Recently, I received a commission to build a coffee table with a jigsaw puzzle design on the surface. The idea was to use a dark wood on the outside and paint the inside blue. I wanted straight-grained walnut for the outside so not to distract from the puzzle pieces being routed on the surface. Since I wasn't … Continue reading Puzzle Table
The large majority of the wood that I have is sawn in slabs. While the live edges allow more design possibilities, there are times when I don't need them. Layout To process this slab, I start by aligning my straight edge just inside the bark. This results in the straightest grain with the least amount of waste. … Continue reading Breaking Down Slabs
A reader recently inquired about the method I use to secure the crosscut fence to my sliding table saw. Grizzly provides a knob with a long male thread to pass through the slot in the outrigger and into the bottom of the crosscut fence. This is secure, but slow to remove when taking off the crosscut fence. For … Continue reading Fast-Action Clamp for Crosscut Fence
Wheel marking gauges are great layout tools, but their round face means the tool has an annoying tendency to roll, which sometimes results in finding it on the floor with a chipped cutter. By reshaping the outside profile of the tool's face, it stays put and adds a touch of flair. This simple improvement takes about … Continue reading Make a Polygon Marking Gauge
The Vancouver area is a great place to be a woodworker. There are literally dozens of quality lumber suppliers, a handful of big box stores, a scattering of specialty woodworking stores, and even toolmaking companies. One of those toolmaking companies is MEGAPRO, which specializes in making screwdrivers and bits, including three very unique bits - … Continue reading Hole Boring Bits with a 1/4″ Hex Drive
There are a number of woodworking blogs that I follow and I found this tidbit of wisdom on This Business About Woodworking: If there is something you really want to do, do it now. Don’t wait thinking that you will find time one of these days because time cannot be found. And don’t think you will make … Continue reading Time
I originally wrote this post for the Time Warp Tool Works blog. What causes accidents? What's the biggest cause of accidents in the shop? Dull tools? No. Improper use? No. Not using the guards or proper safety equipment? No. Ack - complacency! I believe that complacency is the #1 cause of accidents, and it's easy to be complacent when … Continue reading Stay Focused and Be Safe
When I had the chance to make a living as a furniture maker, it was a dream come true. However, I soon realized that my chosen path was a very difficult one and found that I needed to adapt my designs to appeal to consumers. In this video, I share some of my best tips for making … Continue reading How to Make Furniture that Sells
Register today to participate in the Shop Stool Build-Off. You must register to win a prize! I have some shop stool designs drawn up for the Shop Stool Build-Off. Feel free to use them or customize them to your liking. I don't have plans, so please don't ask for any. This design is inspired by … Continue reading Shop Stool Design #2: Slick and Nearly-As-Simple
Register today to participate in the Shop Stool Build-Off. You must register to win a prize! I have some shop stool designs drawn up for the Shop Stool Build-Off. Feel free to use them or customize them to your liking. I don't have plans, so please don't ask for any. Overview This is the first … Continue reading Shop Stool Design #1: Slick and Simple
