Maple Trestle Table, Session 8 – Make Your Tools Work for You and Flattening the Top

Posted on by Chris Wong

On the morning of Sunday, April 15th, Morton and I exchanged ideas about trestle tables, spurred on by a recent sketch of a table on which he was working.  That got me yearning to build a trestle table. I documented my progress live on Twitter which was useful because each update had a time stamp so followers could … Continue reading Maple Trestle Table, Session 8 – Make Your Tools Work for You and Flattening the Top

Maple Trestle Table, Session 6 – Making Battens and Installing Countertop Connectors

Posted on by Chris Wong

On the morning of Sunday, April 15th, Morton and I exchanged ideas about trestle tables, spurred on by a recent sketch of a table on which he was working.  That got me yearning to build a trestle table. I documented my progress live on Twitter which was useful because each update had a time stamp so followers could … Continue reading Maple Trestle Table, Session 6 – Making Battens and Installing Countertop Connectors

Maple Trestle Table, Session 5 – Routing Pockets for Battens

Posted on by Chris Wong

On the morning of Sunday, April 15th, Morton and I exchanged ideas about trestle tables, spurred on by a recent sketch of a table on which he was working.  That got me yearning to build a trestle table. I documented my progress live on Twitter which was useful because each update had a time stamp so followers could … Continue reading Maple Trestle Table, Session 5 – Routing Pockets for Battens

Maple Trestle Table, Session 3 – From Two Slabs to One Table Top

Posted on by Chris Wong

On the morning of Sunday, April 15th, Morton and I exchanged ideas about trestle tables, spurred on by a recent sketch of a table on which he was working.  That got me yearning to build a trestle table. I documented my progress live on Twitter which was useful because each update had a time stamp so followers could … Continue reading Maple Trestle Table, Session 3 – From Two Slabs to One Table Top

Adapting a Porter Cable 890-Series Plunge Router to fit a Festool D27 Dust Extraction Hose

Posted on by Chris Wong

Since I don't yet own a Festool router, my Porter-Cable 890 Plunge Router showed the most promise of containing the mess.  Dust and chips were drawn into the port built into the base (located behind the depth stop turret) and up through the column.  My only shop vacuum/dust extractor was a Festool CT26 and I … Continue reading Adapting a Porter Cable 890-Series Plunge Router to fit a Festool D27 Dust Extraction Hose

Machinists’ End Mills and Routers

Posted on by Chris Wong

End mills are similar to the spiral bits that we woodworkers use, only they are designed for use with metal.  However they can often be had at lower prices, especially long bits.  This recent thread on the Festool Owners Group has some good information on using end mill bits in a router.  Post #12 has … Continue reading Machinists’ End Mills and Routers

Removing Router Bearings

Posted on by Chris Wong

With proper technique, removing bearings from router bits can be a safe and straight-forward procedure.  Removing shaft-mounted bearingsfrom a bit is easiest - simply loosen a set screw in the locking collar and slide off the collar followed by the bearing.  This is easy because the set screw is perpendicular to the shaft. End-mounted bearings … Continue reading Removing Router Bearings

Construction of “Table with a Twist” – Part 3: Top and Finishing

Posted on by Chris Wong

This is the third post on the construction of my Table with a Twist.  The first post covered the making of the legs and the second post covered the aprons. The tabletop was the last main component to be made.  I had selected a premium piece of figured maple which I milled to about 42" x 12-1/2" … Continue reading Construction of “Table with a Twist” – Part 3: Top and Finishing

Router Collets Provide a Firm Grip

Posted on by Chris Wong

A collet is something that most of us take for granted.  Besides knowing that it is sized to hold the bit, what else is there to know?  Recently, I took the time to have a closer look at collets... after I dropped one on the floor... Most routers sold today come with a self-releasing collet. … Continue reading Router Collets Provide a Firm Grip