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On The Cover: Routing Basics II

By: Michael Kampen (Aug/Sept 2007)
The router is one of the few tools that comes fully set-up and ready to go right out of the box. Insert a bit into the collet, set the depth of cut, and you’re ready to start routing. For most woodworkers, using a hand-held router is their first introduction to this incredibly versatile tool. The router is a loud and powerful tool and has gained a reputation of being dangerous; but with an understanding of the proper techniques for using this tool, and a healthy measure of respect, this can be one of the safest, most versatile power tools in the shop. In this second installment of router basics, Michael covers: Safety; Avoiding Burn with Router Speed; Proper Routing Direction; Climb Cutting; Depth of Cut; and Router Maintenance. It’s all so easy with Michaels simple explanations, and detailed photos and illustrations. He also gives you ‘10 Router Tips’ that are sure to take your routing to the next level.

Turning Tips: Tips for the Novice Woodworker

By: Carl Duguay
These six tips are bound to help you get the most out of your time at the lathe.

Home Project: Step Stool

By: Michael Kampen
Get a step up on things with this handy little kitchen or shop accessory We’ve all been there, standing on our tiptoes, stretching for all we’re worth trying to reach an item on the top shelf. Or worse yet, we reach, while perched precariously on the edge of a chair. With this handy step stool you’ll be able to step up and reach for the top with confidence. You’ll also be making this stool with confidence, with Michael’s easy to follow step-by-step instructions, complete materials list, 3D exploded view showing all of the parts and joinery, a supply checklist and recommended sources for all of the necessary parts. This stool also makes a great companion to the Kitchen Island Table (Dec/Jan '07, Issue #45)

Inlay Project: Ebony Inlay Cherry Box

By: Treena Gould
Treena designed this cherry box with an ebony inlay for a beginner’s woodworking class that she teaches. It is pleasing in proportion, colour and shape, and satisfying to build. This box is a suitable project to guide newcomers through some of the fundamentals of woodworking, it is more of an intermediate skill level project for someone working alone – due to the tapered sides on the box and the need for at least one template. Treena chose cherry as the main wood and ebony for the inlay, but just about any two contrasting woods could be used. It was designed to be the size of a jewelry or small treasure box. It’s surprising what a little taper can do to make a project outstanding. Treena makes the whole process easy with detailed step-by-step instruction, a 3D exploded view of the box showing all of it’s parts and joinery, a complete materials list, and photos of the completed box. Her ‘supply checklist’ will let you know exactly what you need before you start, and if you don’t have it all already, Treena gives you a list of ‘sources’ for all of your project needs.

Tool Project: Spokeshave

By: Michael Kampen
The spokeshave looks somewhat like a drawknife, but performs more like a hand plane. Like the drawknife, it has two in-line handles, and as with the plane, it uses a cutting blade which projects from a short sole to regulate the depth of cut. Traditionally used to shape spokes for ships’ steering wheels, wagon wheels and the like, shaves are still the tools of choice to shape and smooth convex and concave surfaces, and are a favourite tool of chair makers. This is an easy and enjoyable project to make and a great way to use up some exotic off-cuts. Michael shows you how with easy to follow step-by-step instructions, an illustrated diagram showing side view, bottom view and cross section of the spokeshave, a supply checklist, and list of sources for all the necessary hardware.

Canadian Made: Leigh Super Jigs

By: Carl Duguay
Do a bit of research on the Internet, or read reviews of dovetail jigs in any woodworking magazine, and you’ll find that the Leigh DR4 and D1600 dovetail jigs are unanimously considered the best on the market. The jigs are exceptionally well made, versatile, and easy to use – providing you first read the instruction manual. But with average prices of $519 and $369 respectively, they’re pricey investment for the novice or part-time woodworker. That is until now. Leigh Industries has just introduced a new line of ‘super jigs’. The Super Jigs will feature the same high level of quality that you find on the DR4 and D1600, but at substantially reduced prices, and with a few new enhancements. The Super Jigs will come in three lengths, 12", 18" and 24", with street prices expected to be in the $199, $259 and $329 range. In this piece, Carl does a great job outlining the many features of these brand new jigs.

Outdoor Project: Garden Bench

By: Ryan Shervill
Every garden needs a garden bench – a place to rest while absorbing the beauty of nature. A handmade wooden bench will not only enhance your garden sitting experience, but serve to grace the garden area itself. I was able to make this bench out of a single board of yellow birch, as I have access to old growth lumber, cut 165 years ago. It’s an awesome experience to be able to work with such large pieces of such beautiful old growth wood. To make this bench out of a single board you’ll need rough 8/4 stock about 18" wide and 8' long. If you don’t have large enough stock you can easily laminate smaller pieces together. While you can use almost any wood: teak, mahogany, redwood and western red cedar are all good choices. Ryan is a pro, and he shows it with his simple yet detailed instructions. He also gives you a 3D exploded view of the bench showing all of the parts and joinery, a complete materials list, and an excellent sidebar on winding sticks. (Winding sticks are used when leveling a panel with a hand plane, and help you determine when the panel is flat and true.) Check out Ryan’s supply checklist to make sure that you have everything you will need before you start. If you need anything, there is a complete list of sources of where you can find it.

Tool Power: Lithium-ion Batteries

By: The Newest Cordless Tool Power Source
Just over two centuries ago we were able to harness electricity and save it in a container for later use. These containers were called batteries and their first form was a cumbersome voltaic pile of silver and zinc. Such batteries were the start of a long trek by scientists and inventors to cut the electrical umbilical cord, and to provide consumers and industry with the highest capacity power in the smallest possible package. There were also a lot of other issues that had to be solved along the way, including managing high voltage, recharging times, and long service cycles. In this informative article, Graham details the evolution of power tool batteries up to and including the newest lithium-ion.

Carving Project: Intaglio Revisited

By: David Bruce Johnson
“Intaglio”, the reverse of “relief” carving, is an age-old carving technique. It involves carving everything below the surface of the wood. In other words, intaglio is carving negative rather than positive shapes. Conceptually, intaglio seems complex. In practice, however, it is quite straightforward. One has only to remember the following guideline: the most distant features are carved first and shallow, while features in front are carved last and deep. David makes this beautiful art form quite easy, with his straight forward instructions, and 17 full colour step-by-step photos.

Shop Tools: Belt Sanders

By: Hendrik Varju
Hendrik consistently stress to his woodworking students the importance of using hand planes for fine woodworking. Nothing can get a surface quite as flat, not even sanding. However, hand planes take a great deal of skill to use, never mind learning how to tune and sharpen them. Now Hendrik wouldn’t call a belt sander a replacement for a hand plane by any stretch. But he does say that if your main need for a hand plane is to flatten glued-up panels, you just might get by with a quality belt sander and a sanding frame. A belt sander is handy for all kinds of general DIY work as well. If you need to grind something down in a hurry while building a deck or fitting some rough carpentry work, the belt sander might be the best tool. You can also use it for other grinding jobs like sharpening metal tools, so it’s not just for wood. See this helpful article and find out what features you should look for in a belt sander. Hendrik covers: Weight and Power; Size; Variable Speed; Belt Changing and Tracking; Dust Collection; and Design and Comfort. Belt sanders covered in this article include: Black and Decker; Bosch; DeWalt; Hitachi; Makita; Milwaukee; Porter-Cable; Ridgid; Craftsman; Skil; and Ryobi.

Scroll Project: Chickadee

By: Garnet Hall
One of the most distinctive bird calls is that of the Chickadee. It’s wonderful to hear them calling “Chick-a-Dee-Dee-Dee” to each other as you walk through the woods. There are two species of chickadees found just about everywhere across Canada – the Boreal Chickadee and the Black Capped Chickadee. Both have a characteristic dark cap and bib with white cheeks. They don’t mind the company of people and often frequent feeders. They are not overly aggressive and are often in the company of other birds. Garnet captures the beauty and playfulness of the Chickadee in this brand new scroll saw pattern. He gives a detailed, yet easy-to-follow pattern, a full colour photo of the finished piece, tips on choosing the right woods, and grain direction. He even lists several sources for wood, so that you can be sure to get just the right ones.

Woodworker’s Gallery: Recreation Room Bar

By: Brent Smith
This project is chosen from (and by) our woodworking forum members. Tony Belbeck has always had a dream to design and build a bar, one worthy of handing down as an heirloom. Although he has never visited England, it is his heritage, and he drew on that heritage when he designed this project. To see more of Tony’s work, or what other members are up to, check out our website’s Woodworking Forum.

Shop Jig: Tapering Jig

By: Staff Writer
To cut a consistent angle on your table saw with safety and precision, use a shop made tapering jig. Unlike other tapering jigs that have a pair of arms connected with a hinge, this version features a moveable fence with an end stop, mounted to a base. The jig also includes a couple of hold down clamps to grip the wood, allowing you to concentrate on using the jig. While this jig is designed to cut tapers on your table saw it could also be used to put a clean edge on rough lumber. This is a great series on making your own jigs, so if you haven’t already started, this is a good time to get a jig collection going. It’s easy with this helpful project which tells you how to make and use the tapering jig. Article also shows a 3D exploded view of the jig with all of the parts and joinery, and a full colour photo of the finished jig.

Cross Word Puzzle:

By: Mel Sevindik
Mel continues her series with this, the second 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 word worker.

Wood Chuckle: Installation from Hell

By: Don Wilkinson
Last issue Don spoke of “Projects from Hell”. We have all had projects in which nothing has gone right. Often, those projects end up in the scrap heap or in the woodstove. Sometimes, in spite of all the problems, it is necessary to use the project anyway. Then, there it sits, lurking there, just waiting for you to accidentally glance over and notice it once again. It will haunt your every waking hour and cause you shame if ever you drop your guard and think about its myriad flaws. And yet, it’s quite likely that you are the only person who would ever see the flaws and mistakes. In fact, you’re probably the one who will draw other people’s attention to them in the first place. In this humorous look at woodworking, Don tells of his ‘installation from hell’. It’s not that his project wasn’t any good. The project turned out just fine. It’s when Don takes his masterpiece to the client that ‘all hell breaks loose’. Read it and weep… with laughter!

Woods to Know: Beech

By: Staff Writer
Only one of the 10 known species of beech is native to Canada. It grows from the southernmost part of the Great Lakes into the St. Lawrence Forest region and the Acadian Forest. When left to mature beech grows up to 80' with diameters of up to 4'. Of course, most trees that make it to market are much smaller. You’ll find beech interspersed with other hardwoods such as maple and birch. Whether referred to as American, White or Red Beech, you’ll know it as the tree with smooth, skin-like silvery gray bark, great for vandals of all ages to carve their initials into. Find out more about Beech in this article including: Characteristics; Working Properties; Physical Properties; and Uses. There is also an information box telling you what Beech is best used for, and where to purchase it.

Easy Project: Tiny Toy Box

By: Michael Kampen
Here is a great little project for you and the younger woodworker in your family to make together in a weekend. You can use a table saw and mitre sled to cut the parts, do the shaping on a router table, and then turn the pieces over to your assistant to assemble. Michael used the Dowelmax jig and a cordless drill on this project. This is a very safe system, and allows interested children to participate in some quality time in the shop, under your supervision.You can, of course, use a different model of doweling jig. Michael takes extra care to make this project ‘kid-friendly’, so if you have a little one that wants some shop time, this might be just the thing. The project has easy to follow instructions, full colour photos of the finished toy box, a 3D exploded view showing all of the parts and how they are joined, and a detailed materials list. This project also features a supply checklist so that you can be sure that you have everything you need before you start. And, just in case you need something, there is a ‘sources’ listing, telling you where you can pick it up.

Furniture Project: Harvest Table

By: Gina Shear
The clean lines of the Craftsman style have always appealed to Gina, so when she wanted a pedestal dining table that wasn’t Country or Modern, and wouldn’t look out of place with her grandmother’s antiques, she settled on this design. The table is built in three steps: the top, the apron, and the base. In keeping with the Craftsman era, Gina used quarter-sawn white oak for the top and aprons, and plain-sawn white oak for the rest of the table. Of course, you can use a different wood to suit your decor. Gina leads you through the entire construction process with detailed step-by step instruction, a 3D exploded view of the table showing all of the parts and measurements, a complete materials list, and two very helpful sidebars with detailed illustrations. One sidebar teaches you how to make a bending form, so that you can make this (and other) curved aprons. The second sidebar teaches you how to make a router trammel, which enables you to cut perfect circles. On top of all of that, Gina gives you a complete ‘supply checklist’ so that you know exactly what you need before you start. And, if you don’t already have everything on hand, Gina provides a list of sources for everything you will need for this project.

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