Articles | woodworking dust collection syste | Hardwood Floor |Polishing Abrasives|Bandsaw|Saw Mill|Sand Paper|lathe

Subscribe NOW

Woodworking Forum

Free Woodworking Classifieds

Free Woodworking Newsletter

To order with credit card by phone call 1-800-204-1773

On The Cover: Toy Train

By: David Rickett (Dec/Jan 2008)
Trains, boats and planes seem to fascinate both young and old. Perhaps as a child you received a train as a Christmas gift. Or you may remember your first train ride – the sound of a chugging locomotive is one not soon forgotten. With that in mind, here is the locomotive end of a train that can either be a toy, part of a Christmas display or something to put on your fireplace mantle. This is a great project to do with the young woodworker in your life. All you have to do is cut and assemble five main pieces, and then add on a bit of hardware. You can use almost any wood, and the hardware is available from most building supply or hardware stores. David helps you through this very popular project with full colour photos, a detailed illustration, and a full materials list. You’ll love the simplicity of this project, and the kids who receive this train as a gift are sure to treasure it.

Routing Basics: Edge Profiling Bits

By: Michael Kampen
While square edges on furniture projects are commonplace, they don’t have to be the first or the last choice in edging. A decorative edge can add considerable visual appeal to any project. The choices for edge forming bits are almost endless and the bits relatively simple to use; following some straightforward guidelines will guarantee success even for a first time user. When most woodworkers first pick up a router, chances are it will be to profile an edge, whether for a table leg, drawer front, tabletop or cabinetry. Using edge-profiling bits can be the least intimidating way to learn how to use this versatile tool. Like most router bits, edging bits can be used freehand or on a router table. Remember that large bits shouldn’t be used freehand. Fortunately manufacturers will always stipulate which bits should be used in a router table and the top speed the bit should not exceed; it is in your interest to follow their advice. When you are routing small pieces of stock it also makes good sense to use a router table, push blocks, and feather boards, regardless of the size of the bit. In this article, Michael covers the following bits: Chamfer; Cove; Round; Bead; and Flute. He explains each of their uses, bevel angles, cutter lengths, style variations and related bits. He also gives five very helpful tips for successful edge routing.

Shop Essentials: Tape Measures and Straight Rulers

By: The Editors
The ability to take accurate measurements for precise stock preparation is the foundation for good woodworking. Your accuracy will be a function of the tools you use, and how well you use them. Two of the most popular measurement tools are the tape measure and the straight ruler. In this very informative article, the editors teach you about: Carpenters’ Tapes; Woodworkers’ Tape; Straight Rulers; and Specialty Rulers. Because, as the editors say, everything you build starts with a measurement. Invest in a good set of rulers and take care of them - they will be a pleasure to use and serve you well for many years.

Scroll Saw Project: Segmented Butterfly

By: Toni Burghout
Intarsia and segmentation – two words often synonymous with creating mosaics with wood. For many of us, our first tastes of these two styles of scrolling came with Patrick Spielman’s work and his many books on scroll sawing. There are some similarities between intarsia and segmentation, with the most noticeable being that the same patterns may be used for both styles. The assembly procedure is also remarkably similar, but there are some distinct differences between the two styles that serve to make them each unique. If you have tried intarsia before, then you should have no difficulty doing a segmentation project. If you are relatively new to scroll sawing, then I recommend you try both intarsia and segmentation styles to see what suits you the best. This project, of a segmented butterfly, is a beautiful piece of art, and one that is sure to be treasured when given as a gift. Toni gives you all of the help you will need, by covering: Segmentation Is Distinct From Intarsia; Wood and Skills; Equipment and Safety; and Basic Steps to Segmentation. Toni also give you: full colour photos; a pattern to trace; and a complete sources listing telling of plans and supplies.

Craft Project: Inlaid Jewellery Box

By: Glen Friesen
A finely handmade gift is itself a statement, saying as much about the maker as it does about the receiver. And like the act of gift giving, the making of a gift is an intimate activity, requiring time, patience, and thoughtfulness. This jewellery box, with it’s unique design and personalized inlay, is not only a beautiful way to store your jewellery, it is a work of art in itself. Glen gives you all the necessary parts to make this stunning piece: full colour photos, detailed illustrations showing all of the parts, measurements and joinery; a complete materials list; lid and leg templates; a supply checklist and two very helpful sidebars – one on doing the inlay, the other on sanding corners.

Home Improvement: Classic Wainscoting

By: Carl Duguay
Add charm, character, and visual appeal to any room with the classic look of wainscoting. Wainscoting is a wood covering that is applied to the lower portion of a wall. In the past, wainscoting provided a practical way to help keep warmth in and dampness out, as well as to enhance the look of the ever present stone walls. Wainscoting was even used in state rooms on trains and boats. Today, you can use the rich look of solid wood wainscoting as a decorative element to dramatically transform just about any room in your house into a warm, inviting space. Carl makes home improvement easy with his helpful and easy-to-follow instructions on wainscoting. With full colour photos, and detailed illustration, Carl covers: The Anatomy of Wainscoting; Solid Wood Wainscoting; Panel Wainscoting; and Installing Wainscoting.

Tool Project: Layout Square

By: Michael Ka
You won’t realize how useful these squares can be around the shop until you have a few at hand. For any square to be of use as a layout or marking tool it must, of course, be square. The most dimensionally stable material to use for this project would be a manufactured sheet good such as MDF or Baltic Birch plywood. It is easier, as well as safer to make two squares at once – this lets you work with larger pieces when preparing the initial stock on the jointer and thickness planer. The dimensions in the materials list reflect this. Of course, you can easily modify the dimensions to suit the kind of work you do. You might want to make one large square for use on cabinetry and sheet goods, and a smaller one that would be more manageable on your workbench. Michael makes this project easy with step-by-step instructions, a full colour photo of the finished layout square, an illustration showing all of the parts and measurements, and a detailed materials list.

Shop Jig: Push Block System

By: The Editors
Safety is all about putting some distance between your body parts and the sharp metal bits that shape wood. This push block is comfortable and easy to use, and incorporates a carriage that rides on the rip fence so you can rip narrow pieces safely. If you don’t already use a push block system, make this your next project. You’ve got 10 reasons to make and use this jig in your workshop.

Wood Chuckle: Tools We Love

By: Don Wilkinson
For those of us who work with wood, whether as a job or simply for pleasure, what we all seem to have in common is at least one particular tool that is a favourite, a tool that we reach for more than any other. A tool that may not be the best one out there, but seems to fit our hand better or does the job better than any other we have tried. In this article, Don looks at the humorous side of our favourite woodworking tool. We all have one, and that is what makes this an especially funny story.

Gift Ideas: Workshop Gifts for Under $50

By: The Editors
Twelve gifts, all under $50: Magnetic Base Light; Digital Angle Metre; Gomboy Folding Saw; R3 Pocket Hole Kit; 6pc. Forstner Bit Set; Maktia 4.8v Cordless Screwdriver Kit; Norton Flattening Stone; Shearpro Multi-Purpose Cutter with 5 Anvils; Celebrating Birch Book; Basic Set of 6 Carving Chisels; Abralon Finishing and Buffing Intro Bundle; Veritas Micro Adjust Graduated Wheel Marking Gauge.

Toy Project: Dinosaurs on Wheels

By: Michael Kampen
As daylight grows shorter at this time of the year, you’re apt to find a lot of woodworkers gravitating to the shop much earlier than usual, with thoughts of the fast approaching festive season milling around in their heads. Christmas, children and toys seem to go together naturally. You could wait until December 24, and then rush all over town looking for that last minute gift you’ll never find, or you could make a splendid, but very friendly, Woodshopasaurus rex for that special child (or adult) in your life. In fact, with this project you can get twice the pleasure, by involving an older child in making ‘dino’ for a younger sibling – or quadruple the pleasure by making both of the dinos. This is a simple and fun project to make, and it can easily be completed in a Saturday afternoon. You could use softwood for this project, but hardwood is a better choice, as dinos are known to be rather rambunctious. While you could cut out these parts on a bandsaw or by hand using a coping saw, we suggest that you use a scroll saw, as it’s a safe tool for any young apprentices to use (under careful and constant supervision of course). Michael makes this an especially easy project with simple step-by-step instructions, full colour photo, detailed illustration showing all of the parts, and a suppy checklist for all of the necessary parts.

Woodworkers’ Gallery: Blanket Box

By: Brent Smith
Projects featured in the Woodworkers’ Gallery are chosen by our woodworking forum members. John Jarrett’s butternut blanket chest, replete with lap desk and hidden compartment, features a curved frame and panel top. You can see more of John Jarrett’s work, along with the work of other members of our woodworking forum, on the CanadianWoodworking.com website.

Shop Tools: 8” Bench Grinders

By: The Editors
When it comes to putting a new bevel on a chisel or repairing a chipped plane blade, most woodworkers will gravitate to the bench grinder. You will find four basic types of grinders on the market today. In this article we will be looking at the conventional dry grinders (you don’t apply water to the wheel). These grinders use an abrasive wheel to shape metal. The other types of grinders include: wet grinders, which use an abrasive wheel that is constantly lubricated by water; belt grinders that use a one to two inch flexible abrasive sanding belt to remove metal quickly, and are commonly used by knife makers and carvers; and the recently introduced turntable style grinders that use adhesive backed micro abrasives discs. Conventional bench grinders are simple machines that have an abrasive wheel attached to each end of a motor shaft. A set of wheel covers and protective shields which contain the sparks generated during grinding, and a tool rest, complete the basic package. The motor is mounted on a heavy base that also contains the on/off switch, and helps to dampen any vibrations in use. There are holes provided in the base for fastening the grinder to a bench; if you have the space to permanently mount the grinder, it is a good idea to fasten it down to reduce vibration. Bench grinders are really ‘all purpose’ grinders that the home handyperson, DIY’er, and home hobbyist will find useful for a wide range of uses. However, most woodworkers will likely find that a few modest enhancements will make the grinder a much more functional tool. 8” grinders that are referenced in this article: Craftex; Force; Ryobi; King; General; DeWalt; Delta; and Steel City. Sharpening Systems referenced in this article: Delta; Veritas; and Tormek. This informative article also covers: Grinding Speeds; Grinding Wheels; Tool Rests; Aftermarket Tool Rests; Spark Guards and Additional Features. The editors also include two very helpful sidebars, one on using Grinding Wheels, the other on Using Wheel Dressers.

Craft Project: Pocked Business Card Holder

By: Gary Gunthorpe
If you sell the woodworking products that you make, it’s a good idea to always carry your business cards with you. After all, you never know when you will meet someone who could be a potential client. And, what better way to wow them than with a sample of your work. These business card holders also make wonderful gifts, whether for family or friends, or as tokens of appreciation given to clients. The design for this project is simple yet flexible. You can use any single wood, or a combination of several different woods. It is sized to store approximately 25 standard sized (2" x 3 1/2") business cards. It’s just as quick to mill pieces for half a dozen card holders as it is to mill the pieces for one. Gary helps you through this project with great photos, detailed illustrations, a complete materials list, a cutting diagram, and helpful step-by-step instructions.

Furniture Project: Heirloom Dresser

By: Marty Schlosser
Building a dresser can be a challenging undertaking, if only because of the numerous pieces and the variety of joinery techniques involved. However, if you take it ‘one joint at a time’, it’s a relatively straightforward project, within the scope of any woodworker with intermediate level skills. Marty makes this project easy, by covering: Design Considerations; Practical Considerations; Careful Stock Preparation; Glue up; Assembly; and Finishing. Marty also gives seven full colour photos and two very detailed illustrations showing all of the parts and measurements. He also provides a full materials list, easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, and several helpful tips along the way. If you are looking for a good solid dresser, that will last for generations, this is the one for you.

You can subscribe to our magazine by clicking here.

Your Privacy - Disclaimer - Subscribe to Canadian Woodworking Magazine