Issue 168
Issue 168
Using Green Wood
There is a trend in woodworking toward using green wood. No, I am not talking about lumber that has not yet been cured or dried, but of wood harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner. I have always thought of myself as a “good steward” of the environment: I recycle and dispose of my nasty chemicals in a responsible way (I don’t use fertilizer on my yard … just ask my neighbors), so I have to say I am in favor of this trend. But a couple of my woodworking buddies have challenged my attitude, telling me that my consumption of lumber would have no more effect on the big picture than a sneeze would in a hurricane. My response was “Ya, but there are millions of woodworkers – what effect would a million sneezes have?” The point was awkwardly made, but when you think of the way you sneeze with a nose full of sawdust, I think it is a strong argument.
Regardless of my poor debating ability, what is your opinion on the subject? Do you take the time to consider the environment when you are shopping for wood? Do you think it makes a difference? Let me know, and we will share some of your opinions in our Reader’s Response section.
But for now I gotta go; I feel a sneeze coming on.
–Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
What's In Store
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Lew’s Hardware: Doing His Level Best
As most woodworkers know, it’s the little things that can make a project into a “wow”-rousing attention getter.
Today's Woodworker
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Larry Crossan: History Made to Order, One Piece at a Time
Fitting in perfectly with his surroundings, you will find Larry Crossan assiduously plying his craft in the same manner as did so many before him.
Q & A
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Using Glaze in Woodworking
Is “glaze” a process or a material, and how does it differ from stain?
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Is Chestnut a Hardwood?
Our experts tackle defining a once popular wood.
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Good Router Book Recommendation
I was given a router set as a gift. Could you recommend a good book that provides detailed information on how to use the router?
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Carved Wooden Spoon
I’ve carved my very first wooden spoon. Do I need to put something on it before I use it in the kitchen or can I use it the way it is?
Industry Interviews
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Accuspray: Horton Buys a Who
For the past two decades, Accuspray has made its mark, albeit quietly, as a small company making high quality HVLP spray guns, turbines and related equipment.
Feedback
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Bad Advice, or Was It?
In the Q&A section, Sandor Nagyszalanczy identified a bad capacitor as the most likely culprit in a grinder that would not start unless spun by hand, and suggested that any motor repair shop could easily replace it. This rather curious comment followed.
