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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: Secretary Desk (Part I)By: Rob Brown (Apr/May 2007) Shop Project: Router Work StationBy: Michael KampenWithout a doubt, the router is one of the most useful tools in your shop, and to really get the most out of this tool it is best to mount it in a table. Not only does this increase the utility of the router, but for many operations, it makes it easier to rout smaller parts safely. With a table mounted router you can also use large panel raising bits. After years of routing experience, Michael has designed what we call ‘the ultimate router work station’. And, to make it even more practical for you, he has provided two different versions (at two different price points), so you can decide which is best for you. One version uses the ProMax cast iron top from Bench Dog Tools, and the other uses a Lee Valley steel router table. Both versions feature above the table bit height adjustment and bit changing which, if you use your router on a regular basis, you will soon come to regard as a real convenience and a significant time saver. The Bench Dog version uses a ProMax router lift with a Porter Cable 7518, 3 1/4 hp production router, while the Lee Valley version uses a Freud FT1700VCE 2 1/4 hp router which offers above the table bit changing and height adjustment as part of its design. Michael gives detailed step-by-step instruction, an easy to follow materials list, an exploded 3D illustration showing all of the construction details, drawers and joinery, and three full colour photos of the completed router work station. If you don’t already have a router – get one. If you have one, but it’s not mounted in a table – get this project. We’ll be featuring some great router projects in several of our upcoming issues. Get ready to rout! Outdoor Furniture: Cedar Potting BenchBy: Michael KampenA potting bench is an ideal accessory for your patio or back shed, providing a convenient place to seed flats of trays in the spring, or pot-up larger plants late in the summer. The wood you choose will be influenced by its final location. Pine or red oak would be ideal if your workspace is indoors, while cedar or white oak are more weather resistant and are a better choice for a bench that will be used outdoors. The bench would also make a great workspace and serving table next to your barbecue. This bench is made of cedar with all of the parts being milled from deck and fencing lumber – readily available from most building supply centres. Michael gives detailed step-by-step instruction, along with a 3D exploded view showing all of the potting bench’s parts and joinery. Michael uses dowels to assemble this piece, so if you wish, you can take it apart to store. Michael also provides two sidebars that focus on ‘Successful Dowel Gluing’ and ‘Getting your Holes in a Row’. Read them, and be able to make a dowel joint come together perfectly! Tool Project: Marking GaugeBy: Michael KampenThis marking gauge is very handy, whether you are laying out joinery, using it as a depth gauge, or simply using it to transfer a measurement to another location. It’s a quick and simple project you can easily complete in a day. And, what’s cooler than making your own tools? Nothing! Imagine a shop full of tools, and all made by you. That’s what you’ll get when you follow along our series on making your own tools. Skill Builder: Cutting Dados and Grooves on the Table SawBy: Staff writtenDados and grooves are one of the most basic joints you can use when constructing furniture projects. They provide a mechanical connection that can be reinforced with glue and screws, making a structure much more rigid than had it been fastened together with butt joints. While not as decorative as dovetails, or finger joints, they are much easier to cut and are ideal for housing panels such as drawer bottoms. When you see how easy it is, you’ll be making them all the time. This informative article also clearly defines and illustrates: grooves; rabbets; dados; and slots. There is also a dealer list for dado blades, so if you want to get started right away, you’ll know where to start. Craft Project: Bird HousesBy: Michael KampenKnowing that each bird has it’s own housing requirements, Michael does a brilliant job of providing everything you will need for the birds in your ‘neck of the woods’. First off, he gives a handy chart showing all of the necessary measurements for common birds. Then, he gives full instruction, materials list, 3D illustration, and mounting advice for two completely different styles. Now that’s variety. See this project and you’re sure to come up with just the right one for your birds. Skill Builder: Installing HingesBy: Staff writtenHinges have been designed for almost every conceivable situation. The variety of hinges available to the woodworker is staggering indeed, and selecting the right hinge and installing it correctly can be a challenge. In most cases, hardware is installed during the final phase of construction after much time has been invested in the project; this is definitely not the time to make a mistake in choosing or installing the hardware. Learn all about ‘when to use’ and ‘how to install’: butt hinges, no-mortise hinges, knife hinges, barrel hinges, piano hinges, and European hinges. Shop Tools: Corded Circular SawBy: Hendrik VarjuWhile Hendrik uses a table saw for most crosscuts and rips, he says you can’t beat the convenience of a circular saw for some of those rougher cuts, like when cutting a small piece off the end of a long board, cutting full sheets of plywood, and on-site work. In this article Hendrik looks at what you need to know before you go out and buy a new corded circular saw. He covers: Weight and Power; Bevel Capacity and Stops; Depth of Cut; RPMs and Noise; Left or Right Blade; Ease of Blade Changes; Cord Length; Edge Guides and other important features. Then, there is a chart showing the specs of twelve leading manufacturer’s products. Carving Project: Carving Green WoodBy: David Bruce-JohnsonMany carvers go to great lengths to avoid using green, freshly cut wood. A common concern is cracking or checking because the wood is wet. Not anymore! Read David’s approach to carving green wood and you may never pay for kiln-dried wood again. Shop Essentials: Hand SawsBy: Michael KampenIt’s amazing how much difference using the right tool makes. We’ve all got saws around, but are you using the right one for the required task? In this surprisingly informative article, Michael explains: Rip Saws; Crosscut Saws; Backsaws; Frame Saws; Japanese Saws; and Multipurpose Saws. Shop Jig: Tenoning JigBy: Staff writtenThis tenoning jig cuts tenon cheeks on rails safely and accurately with your table saw. It is designed for a beam type rip fence patterned on the Biesemeyer design. Mortise and tenon joints are an essential part of many projects, so if you don’t already have this jig in your workshop, it is an easy project that will add to the efficiency of your shop as well as make you a safer and more precise woodworker. Wood Chuckle: Some DaysBy: Don WilkinsonDon is a Canadian comedic writer and woodworker. This is his first contribution to the magazine and he’s already got our readers talking, and laughing! Check it out. You’ll be surprised at how much of your self you see in his workshop. You can subscribe to our magazine by clicking here. |
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