Woodworkers use clamps for many tasks, but most importantly for clamping work together while the glue sets. Some clamps, like spring clamps are fairly weak and apply about 35 lbs of force. At the other end of the scale, heavy duty bar clamps can exert up to 6800 lbs, and C-clamps can exert well over … Continue reading The Fine Art of Sticking Two Pieces of Wood Together
Clean Shop!
Well, I spent the last week cleaning my shop. There's still some organizing to do, but it's clean at least!
A Box Called “Tolerences”
This box was built from butternut using only hand tools. I started with green boards of butternut and planed them down with a jack plane, cut the half-lap joints with a chisel and skew-rabbet plane, and glued and nailed the joints. I glued and nailed on the bottom with two nails - the other two … Continue reading A Box Called “Tolerences”
Faster Than Super Glue
Yesterday, I had a bit of a scary moment. I needed to glue something together, so I found my bottle of Hot Stuff (fast setting cyanoacrylate adhesive, commonly known as Super Glue). I took off the black cap, put the tip to the piece I was gluing, and squeezed. Nothing. I wasn't in the shop … Continue reading Faster Than Super Glue
Installing A Shelix Cutter Head
May 11, I decided that it was time to rid my 8" jointer (Delta DJ-20) of its dull knives. I carefully removed the blades and found that they were hopelessly dull. Must have been that lignum vitae. Rather than send the knives out to be sharpened or purchase new knives, I decided to spring for … Continue reading Installing A Shelix Cutter Head
The Problem with Hand Planes Today
Hand planes can be divided several ways. One of the more common ways is by length. There are of course block planes, which are the shortest, at around 6-7". Then come smooth planes, which typically measure 9-10". They are followed by jack (fore) planes at 14-15" and finally jointer (try) planes which are about 18-22" … Continue reading The Problem with Hand Planes Today
Sharpening a Card Scraper
Of all the techniques related to woodworking, this sharpening a card scraper tends to generate the most interest. This is my method: Remove the old burr if necessary by rubbing the face of the scraper on a stone. I use my diamond stone as not to scar my water stones. Clamp the scraper in a … Continue reading Sharpening a Card Scraper
Yet Another Way To Make A Mortise
The mortise and tenon joint is a fundamental in furniture making. It has been around for ages and has stood the test of time. The joint consists of two parts - the mortise, which is the hole, and the tenon, which fits into the hole. What makes this joint so strong is the large gluing … Continue reading Yet Another Way To Make A Mortise
Out of a Jamb
I am proud of myself. In the past week, I have finished several projects which have been waiting for a while. Some for a week, some more than six months. That I am not proud of. But it's a fact of life. Stuff gets put on the back burner and is left there. While I … Continue reading Out of a Jamb
An Overview of Table Saws
Benchtop saws are the most portable. Most come with a folding stand of some sort and can be carried with relative ease. These saws are ideal for job sites because they are easy to transport but are good for a shop too. The tables are usually cast iron and may have stamped steel, aluminum, or … Continue reading An Overview of Table Saws
