Issue 499
Issue 499
Nuts for You
It is the season of fall: falling leaves, (potentially) falling grouse – when your boss takes off hunting (again) – and falling nuts.
Nuts, of course, fall off of trees, the source of wood for woodworking. A coworker, for example, has collected a small pile of acorns as a decorative element for her desk. While those particular acorns won’t grow into oak trees and eventually be quartersawn into lumber for Mission style furniture, I think it’s safe to say that the squirrel population will take care of this year’s planting for us.
On a recent trip to Europe, I also watched chestnuts falling (note: if you’re going to stand under a chestnut tree in the fall, a hardhat might be a good idea). That’s not a wood that I’ve seen used much in American woodworking – likely largely because of the chestnut blight that devastated the species several years ago. (The American Chestnut Foundation is working diligently to bring them back.)
Obviously, there are other nut trees that also produce good wood for woodworking – black walnut, for example, comes easily to mind. What’s your favorite “nutty” wood to work with?
Joanna Werch Takes, Woodworker’s Journal
Industry Interviews
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MYLIFTER: “Smarter” Ceiling Storage
Bluetooth-enabled ceiling lift raises up to 100 lbs. and can be controlled entirely from the floor using a mobile device and free app.
Tricks of the Trade
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Doweling Jig Doubles as a Drill Press
Need to drill a hole in a long workpiece but don’t have a drill press? This reader puts his doweling jig into service and finds it works just as good.
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Clamp Slots Take the Place of Bench Dogs
This reader came up with a space saving trick to give himself a more fully featured workbench even where his shop size was limited.
What's In Store
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SKILSAW Heavy Duty Worm Drive Table Saw
SKILSAW offers larger cutting capacities, rolling stand to complement new heavy-duty worm drive jobsite table saw.
Q & A
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Best Way to Fix a Corner Shelf?
What’s the best way to assemble a corner shelf made of cross-grain joints and batten construction?
Reader's Project Gallery
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Cherry End Table
This end table showcases shaping skills on the legs and top, along with a forward-thinking finishing choice.
Feedback
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Finishing: Reader Favorites, Plus Befuddlement
Readers share their thoughts about finishing their woodworking projects: go-to finishes plus ongoing confusion.
