Issue 272
Issue 272
Mea Culpa
My sophomoric affection for April Fool’s humor goes back a long, long way. There is something just delicious to me about a whole day dedicated to folks being mischievous. As most of you now know, last Friday, April 1st, we sent out our annual annals of foolishness. I know, from your emails, that many eZine readers actually look forward to our April 1st frivolities, offering (all through the year) their own far-out ideas for possible publication.
Each year, my staff and I write comic content, trying both to be funny and, at the same time, not to offend folks. We are, for the most part, successful in this effort. Sometimes we fail, and this year’s April 1st eZine editorial may have been in that camp. Perhaps I should have known that the current political climate is simply too highly charged and volatile to tease about. Hundreds of readers got seriously peeved at my made-up government agency and spokesman and their proposed “safety regulations” – and took the time to write me about it. (See the Feedback department for examples …)
While I had intended to pull your collective legs a little (OK, maybe a lot), I had no intention of making people so angry that they could not see the joke. So if you are one of those folks who found nothing funny in my editorial, please accept my apology.
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
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Earlex Spray Station 5500
The new Earlex Spray Station 5500 is an HVLP sprayer powered by a 650-watt turbine.
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Trend Tapered 3-Inch File
Trend’s diamond sharpening designer, James Barry, has added a 3-inch diamond standard taper file, the DWS/TF3/F, to the diamond sharpening range at the request of woodturners and other woodworkers.
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JET JWBS-14DX Pro
If you’re looking for substantially more resawing capacity than a typical 14-in. bandsaw can provide, but without stepping up to the sticker price of a larger machine, consider JET’s JWBS-14DX Pro.
Q & A
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Repairing Finish Damage on Trailer?
I know I probably ought to do the job by stripping the whole area and starting over, but is there a way to correct the damaged area without stripping the whole surface and starting over?
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Anchoring Upper Case of Tallboy?
I would like to know how to stabilize the tallboy once it is finished so it doesn’t tip once all the drawers are open while they are full.
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What’s the Best Finish for Butcher Block?
Our experts share the best woodworking finish to apply to surfaces that will be in direct contact with food.
Tricks of the Trade
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Straight Lines on Round Pieces
I’ve found that 1-1⁄2″-diameter PVC pipe, split lengthwise on my band saw, makes handy organizers in a shop drawer for my scroll saw blades.
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Scratch Pad Tape
Do you ever forget a tape measurement you just took? Here’s a trick I’ve been using for over 40 years…
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Quick-clamping Panel-raising Fence
You could go to the trouble of making a fence with a brace that wraps around the fence beam, but my approach is faster and easier.
Today's Woodworker
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Jesse Hooker: Making a Record with Pieces of History
When Jesse Hooker was pursuing an acting career, he realized “it’s important to have a day job to fall back on.” And, since he had high school and college job experience working in wooden boat restoration shops, woodworking seemed a natural fit for the day job.
Industry Interviews
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JET Unveils New Vortex Cone Dust Collector Technology
JET’s new line of Vortex Cone Technology dust collectors approach the separation efficiency of two-stage dust collection at a single-stage price.
Feedback
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Reader Reactions: No Foolin’
Around this eZine, there is a tradition that occurs the first of every April … As part of that tradition, Rob’s “editorial” last time out focused on the alleged banning of power tools by the fictitious NAPS organization and their spokesperson, “Mack E. Avelly.” Many readers got quite riled up.
Reader's Project Gallery
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Country Table with Bread Board Ends
This table has solid maple turned legs and a bird’s eye maple top with bread board ends.
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Madrone-topped Coffee Table
I was inspired last August when I saw a coffee table made out Claro walnut that was in the shape of California State, so I made one in the shape of Washington State!
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Red Oak Serving Tray
This wooden tray/carrier was a gift to my wife to carry casseroles and “fixins” to church suppers and picnics. It is constructed of 1/2″ Red Oak.
