Versatile Tenoning Jig
A tenoning jig is one of my favorite tablesaw accessories. I use it for many different joints, including straight tenons, angled tenons, bridle joints, splined miters [...]
Digital Caliper Reads in Fractions
Calipers are handy to have in any shop. You can use them to check a board’s thickness, a drill bit’s diameter or a dado’s width. Unfortunately, most calipers are so difficult to [...]
Magnetic Hold-Downs Switch On and Off
Ever get stuck trying to figure out how to fasten a jig or featherboard to a cast-iron tabletop? Sure, sometimes you can use the miter-gauge slot, but it's not always [...]
AW Extra 6/28/12 – Tips for Tool Storage
Tips for Tool Storage Organize your shop with these weekend projects. By Tom Caspar Clamp Warehouse Hang your long, heavy clamps on this rack designed for strength. The braces are notched into [...]
AW Extra 5/10/12 – Miter Plunging Biscuit Joiner
Miter Plunging Biscuit Joiner My biscuit joiner fence does not rotate to 135 degrees, and that is one of my most-often-made joints. To help hold the joiner steady, I add a second mitered piece of [...]
AW Extra 5/3/12 – Machine Floor Locks
Machine Floor Locks Anyone with a machine on wheels— especially a tablesaw or planer— understands the necessity of locking it in place before using it. I use a pair of toggle [...]
AW Extra 4/26/12 – Circle Center
Circle Center By George Vondriska Quickly find and approximate the center of a narrow board by using your fingers like a marking gauge. Set a pencil in your fingers, allowing one finger to run [...]
AW Extra 4/19/12 – Bandsawing Inside Curves
Bandsawing Inside Curves This is a useful trick when bandsawing inside curves. It requires no marking and no special jig. First I cut a shallow slot in a piece of scrap and attach it to the [...]
AW Extra 4/12/12 – Large Sheet Crosscutting
Large Sheet Crosscutting Crosscutting large sheets of plywood on the tablesaw can be difficult, and I usually end up binding the blade, burning the wood, or worse. To get around this, I clamp a [...]
Dovetailed Step Stool
Dovetailed Step Stool Three kinds of dovetails make it extra strong. By Frank Klausz After I finish a large commission, I like to surprise my client during the holidays with a gift—this [...]
A Proper Bench for Bob-Answers and Revisions
Because my last post generated a lot of response, I’m posting some more pictures of the bench I’m planning to build, and I’ll answer some of the questions raised. A lot of the [...]
A Proper Bench for Bob
In Christopher Schwarz’s new book Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use, Chris talks about Thomas Stangeland‘s working on a makeshift bench. My story is [...]
