.

Shop Tested: Kreg Precision Mitre Gauge and Band Saw Fence

By: Carl Duguay
It’s a frustrating fact of woodworking life that most tablesaw miter gauges and bandsaw fences offer mediocre performance. No wonder there is such a large after-market for these two accessories. The Kreg Tool Company, manufacturer of the highly regarded and widely used Kreg Pocket Hole Joinery system, has recently introduced two new products into the after-market: a miter gauge and a bandsaw fence. Carl puts both through the paces and concludes that these two new Kreg products are exceptional. Read how and why Carl is so happy with these workshop accessories.

Shop Utilities: Power Tool Maintenance

By: Michael Kampen
Power tools face damaging heat and mechanical stress every time they are used. Even common dust can accumulate in a tool, creating heat build-up and excessive friction, both of which cause the tool to run hotter and wear prematurely. However, with just a little bit of care and maintenance, your power tools can last you substantially longer. Michael shows you how to maintain your power tools with detailed instructions and 3 full colour photos.

Shop Tool: Bench Top Lathe

By: Carl Duguay
If you’ve ever wanted to try woodturning, but thought that the space requirements and cost would be too much, think again. Benchtop lathes can take up as little as 12 square feet of floor space, the size of many closets. Quite a few models can be had for under $300, and the other accessories you will need will cost under a hundred dollars. So, for about the price of a portable planer, jointer, or mitre saw, you can enjoy the craft of turning. In this article, Carl talks about lathes in general, and the General Maxi-lathe in particular. He covers: the parts; headstock and motor; tail stock; carriage and tool rest; bed ways; holding stock; and safety considerations. When you’re done this article you will have a good understanding of lathes, their parts and how they work. You will also know why Carl concludes that the General Maxi-lathe is a very good value.

Dust Collection: Cyclones

By: Chester VanNess
In this article, Chester discusses the cyclone dust collector: how it works; and what the advantages and disadvantages are for the home hobbyist. Chester shows a full colour photo of a cyclone all set up in a shop. He also provides three full colour photos showing the various cyclone parts (i.e. outlet, pre-separator and blower). Chester gives a lot of helpful insights, as well as a list of things to consider when purchasing a cyclone. If you are considering a cyclone for your shop, be sure to see this article.

Woods to Know: White Ash

By: Laura Morris
White ash is part of the olive family and is one of four ashes native to Canada. Interestingly, ash doesn’t grow in stands, but is distributed among other hardwoods, like the sugar maple, red oak and butternut. You’ll find it scattered through the southern parts of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, as well as through out Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. As with all of the other woods that we are covering with this series, this article covers: uses; physical properties; and working characteristics. The article also features a beautiful illustration showing the trees outline/silhouette, leaves, buds and seeds. It also has a full colour photo of a nice piece of White ash lumber.

Wood Wisdom: Mystique of Hand Tools

By: Clive Smith
Probably everyone involved with woodworking has noticed the expanded interest in hand tools. Almost all manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers have caught on to this very unexpected, rapidly expanding market. I say ‘unexpected’ because after all, we are in the 21st century, and sophisticated cordless power tools and computer controlled production machinery seem to have taken over the work place. Read Clive’s musings on the important place that hand tools have in todays woodworking shops. If you have ever wondered about the allure of hand tools, this article will definitely shed some light on the subject.

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