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On The Cover: Liar’s Dice Game Box

By: Kevin Shantz (Aug/Sept 2006)
Kevin Shantz Having friends and family over means time for fun and entertainment, and this little game box is sure to provide hours of both. Even those who are not playing this game will have fun as spectators. Essentially, this game is based on poker, but played with dice, and a fun twist that makes it especially light and enjoyable. You can make this box with simple or complex joinery and with a single wood or complementary species. Kevin made his box out of maple and padauk for maximum colour contrast. To help you along, Kevin gives you detailed instructions, an exploded 3D illustration showing all of the parts, and a detailed materials list. You’ll want to make a few of these, because the first time you pull it out at a party, you’re sure to start getting orders.

Home Project: Spice Rack

By: Michael Theriault
Conveniently organized spices remove the frustration of rummaging through drawers or cupboards. You also find out how quick and easy it is to spice up your meals. This simple spice rack keeps your spices close at hand when cooking. You can either hang it on the wall, or sit it on the counter, using its’ optional base. Michel makes this project especially easy with detailed instructions, step-by-step photos, a 3D exploded view of the spice rack showing all of its parts and joinery, and a detailed materials list.

Furniture Project: Room Divider

By: Michael
This screen is an ideal solution for dividing a large room into smaller units, isolating a computer or play area from a main room, or blocking excessive light. It’s also a great way to hide a messy area in your living room or family room. Michael’s divider is made from walnut, vertical grain western Hemlock, and Cherry. You could make it using a single species, or combination of woods, to suit your décor. Michael leads you through the construction process with easy to follow instructions, a 3D illustration showing all of the parts and joinery, and a detailed materials list.

Memorial Project: Companion Cremation Urn

By: Mack Cameron
A cremation urn seems the perfect project for a person who loves woodworking. Mack took his idea of making his own cremation urn a step further, and decided to make a companion urn, that would hold both him and his wife. Mack gives you detailed step-by-step instructions along with six full colour photographs showing joinery and other details. He also includes a 3D exploded view illustration, and a full materials list.

Turning Project: Exotic Wood Dusting Brush

By: Paul Ross
This handy brush is great for getting at any hard to reach places, and is especially suited for dusting your computer’s keyboard. This is a simple spindle turning project that becomes extraordinary when you use any one of a variety of beautiful exotic woods. Paul has created quite a variety of these brushes, using such woods as: Vermillion, Calantas, Ebony, Tigerwood, Angigo, Zebrano, Niangon, Kingwood, Greenheart Rosewood and Purpleheart. Paul leads you through the process with nine step-by-step photos, and detailed instructions.

Carving Project: Fundamentals of Folds

By: David Bruce Johnson
To fully cover the fundamentals of folds would take a book in itself, so instead, this article introduces some basic principles along with a little how-to exercise for practice. David gives twelve step-by-step photos, and detailed easy-to-follow instructions that make carving folds easier (and more realistic) than ever.

Scroll Saw: Toronto

By: Ted Duquette
Hogtown, TO, Muddy York, Toronto the Good…. No matter what you call it, Toronto is one fabulous city. This particular pattern is just one of the many cities that are featured in this ‘Canadian Capitals’ series. Ted provides a full size pattern, a detailed materials list, and step-by-step instructions. If you, or someone you know, has a connection to Toronto, this scroll saw project makes a great gift.

Skill Builder: Choosing Lumber

By: Staff Writer
Whether you use hand or power tools, traditional or modern joinery techniques, there is one thing that all woodworkers have in common: wood – the material that we all work with. There are three very important elements that must come together in making a project that will not only be pleasing to the eye, but will stand the test of time: good design; careful workmanship; and meticulous selection of materials. Of these, wood selection can have the greatest effect on the final appearance of your finished piece. This single article is worth the price of a subscription. You will save both time and money by using a simple lumber kit that we help you put together. Learn how to select wood like a pro, otherwise you’re just buying the wood that the pros are leaving behind.

Shop Essentials: Drill Bits

By: Staff Writer
Over the centuries, woodworkers have needed to create holes in their work pieces – be it for joinery, ventilation, or drainage. Early drills were no more than sharp pointed objects that were spun back and forth in place to wear a hole through the wood. Although no doubt effective, it was a long, slow, laborious process that achieved rustic results at best. Over time, inventive craftsmen refined the cutting action of the ‘bit’ to improve both the speed of the drilling process, and the quality of the hole it created. These days, we have a wide variety of drill bits to choose from, and each is designed to excel at a specific drilling task. From exceptionally clean flat-bottomed holes in fine furniture, to quickly drilling through green wood, there is a drill for almost every use. In this article we take a look at the most common bits found in the workshop, including: twist and brad point; saw tooth and forstner bits; countersink and straight bits; countersink and tapered bits; and plug cutters. Find out what bits to use and when to use them. We also give you a close-look illustration showing various bits and their parts. Be sure to see the sidebar on sharpening your bits, it will ad years to their life, and improve the quality of your work.

Skill Builder: The Ins and Outs of Drawer Slides

By: Staff Writer
What holds your possessions and travels miles without ever leaving your house? Drawers. Chances are your house is filled with them. From the bedroom to the kitchen, drawers are everywhere, though we rarely give them a second thought unless they are overflowing or don’t operate smoothly. A kitchen or bedroom drawer that is 20” deep, and that is opened twice a day, will travel almost half a mile per year. Over 20 years, that drawer could easily travel 10 miles. Regardless of what is in the drawer, the drawer slides must take this wear and tear day-in and day-out, while operating smoothly and without binding. Because drawers are put through years of such use, they are often one of the first things someone will examine on a piece of furniture. A silky smooth sliding action will create an impression of quality. In this article we tell you the options and considerations to keep in mind when selecting slides. The information on slides include: the nature of wood and metal slides; center mount slides; metal slide mechanics; and extension slides.. In our Dec/Jan’07 issue, we will take a closer look at slide installation.

Tool Test: Bostitch Trim Air

By: Staff Writer
This newest offering from Bostitch is a portable air compressor designed for a variety of uses including trim carpentry, cabinet installation, and DIY projects. Find out all about this great new tool, and why the review concludes: “Whether you need an auxiliary portable compressor for small jobs, an initial compressor for light tasks, or a ‘starter’ to work with until you can afford a larger unit, the Bostitch Trim Air will serve you well.”

Shop Machinery: 13” Benchtop Planers

By: Hendrik Varju
Once you decide to try your hand at some finer woodworking, you soon realize the need for a jointer and thickness planer. We have already discussed buying tips for 6” jointers (see issue #40), so in this issue Hendirk looks at what you need to know when you are looking for a benchtop planer. Hendrik covers: Maximum Cutting Width and Height; Maximum Cutting Depth; Extension Tables; Cutting Depth Stops; Anti-Snipe Locks; Knife Changing; Number of Knives; Two-Speed Feed Rate; and Safety. We have also included some great information sidebars, including: Planer Tips; Safe Planing; and Stopping Snipe. Planers listed include: DeWalt; Mastercraft; Ridgid; and Ryobi.

Woods To Know: Grain Pattern

By: Clive Smith
General information that is typical of all species allows us to choose the character of the pieces of wood before narrowing down the species. Alternatively, if you have chosen the species, you can choose a specific cut of wood to give the desired character. In this article, Clive explains the differences between: flat/plain sawn; quarter sawn; and rift sawn. He explains where each particular cut is taken from the log, and how that determines the grain pattern of the resulting lumber.

Wood Wisdon: Self Knowledge

By: Clive Smith
Woodworking can provide the perfect environment to learn about yourself. How do you follow instructions? How do you deal with mistakes? Do you learn from your past experiences? Learning is a life long process, and it doesn’t take a break when you’re in the shop. Check out this article and see how well you know yourself.

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