July/August 2011 Archives - Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To

PROJECT: Making a Westport Chair

Rob Johnstone — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 17:00:58 +0000

The "big brother" of the Adirondack chair, the Westport chair is a familiar Northwoods classic. Our version of this iconic outdoor chair is reimagined using thermo-treated oak.

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PROJECT: Occasional Table

Simon Watts — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 15:13:19 +0000

Our author’s boat-building roots stay just below the surface during the construction of this attractive and sturdy little table.

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PROJECT: Slide-out Media Center

Frank Grant — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 18:42:44 +0000

Never throw your back out again when trying to reach behind your TV and Blu-ray player. This piece features a unique sliding center section and top to provide instant access to all of your wiring.

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Woodworking at Blind, Incorporated Blindness Training Center

Journal Staff — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 15:12:40 +0000

George Wurtzel, Industrial Arts Instructor at Blind, Inc. Blindness Training Center, discusses one of the specialty tools he and his students use when woodworking, along with the general philosophy behind teaching blind students the art of woodworking.

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Woodworker’s Journal – July/August 2011

Matt Hocking — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:48:15 +0000

Projects: Slide-out Media Center, Occasional Table, Westport Chair

Techniques: Asymmetrical Pieces, Art of Design, Part III, Drill Press Maintenance, Outdoor Furniture Projects

Reviews: Stacked Dado Blades

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Drill Press Maintenance Tips

Sandor Nagyszalanczy — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:30:36 +0000

A drill press is a pretty simple looking machine: just a chuck at the end of a spindle that holds a drill bit and allows it to move up and down while it’s spinning. But there are a number of things that can get out of kilter that compromise drilling performance and accuracy. These include issues with the machine’s pulleys and drive belt, spindle and chuck and the table and column. Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to do a few basic maintenance tasks that help keep your drill press running smoothly. Unless otherwise specified, all the procedures described in this article should be performed with the drill press unplugged from electrical power.

Lubricate the Drill Chuck

Lubricate ChuckTo keep the chuck’s jaws operating smoothly essential to proper bit centering apply a little drying lubricant, such as Boeshied T-9®, inside of the chuck: First, turn the chuck’s shell until the jaws are fully open and blow the inside clean with a burst of compressed air (wear goggles to keep flying dust out of your eyes). Spray or squirt some lubricant up inside and tighten and loosen the jaws a few times while the excess lube drips out. Wipe off any residue with a clean rag.

Vibration and Belt Wear

A worn belt or bent or out-of-balance pulleys can be a source of annoying noise and vibration. Check the belt by unplugging the drill press, removing the machine’s head cover and doing a visual inspection of the belt while rotating it by hand. If it has any cracks, ply separations or lumpy sections, replace it right away. If the belt appears normal, check to make sure its tension is correct. You should just be able to deflect it slightly (about 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch) by pressing in the middle, between the pulleys. If it’s too loose or too tight, reset the tension following the directions in your machine’s manual (Note: belt tightness on drill presses with mechanical variable speed isn’t adjusted this way; consult your machine’s manual).

Now, with the head cover still off, plug in the drill press, don a face shield and run the motor on its highest speed. Look carefully at the belt and pulleys: They should run smoothly and not generate significant noise. If the belt oscillates excessively, causing periodic vibration, check its tension again and reset it if necessary. Watch the rim of both pulleys as they spin. If there’s a visible wobble, turn the drill press off and unplug it, then make sure the setscrew(s) that secure the pulleys to their shafts are tight. Also do a visual inspection to see if the rims on one or both pulleys are bent. If they are, replace them. If a rumbling or growling sound is coming from the pulleys, the drill press’s bearings may be worn or dirty and should be replaced a job best done by a machinery specialist.

For more great tool maintenance tips, PLUS complete step-by-step video instructions of how to:

Check the Spindle and Chuck
Checking for Runout
Set the Table Square
Aligning Laser Sights

Order the Power Tool Maintenance DVD!

CLICK HERE to take a closer look at this DVD.

This interactive DVD-ROM will show you the fundamental maintenance procedures for seven major woodworking power tools: the table saw, jointer, drill press, dust collector, air compressor, pneumatic nailer and even a moisture meter. You’ll get step-by-step instructions, over 150 photos and over 60 minutes of video from experts Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Chris Marshall, Senior Editor of Woodworker’s Journal magazine.

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Multi-Axis Woodturning with Mark Sfirri

Journal Staff — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:11:42 +0000

Jeff Day talks with Mark Sfirri about his unique style of woodturning. Mark’s work has been featured at the Smithsonian Institute’s Renwick Gallery.

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Dadoing Undersized Plywood

Chris Marshall — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:52:32 +0000

We may call it 3/4 in., but plywood thickness always comes up shy of that number. How do you cut dadoes to fit it correctly? Look for that 3/32 in. chipper in your dado set, or reach for some shims. Either approach will help you achieve snug-fitting, gap free dado joints.

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August 2011 Issue Preview

Matt Becker — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:45:51 +0000

Our new August print issue, which will be mailing shortly, is packed with tool news and projects that are fit for some good summertime building. If you’d like a sneak peek at what’s coming your way soon, here’s a new video from Chris Marshall and Rob Johnstone that touches on the issue’s highlights. Enjoy!

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