Issue 285
Issue 285
Fall Found Turning Wood
One aspect of woodworking that I enjoy very much (while curiously, exhibiting the least amount of skill with – when compared to most other aspects of woodworking) is woodturning. A woodturning project can often be completed in an evening in my shop. The objects I make are often useful and beautiful, even though I am far from an “expert” skill level. (Oh, I am getting better at turning… my use of the skew has increased about 6,000 percent in the last year… )
Why do I mention this? Because it also intersects with another wood-related sidebar in my life – heating with wood. My house is equipped with a secondary heating system that I use to keep heating costs low. So in the fall, I am busy on certain days cutting, splitting and stacking wood for our upcoming long winter. But my burn pile is sometimes depleted because a chunk of wood intended for the fire looks just too appealing for my turning hobby. The equation of “fun and beauty” vs. “warm and comfortable” plays out again and again. But this is not exactly a “zero sum” cipher – some of those turned pieces end up in my firewood pile again. Apparently, I need even more practice with that skew chisel.
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
-
Rockler Library Ladder Kit
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware has introduced a Library Ladder Kit complete with all hardware needed to complete a 7-, 8- or 9-step library ladder and system.
-
Makita LXDT01 Impact Driver
Makita’s new 18-volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3-Speed Brushless Motor Impact Driver (model LXDT01) has a three-speed power selection.
-
Leigh R9PLUS Joinery System
The Leigh R9 PLUS Joinery System from Leigh Industries makes three sizes of through dovetails (pin widths of 3/8″, 7/16″ and 1/2″) and three sizes of box joints (3/16″, 3/8″ and 3/4″).
-
Bosch Turning Heads with PS11 12-volt Angle Drill/Driver
New compact Lithium-ion drill/driver sports articulating chuck and other industry-first features.
Tricks of the Trade
-
Mobile Plan Stand
I built this small mobile lectern for my shop because I got tired of constantly walking back and forth to double-check the dimensions on my projects.
-
Marking Router Bits
I’ve recently taken to marking my router bits with a Sharpie fine-point permanent marker.
-
Mark Your Router Base for Concentricity
In order for a router to cut a straight line, the bit has to remain a fixed distance away from the edge of the router base and whatever you’re using as a clamped straightedge.
Today's Woodworker
-
Adam Crowell: the Rhythm of Woodworking
“I was always being drug into the shop by my dad, teaching me to do certain things.”
Q & A
-
Which Wax Works for What?
What can you tell us about waxes, whether there are reasons to use different ones for different purposes, and when and why?
-
Are Glue Smears Really a Problem for Finishing?
It seems to me that the glue is already in the wood pores, and that will affect how the raw wood takes a stain.
Industry Interviews
-
Franklin International: Improving Woodworking, One Adhesive After the Next
From the original no-mix hide glue to today’s latest adhesives, Titebond continues to be a woodworking mainstay.
Reader's Project Gallery
-
Cabinet Doors
We recently bought a house that was built in the mid ’80s, and all the cabinets throughout the entire house are faced with a “modern” style.
-
Crib and Changing Table
Here is the oak crib I built for my grandson, along with the changing table.
-
TV Stand
Attached are two pictures of the TV stand I made after my wife complained that she could not find one she liked.
Feedback
-
Hot Feelings, Cooler Linings
In the Questions & Answers section of eZine 284, we had a shop teacher who asked some questions about door repairs his principal had requested — and a woodworker who wanted some advice on lining coolers he was building. We had some heated responses to the shop teacher’s situation.
