Issue 37
Issue 37
So Much Wood, So Little Time
Last eZine I explained my passion for the plain-Jane hardwood, birch, and asked if you-all had a species preference. The answer was, YUP! Many folks let me know which wood whisked them into a state of wonder…and why birch was not one of them.
Some were predictable: that walnut and red oak received the highest vote counts didn’t surprise me. Many people popped off for regional favorites–a south Texas woodworker waxing eloquent about mesquite, a Canadian woman singing the praises of northern Manitoba jack pine and an Australian craftsperson bragging about Mackey cedar. There was a cosmopolitan Dane who said that while birch abounded in the region, this melancholy Dane preferred oak, not American or Danish oak, but German oak (kinda picky!). Others chimed in with recommendations for quartersawn sycamore, redwood, ash and even box elder and cottonwood (who knew?). As you often do, you let me know that my opinion was not based on sufficient experience. So, while I bragged last Zine about the variety of wood I was familiar with, it seems I have a few more to try. And I couldn’t be happier with the news!
Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal
Q & A
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Restoring an Old Finish?
A woodworking professional is working on some antiques, but looking for a simple way to tell what finish was originally used.
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Best Wood for Steam Bending?
Is there an ideal wood for steam bending, assuming you had a project where you could choose any wood?
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Getting an Even Stain on End Grain?
Michael Dresdner tells you the best way to get an even finish on end grain.
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What Is a Router Plane?
What is a router plane and how does it work? This reader wants to know.
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Finishing the Inside of an Armoire?
A reader seeks advice on how to get an even finish on an armoire without ending with stinky clothes.
Industry Interviews
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Earthstone: Accelerating the Sands of Time
A year or so ago a new product came out called Earthstone Sanding Blocks, and they are promising to maximize the time you spend doing actual woodworking by minimizing sanding.
Today's Woodworker
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John Nesset: Truth, Wood and Uncertainty
If you want to sit down and talk with John Nesset about the merits of mortises or the troubles with tenons, he probably won’t have much to add to the conversation.
What's In Store
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Melt Polyurethane Glue for the Small Shop
How would you like an adhesive that bonds wood as strongly as your traditional “yellow” woodworking glues, reduces clamping to a minimum, is ready to machine in as few as ten minutes and is applied with a cool-looking glue gun?
