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On The Cover: Wavy Bar Stool

By: Trish McCulloch (June/July 2007)
This project is comprised of five identical laminations joined and mounted on walnut legs. The legs raise the seat to bar height and prevent the chair from rolling backwards. This project is a good exercise in bent lamination, as it consists predominately in making a jig and laminating 1/16" maple veneer to form the bent parts for the chair. Using veneer as opposed to milling solid stock saves time and eliminates a lot of waste. Trish leads you through the process of: Building the Form; Laminating the Veneer; Trimming the Laminiations; Cutting the Mortises and Tenons; Gluing the Seat; Trimming the Ends; Attaching the Legs; and Finishing. She gives excellent step-by-step instructions, eleven full colour photos, four illustrations (including a 3D exploded view showing all of the parts and joinery, and a ‘how-to’ for making the bent lamination form.) She also gives a detailed materials list, and construction notes for three different jigs that make the building of this stool as easy as possible. This is a very unique looking stool that is sure to have everyone who enters your home walk over and sit down in it. If you do decide to make one of these, you had better keep that form handy, because once people have seen what you can do, you’ll be making more of them.

Woodworkers Gallery: Folding Card Table

By: Kerry Cox
Inspired by the work of Glen Huey, Kerry built this African mahogany card table with a mixture of hand and power tools. Kerry’s work was chosen from a number of entries contributed and judged by Canadian Woodworking website’s ‘woodworking fourm’ members. To see more of Kerry’s work, along with other excellent pieces from our membership, go to: http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=list

CrossWood Puzzle:

By: Mel Sevindik
Mel debuts in this issue with the first of six woodworking themed crossword puzzles. With this crossword puzzle you not only get to solve the clues and fill in the crossword, there is an additional ‘word scramble’ that is revealed when the puzzle is complete. Use the last clue to unscramble the secret word and you will have bragging rights as an accomplished wordworker.

Shop Jig: Bench Hook

The bench hook is likely one of the most primitive tools in the woodworkers arsenal. Essentially it's a brace against which you hold stock while sawing or planning. A second brace on the bottom of the jig keeps the bench hook from moving while you saw or plane away. That's it. Nothing could be as simple or as easy to build and use. There are no ‘tricks’ to using this jig, other than to let the saw (or shooting plane) do the work for you. With one hand you securely hold the work piece against the stop, while with the other hand you saw or plane. Smooth even strokes are best.

Wood Chuckles: Projects from Hell

By: Don Wilkinson
In most businesses and endeavors, there always comes a time you will refer to as, "the ….. from hell." A mechanic may have a, "car from hell" that comes in for every conceivable problem and no matter what he does, the next week it’s back with another problem. A dressmaker may have a "client from hell" that comes in for their final fitting the day before the special event, but have added another 50 pounds or so since the previous fitting. Every waiter, waitress and anyone who has ever worked for an airline has had at one time or another, "customers from hell" that can never be satisfied no matter what you say or do. In this article, Don shares with us his “wall unit from hell’ - a commissioned project that didn’t quite work out like he had planned. It’s one of those stories that you’re not sure whether to laugh or cry for the poor guy. (Hint: I laughed!)

Joinery: Decorative Joinery Using the Incra Jig

By: Kevin Shantz
The "Game Box" article, which appeared in the August/September 2006 (Issue 43) of Canadian Woodworking, showed some sweet decorative dovetails. Those dovetails generated a lot of interest among our readers. In this article Kevin shows you how he cut such dovetails using the Incra LS Positioning fence system. This system creates beautiful dovetails as well as complex and beautiful box joints. It can also be used for sliding dovetails, rabbet cuts, or dados . It’s use is not limited to your router table but can be moved to the table saw, band saw, or drill press. Kevin has found that this jig delivers unbelievable accuracy and flawless repetitive cuts. The joint featured on the game box is called a Corner Post Double Dovetail. It's one of dozens you can make with the Incra jig using the templates in the accompanying master reference guide. This article gives you an overview of the LS Positioner 2000 from Incra, and shows you how to use it to make beautiful joints. Kevin provides a full colour photo of the jig, three full colour photos of the resulting joinery, and two illustrations outlining the steps and process of making these incredible joints.

Carving Project: Ladybug Fridge Magnet

By: David Bruce-Johnson
Sometimes a person wonders if a carving is really worth the effort. This relatively easy project is definitely NOT a case in point. In large part, carving a ladybug is a matter of rounding a carefully selected piece of butternut. Then, its simplicity is complimented by unusual but effective detailing. If you choose to use a 4 inch by 6 inch block as David has done for this article, you will produce one extremely large and functional refrigerator magnet. David leads you through the delightful process by giving easy to follow step-by-step instructions, and nineteen full colour ‘how-to’ photos. David has an incredible knack for teaching various aspects of carving through simple projects. You will see what I mean when you discouver how easy this ladybug is to make, and how much you learn while making it.

Shop Tools: Jig Saws

By: Hendrik Varju
Nothing beats a jig saw for on-site portable curve cutting. In fact, Hendrik uses his quite a lot when he just wants to cut a few large boards down to size and doesn’t feel like setting up his table saw for crosscutting. With an aggressive, heavy-duty blade, a quality jig saw can cut almost as quickly as a circular saw. But the jig saw can also make very fine cuts in thin stock and tight curves. It’ll also cut steel, aluminum, brass, PVC and other plastics easily with the right blades. Unless you need a bandsaw for resawing, Hendrik often suggest that a good jig saw could hold off that purchase for a long time, or at least until a high level of accuracy is required. In this article, Hendrik takes a look at some of the features that make a jig saw a solid performer in the workshop. Make sure that you read what Hendrik has to say before you make a jig saw purchase. Jig saws covered in this article include: Bosch; DeWalt; Fein; Hitachi; King; Metabo; Milwaukee; Porter-Cable; Ridgid; Black and Decker; Skil and Ryobi.

Scroll Saw: Charlottetown

By: Marcus Cutler
Charlottetown is often referred to as the birthplace of Canada, as the 1864 Charlottetown Conference laid the groundwork for Confederation. This issues feature scroll saw pattern shows the Government House (also known as Fanningbank), built in 1834. At the top of the pattern is one of the royal lions of England, originally added to the coat of arms in 1905, and a silhouette of red oak, the provincial tree.

Skill Builder: Routing Basics (Part I)

By: Staff Written
Perhaps no more than forty or fifty years ago, grooving, decorative edge work and intricate joinery in most small wood shops would have been done by a wide range of various hand tools. Not so today. The introduction of the hand held router has significantly changed the way we work. But the first routers weren't hardly as sophisticated versatile wood processors we use today. Long gone are the days of a simple motor with limited adjustability spinning a steel bit with a 1/4" shaft at a single speed. The new generation of routers offer more versatility, power and features than ever before, and woodworkers are taking to them like ducks to water. Like any other woodworking tool, routers can range from the most basic, inexpensive model to more expensive versions packed with features that dramatically expand the routers’ capabilities. This article tells you what you what you need to know before purchasing a router. It also lists where routers are available across Canada. Be sure to read this article before you buy. It could make a big difference both in what you pay and what features you decide on.

Shop Project: Saw Blade Storage Box

By: Staff Written
Finding storage space in the shop can be a challenge. Many power tools come with their own plastic carrying case designed specifically for that tool. However, when you buy a new blade for your table saw it normally comes on a cardboard backer or in one of those wretched plastic blister packs. This may do an admirable job of protecting the carbide teeth on its journey from the factory to your shop, but once unwrapped, you are on your own. Add to that that most woodworkers will acquire several different blades specifically suited to various types of cuts over the years, and the storage problem is compounded. This saw blade storage box contains 12 drawers and provides plenty of storage space for all the blades you will likely ever need. This project includes three full colour photos of the finished piece - showing it opened, closed, and side view. It also gives you a 3D exploded view showing all of the parts and joinery, and a detailed materials list. This easy shop project will serve you well for many years to come.

Heritage Project: Shaker Wall Clock

By: Michael Kampen
The Shaker communities reached their height during the 1800’s but have since dwindled down to the last remaining community at Sabathday Lake still carries on to this day. They are most well known for the enduring legacy of the Shaker furniture style. Simple and unadorned in appearance, it was built with a high degree of craftsmanship with individual craftsmen developing their own discrete ornamentation to set their pieces apart from the others. As the 1800’s drew to a close, the Shaker style started to adopt some of the ornamentation of the new Victorian era. This Shaker wall clock is based on a series of clocks that Isaac Newton Young started in the spring of 1840. While this clock doesn’t stray too far from those built by Young in terms of its overall design, Michael made some changes to accommodate modern woodworking methods. Michael gives you easy to follow step-by-step instructions, two full colour photos of the clock (showing it’s face and pendulum/storage doors in both the opened and closed position). He also provides great tips for assembly, a detailed materials list, and a 3D exploded view showing all of the parts and joinery.

Furniture Project: Secretary Desk (Part II), Gallery and Finish

By: Rob Brown
In the last issue Rob described the process of making this secretary desk. In this issue he will complete the desk with a gallery that sits on top. He also shows you how to finished the entire piece. The gallery of a secretary desk helps keep smaller items organized. Mail, pens, and notes as well as other often used items are conveniently stored and easily accessible. When the slant top is open, one's eyes are drawn to the contrasting small drawers and pigeonholes. From the woodworkers standpoint the gallery provides many options for showing off some finer joinery methods. It will also give you a chance to use some of those highly prized figured woods that you have been protecting at the back of your lumber rack. Rob gives eight full colour photos, easy to follow step-by-step instructions, a detailed materials list and a 3D exploded view showing all of the gallery parts and joinery. Rob also offers some great tips to consider when you are designing your own secretary desk’s gallery.

Wood Turning: Plumb Bob

By: Paul Ross
Although there are many different styles of plumb bobs, they all, in essence, do the same thing: they enable you to establish a vertical line. Plumb bobs are one of the earliest tools know to man. The Egyptians made use of them building the pyramids. The essential design of the bob has remained unchanged since about 1500 BC. You can use a solid block of wood from a single species (any hardwood will do nicely) or you can glue up a lamination of several species, as Paul did. Making your own tools can be very satisfying. If you haven’t made yourself a tool yet, this simple bob may be a good one to start with. Once you’ve seen how rewarding making your own tools can be, you’ll be going through all of your back issues of Canadian Woodworking, just looking for tools that you can make. Paul leads you through this turning project with ten full colour photos and easy to follow step-by-step instructions. He also gives an informative side bar regarding the use of skews.

Shop Project: Portable Workshop Spray Booth

By: Staff Written
Hand rubbed oil and wax finishes are justifiably popular, but there are times when such a finish is not appropriate. For table tops and other surfaces subject to hard usage, water or abrasive products, a modern film finish is the best choice. This portable spray booth will enable you to spray water based finishes easily and safely, even if you have only a small workspace. Water based finishes are ideal for the home shop because they produce minimal explosive vapours and they are practically odourless. Also, the electrical equipment in your spray area or any associated fans and ventilation equipment need not be explosion proof. Space is usually at a premium in home workshops and most are not large enough to have sufficient space to set up a dedicated spray area. But with this simple spray booth you can quickly set it up when needed, and easily fold it up and store it between uses. You can make this booth out of coreplast or a similar lightweight product. Duct tape holds it together. The detailed 3D illustration shows a freestanding booth with a stand on which to place a fan – this is ideal for spraying large items like furniture or cabinetry. However, you can easily make a smaller booth sized to fit on a work table (also illustrated). In this case you won't need the stand, simply set your fan on the workbench behind the spray booth. This spray booth is designed to be portable and practical. It is a quick and easy project that is sure to improve the look and ease of your finishing.

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