“Measure twice cut once” I always hated this saying, and despite the fact that I forced myself to adhere to it, it STILL cut boards to the wrong length. It used to aggravate me that no one made a tape measure for right-handed woodworkers. Imagine this for a minute, you have a board that is 30 inches long and you need to cut 15-5/16” off it. You pick up your pencil with your right hand and your measuring tape with the left and lay it out on the wood. All the numbers are up-side down.
Oh sure, we can all read numbers up-side down, unfortunately we often read them wrong don't we, that's why we measure twice and cut once, and hope that our brains and eyes were coordinated in seeing the numbers correctly. Well there is HOPE, finally some tape measure companies have realized that seeing the numbers the right way up might be of help to us woodworkers. Infact, some have even made tapes that are for both left and right hand people because they have numbers you can read EACH WAY.
I love these new tapes, I am making less mistakes and am far less frustrated reading numbers. It's not the whole numbers that go me, it's the fractions and sadly, that's where most of the mistakes happen.
Now if someone could do the same for protractors … oooOO they did, click MORE to see what they did.
“No self respecting woodworker would use any kind of short cut system to make joints” … that’s what I overheard at a wood show not so long ago. I thought to myself at the time, why would you discount something without ever trying it. I happen to love the Kreg Pocket Hole System and have used it extensively. I have even tested it against other joints, both with and without glue and have found that it not only stands up well but surpasses some joints. In many cases of testing joints with the Kreg System we found that the wood failed before the joint failed.
The real beauty of the Kreg Pocket Hole System is that it is easy to use, fast and accurate (with or without glue). Kreg has made it a point to make a tool that even a novice woodworker can use and make quality, solid joints.
Choosing a router can be agony. There are so many to choose from … then do you choose fixed base or plunge? And what about collet sizes?
Well Bosch has made choosing a router easy with their 1617 EVS which can be either a fixed base or a plunge and if you buy the dual package you actually get both bases and the router also comes with both quarter inch and half in collets so you can use any router bit you want.
The Bosh 1617EVS is a rated at two and a quarter horse, but the real rating is that it is a 12 amp motor. Most outlets in the average home are 15 amp which is the maximum amperage they will take before they trip the breaker. The Bosh 12 amp is a powerful router but not so big that it is difficult to hold on to for those hand routing jobs.
You can always tell a “good idea” when others start imitating you. Such is the case with the Rockwell SoniCrafter Oscillating tool. If you are familiar with the original tool of in this ever expanding field, the Fein Oscillating tool then you will know what the SoniCrafter is like too, at least to some degree. Others have recently brought similar oscillating tools into the market place like Bosch and Dremel.
These oscillating type tools are often the kind of tool you think you will likely never need … until the time you finally realize just how handy and time saving they can be. True they are probably not the tool a woodworker might use every day, but for those otherwise very tough and time consuming jobs, these oscillating tools shine.
What we really liked about the Rockwell SoniCrafter is the vast range of accessories that makes this tool as versatile as possible. Not only does it cut things like wood, tile and similar products, it can also grind, shape, sand and polish these items that most other tools are useless at.
DeWalt has worked hard over the years to establish itself as
a reputable tool provider and their efforts have paid off. The DC720KA is a
real workhorse in the DeWalt line. Packing 18 volts of power means this drill
will do almost any job around the house and for more serious woodworkers, this
unit is serious work tool.
Despite the fact this tool is carrying 18 volts worth of
battery power and yes, it is somewhat heavy at 4.8 lbs (at least in our
opinion) as can be expected, DeWalt seems to have been able to offset the
weight issue by keeping the balance and grip of the tool such that it is easy
to handle. We found the drill easy to use for extended periods and the extra
power and battery life made this tool a must have.
The unit has two speed settings, a high speed setting used
more for drilling, particularly through wood and a slower speed setting often
used more for power work or for driving screws. The speed selector switch is
readily available and slides easily between positions.
This a fairly "specific-use" tool, but really top flight. They used to be called butcher-block planes because they were used mostly to flatten endgrain maple butcher block. I carve large pieces of poplar with alot of end grain glue joints and with my regular compliment of planes and sanding equipment, I wasn't able to get really dead flat joints. The low angle jack plane is a very well machined handplane. It is a "simple" block plane with an iron body that has an adjustable throat, a bronze lever cap and cherry handle and knob. The blade is a hefty 3/16 " and is adjusted with a bronze knurled screw. There is no lateral blade adjustment, but the bed is ground so true and the forward adjustment is without any slop so you dont need it. Every piece of the plane is rock solid so even on end grain you get perfect curls. I also use this plane on tough woods (curly and birdseye maple) long and short grain with great results.When I look at this plane as a machine, with the exception of a few carving tools, nothing I own is as well made. I had always looked at $225 planes like jewelry, nice but unneccesary. But You really do get what you pay for atleast with this plane. On a 1 to 10 scale it's an easy 10. If you use hand tools extensively (you caveman!!) certainly try out one of Lie-Neilsen's planes. The only downside is the price, but it will last your lifetime. Incedentally, this plane did not need any "tuning" before use, five minutes on the blade with a leather strop and it was perfect.
For a mid-level price saw, in my opinion, you cannot beat this saw. The motor. one and a half horse, is quiet compared to other saws we have tried.
After assembly, it gave me true and accurate cuts right out of the box. something that I was impressed with, but you should check your own, you might not be so lucky.
Submiitted by GRUE Collins Complete Woodworkers Manual by Albert Jackson and David Day Format: Hardback Price: £24.99 UK Publication Date: October 3, 1996 Imprint: Collins ISBN: 0-00-414005-2
USA released as - The Complete Manual of Woodworking
I was looking for some up to date references for my woodworking classes and came across Collins Complete Woodworker's Manual.
YES! Printed in a way that would attract 21st century teen-agers through to seasoned veterans. It's comprehensive, with up-to-date illustrations on woodworking and includes stunning colour photographs. A special feature is a chapter detailing with the characteristics of a huge variety of timber with plates clearly showing each, and the effect of applying a clear finish.
As a woodworker, I enjoy the time spent in my workshop building furniture and other challenging woodworking projects. Because I'm not working with an unlimited budget, I need to keep my eyes on the bottom line throughout the entire project to make sure I don't underestimate it. This task is unfortunately the least enjoyable because it's mostly done out of the shop with a piece of paper, a calculator, and messy sketches.
This is a low end fairly cheap 3 wheel bandsaw, so my rating takes that into account. In other words, the rating has a "for the price" (which is around $150) qualifier. When the bandsaw arrived, I just had to bolt the feet on, bolt the table on and then plug it and test it. There was a 1/4" blade preinstalled. But the speed control did not function properly. After I turned it up to high it would not turn back down. I also had a bent knob screw. I contacted Grizzly and they sent replacements. The replacements had the same problems. I contacted them again and this time a technician called me and promised to hand inspect and test the parts before sending them. He did and they work fine.
Woodwork Topics 
“No self respecting woodworker would use any kind of short cut system to make joints” … that’s what I overheard at a wood show not so long ago. I thought to myself at the time, why would you discount something without ever trying it. I happen to love the Kreg Pocket Hole System and have used it extensively. I have even tested it against other joints, both with and without glue and have found that it not only stands up well but surpasses some joints. In many cases of testing joints with the 
Choosing a router can be agony. There are so many to choose from … then do you choose fixed base or plunge? And what about collet sizes?
DeWalt has worked hard over the years to establish itself as
a reputable tool provider and their efforts have paid off. The DC720KA is a
real workhorse in the DeWalt line. Packing 18 volts of power means this drill
will do almost any job around the house and for more serious woodworkers, this
unit is serious work tool.
