Issue 524 Archives - Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/weekly-issue/issue-524/ America's Leading Woodworking Authority Thu, 28 Jan 2021 21:54:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.7 How to Apply Wood Veneer https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/how-to-apply-wood-veneer/ Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:47:13 +0000 http://rocklerwj.wpengine.com/?p=44046 Learn how to attach wood veneer to a plywood substrate. Veneer is a thin piece of solid wood which is attached to the substrate with wood glue.

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Learn how to attach wood veneer to a plywood substrate. Veneer is a thin piece of solid wood. Plywood is most commonly used as the substrate because it is dimensionally stable, meaning that it does not expand and contract much with changes in temperature or humidity. Veneer is attached to the substrate with wood glue.

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Dust Right® Downdraft Table https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/rockler-dust-right-downdraft-table/ Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:40:45 +0000 http://rocklerwj.wpengine.com/?p=44003 Perforated steel table connects to a 4-in. dust collector to help remove more dust during sanding operations.

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While your sander’s onboard canister will help corral the dust, it won’t capture all the dust the machine produces. And, hand sanding offers no dust containment whatsoever. That’s where Rockler’s Downdraft Table can help, whisking away what your sander’s dust collection provisions or a sanding block leaves behind. Its 16-1/2- x 20-in. working area with large perforations generates just enough downward airflow to get the dust to drop down into the table and out the chute to your dust collector (Rockler recommends that a dust collector generating at least 650 CFM be used for this product).

Made of powder-coated steel, the table’s sides and back can be raised to assist in containing dust or lowered or removed to accommodate larger workpieces. Internal baffles direct dust toward a 4-in. dust port in back. A grid of included rubber grommets elevates workpieces to prevent marring. Six orange material stops fit into the tabletop holes, when needed, to help secure workpieces during sanding.

When not in use, the 7-in.-tall, 23.7-lb. unit has carrying handles to help move it around, and it can be hung on the wall of your shop using keyhole slots. The panels are removable and fit inside for storage. Adjustable rubber feet provide a firm, vibration-dampening footing.

Rockler’s Dust Right Downdraft Table (item 57664) sells for $179.99.

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Infinity Mega Flush Trim Router Bits https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/infinity-mega-flush-trim-router-bits/ Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:39:14 +0000 http://rocklerwj.wpengine.com/?p=44001 Oversized flush trim bits feature compression cutting design for smooth cuts in all woods and sheet goods.

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Infinity Cutting Tools has designed its new Mega Flush Trim Router Bits to give you the smoothest finish and longest life in your toughest router applications. These 1/2-in.-shank bits feature four individually brazed carbide tips in a compression (upcut/downcut) design that eliminates chipping and tearout at the top and bottom of the material, even when used on fragile veneered plywoods and figured or reverse-grain stock. Top and bottom bearings allow for template or pattern routing by simply raising or lowering the bit to make use of the bearing closest to the template.

Mega Flush Trim Bits are offered in 3/4- and 1-1/2-in. diameters, in 1-1/4- and 2-in. cutting lengths. The longer bit sizes allow for trimming up to 8/4 material without flipping stock over to complete the pass. A full-size, table-mounted router is recommended when using the longer and larger bit options.

Infinity Mega Flush Trim Router Bits are available now and range in price from $49.90 to $129.90, depending on the bit. A boxed set, which will include all four bit options, is coming soon and will sell for $299.90.

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Fixing Non-closing Cabinet Doors? https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/fixing-non-closing-cabinet-doors/ Tue, 17 Apr 2018 12:45:03 +0000 http://rocklerwj.wpengine.com/?p=43997 What's the best way to fix cabinet doors that won't stay closed?

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I have an embarrassing question about inset doors. I’ve made several for bathroom cabinets, but they won’t close properly. I can accidentally get one door to close perfectly, but the others refuse. I have a magnetic catch on the doors, but that doesn’t help. Are the doors warped? Probably. But there must be a way to overcome that. Attached are pictures from an old project and my latest. Please help! – Barney Heller

Tim Inman: I think you have set the hinges too deeply. This is a pretty common error to see. When the hinges are set too deep, the edge of the wood hits before the door is closed. Result? A door that is perpetually slightly opened. You can usually fix this quite easily by laying a small piece of veneer or even cardboard under the edge of the hinge that is too far down in the mortise.

Chris Marshall: Barney, we all have our embarrassing woodworking foibles, but more power to you for being willing to ask for advice — especially in a public forum like this. Tim is probably right on the mark here with his suggestion that your hinges are set too deeply. But, for the sake of other possibilities, let’s say the hinges are mortised perfectly. I would remove those troublesome doors and lay them on a dead-flat shop surface, like your table saw. If they won’t lie flat, you’ll have your answer about warp or no warp. I see from your photos (below) that sometimes you use cope-and-stick bits to join stiles and rails, while other times, maybe dowels or some other option. My advice: be careful how much brute force you apply to the clamps when gluing up these frames. You can sometimes distort door frames out of flat or square by simply unknowingly over-tightening the clamps, particularly with joinery that lacks long protrusions, like tenons. Once a door frame is distorted at the corners and the glue dries, it’s a much tougher prospect to flatten it again.

Also, I try to give my door stock time to acclimate and “misbehave” during the initial surfacing process. I’ll reduce my stock to about 1/4-in. overly thick, and rip the rails and stiles about 1/4-in. overly wide. Then, I leave them to “rest” at least overnight or even a day or two. In that amount of time, the wood’s natural tendencies to distort will come into effect, and it will bow, cup or twist. Oftentimes, you’ll see or feel it happening almost immediately, but other times it takes longer. At least if you leave the material overly thick and wide, you have the recourse to then joint and plane it again to correct those defects. But, plane it all the way down to 3/4 in., then immediately rip it to final width, and you’ve got no margin left. Dead-flat is always the best place to start with door stock, then cut your joinery accurately and go easy on the clamps. I’ll bet you’ll see those persnickety door problems decrease.

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Walnut and Maple Rocking Horse https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/walnut-and-maple-rocking-horse/ Tue, 17 Apr 2018 12:33:17 +0000 http://rocklerwj.wpengine.com/?p=44059 This reader traditionally makes rocking horses for his grandchildren's first birthday. This one, made specifically for the Texas State Fair, was good enough to bring home first prize.

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It is a tradition that I make our grandchildren a rocking horse for their first birthday. My family and friends encouraged me to create an entry into the State Fair of Texas this past Fall. I created this rocking horse just for the State Fair and won the First Place Blue Ribbon. This rocking horse’s dimensions are 36″ long X 14.25″ tall x 32″ tall. It is made with black walnut grown and milled in East Texas. The bridle inlay is American curly maple. I used only dowels and mortise and tenon joinery for assembly. The stain is a light walnut and finished with a polyurethane. It takes about a month to make one of these beauties from rough cut lumber.

-Ron Mercer

See the Gallery Below:

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Box Joints: The Jigs You Use https://www.woodworkersjournal.com/box-joints-the-jigs-you-use/ Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:18:10 +0000 http://rocklerwj.wpengine.com/?p=43981 Readers tell Rob how they make their box joints: with homemade jigs, commercially made ones, or a combination of the two.

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In the last issue, Rob asked how you cut your box joints.

Some, like Rob, like to make their own. – Editor

“I have 4 box joint jigs that I made over the last 30 years as needed (1/8-in., 1/4-in. 1/2-in. and 3/4-in.). I use them with my carbide stacked dado blade set, except for the 1/8-in., which takes a flat tooth ripping blade. All with no shims. Adjust the jig, not the blades.” – Bruce Vincent

“I used to do them by hand. Like you, I’ve made my own jig for cutting them on the table saw. I’ve tried several of the jigs designed for router tables and find them to be inaccurate and tricky to operate with good results. I’m not convinced, and neither should you be, that you are working harder with a homemade table saw jig.” – J.B. Fisher

“I, like you, prefer to make mine using a personally made jig for my table saw. I have a two-blade flat-top stacking combination blade set that will butt either ¼-in. or 3/8-in. slots, depending on which way the blades are oriented.  My best work has resulted from this combination. Yes, I have router jigs and a fancy table saw aluminum jig, but I prefer the homemade unit. I also have several spiral cut router bits I can use in my table with a sliding jig. If my wife were reading this, she would tell me to ‘venture outside the box’ and explore the other methods. Perhaps it is time for all of us to be adventuresome!” – Lincoln Scafe

“I made two jigs, one for 1/4-in. and one for 3/8-in. joints, that I use on my router table. Simple to make and very effective.” – John van Veen

“I am a make-your-own kind of guy. There are many plans and designs for box joint jigs. You can make them micro-adjustable with a guide screw. Or you can do the micro-adjusting I used to do: tap the jig with my large screwdriver handle, my medium screwdriver handle, or my small screwdriver handle. Replication was often difficult, but it generally worked. I am a hobby woodworker and retired, so I’ve got time. The only problem with the homemade jig is getting that little guide peg exactly the right size. That’s an item I would be tempted to buy. The commercial jigs are nice, and I have one. But I really prefer the homemade one.  It really works out nice when the joint is non-standard.” – Don Gwinn

“I’ve made several different types of table saw jigs and the best one, in my humble opinion, was one that rode in both of the miter slots and straddled the blade. Then I upgraded to a SawStop and decided to add the sliding arm. Here’s a couple of my blog posts where I discussed the process I went through creating a finger joint jig for it. Router setups work, but they are so noisy and dusty, plus I always feel there is more tearout with them.” – John G. Eugster

“My answer is ‘it depends.’ For 1/4-in. stock, I usually use my router table and homemade jig. For 1/2-in. and thicker projects, my go-to is the table saw with dado stack and, again, a homemade sled-based jig. The table saw/dado setup is easier to replicate and, in my case, the dust collection works better than on the router table.” – Dale Smith

“When I make boxes or whatever using the box joint, I make a simple jig to fit the application and attach it to the miter gauge set at 90 degrees. Then I set it up on the router table and proceed. Deciding where on the piece to start the sequence is still a variable. I don’t make very many, so the jigs often get lost and have to be remade.  I guess I could use the dovetail jig, but I don’t like the constraints, and if I go to the trouble to set it up, I might as well make a dovetail joint.” – Doug Mansor

“I make a jig and use my table saw. I have a router set up for this, but I’ve never used it for some unknown reason. The table saw method has always worked for me, so I just use it.” – Steve Kendall

“I also make my own jigs and use the table saw. Only on really large boxes do I use the band saw.” – Dave & Marilyn Sweet

Some use a combination of homemade box joint jigs and commercial ones. – Editor

“I only build jigs for specific, unique projects. I was a tool and die designer for years and love to build jigs when required. Having said all that, I don’t build what I can buy. I use an INCRA I-Box jig on my table saw and a Freud Box Joint Cutter Set for the common sizes and a Freud Dado set for others.” – Keith Wales, Sr.

“I have settled on the INCRA I-Box jig. I now have three box joint jigs: 1) homemade but sized for 1/4-in. only; 2) a commercial one that just didn’t work very well; 3) the INCRA, which works very well. I settled on the Incra because I can easily change the size of the joint. I’ve made a lot of boxes with it. Most of them were large, toolbox sized with 1/8-in. box joints that fit together perfectly. I am glad I made my first box joints with a homemade jig.  I learned a lot doing that.” – Bob Mayfield

“I made my own sled, but I bought a set of box joint 1/4-in. and 3/8-in. saw blades. I found that using just one blade is perfect for 1/4-in. plywood.” – Tom Hinaman

“Well, here’s one you may not have seen before. A few years ago, I bought plans for a box joint jig. It worked great — for a while. After a few months, the wood gears wouldn’t hold up to frequent use and began to jam up. Having a bit of metalworking experience and an old indexer, I decided to scrap the whole gears idea entirely and made a new 32-hole indexing plate that I adapted to the carriage I had already built. I used the handle system from the old indexer along with the new plate. The carriage system moves along a 16 TPI threaded rod. Now, one complete revolution equals 1/16-in. Advancing just one hole is 1/512-in., and so on. I can now cut with extreme precision.” – Kirby Gaal

And for some, commercial box joint jigs are an answer to prayer. – Editor

“I used to do it the old-fashioned way. I made my own jigs and didn’t like it much, but there were no alternatives in past years. I don’t want to suggest that it’s the wrong way to do, it but there are easier ways. I got tired of making and fine-tuning my own jigs and bought an INCRA Box Joint Jig. The first time I used it, the clouds parted, angels sung on high, and I had a perfectly setup box joint in a couple of minutes and all I had to do was turn two knobs. Very soon thereafter, all my previously constructed box joint jigs left the shelf and can now be found in my scrap lumber box.” – Robert Hoffman

“A couple years ago, my grandson wanted to get into carving. My experience is, when a young man has a constructive interest, it should be encouraged.  So, for Christmas I bought him a nice set of carving knives. They didn’t come as a box set, so I decided to make a tote to store and carry them. This was the perfect time to invest in an Incra Box Joint Jig. (I had been eyeing one anyway.) My attempt at hand cutting was probably presentable enough, but it was for my grandson! So I scratched two itches. I presented his carving knives in a beautifully made tote with acrylic windows in the sides and perfect box joints on the box.” – T. Newman

“I cut box joints using my INCRA I-Box jig on my router table (I do not own a table saw). I built a project for my wife to store her sewing supplies, and used box joints. The jig was easy to set up and use. For the price, it is far better than anything I could have made, given the time and effort it would have taken me to make it. Plus, it offers great flexibility for different size box joints in addition to dual use on a router table or table saw (should I ever get one). My project turned out pretty well, but involved a lot of hand-sanding to knock down the proud fingers and a bit of wood filler due to slightly warped wood. I like it, and she loves it and uses it every day, so: win-win!” – Andrew Beauto

“I went INCRA for dovetails and box joints on my router table years ago. I avoid measuring if possible. Measuring with ‘actual’ using a story stick keeps my ADHD brain from most math errors. INCRA patterns (story sticks) are ‘actual’ measurements. Even I can follow ‘A’ cut then ‘B’ cut from the patterns once the bit height is set.  It works so well, I put the big INCRA on my cabinet saw, too. Most any size or spacing is possible because of the incredible accuracy and repeatability. Made double dovetail joints with walnut and maple on a 16-in. humidor on my first try! Dad left me his tools 20 years ago. Among them, stuck in the back of a drawer, was an original INCRA jig in its box with instructions. It was a couple of years before I figured out how it worked – instantly upgraded my joinery!” – Bill Hook

If, that is, they cut box joints at all. – Editor

“How do I cut them? I don’t. Unfortunately, that is one joint that I have never been able to conquer. I’ve tried many ways, read/viewed/watched way too many times, and I’ve spent far too much on gadgets that never get the job done.  The way I cope with that is to not attempt them. [Instead] I use the Festool Domino or the table saw and do tenons. They are a snap for me and have all the joint strength I need for my projects. Don’t stop presenting projects with box joints, though. If it is something that interests me, I’ll find a way to do it with a joint that doesn’t cause me any frustration. I already know enough cuss words, so I don’t need any practice caused by box joints.” – R.L. Hoyle

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