Wrapping dowels with rope Dowels tend to roll around when they are stored flat. Stacking them upright is a better alternative, but then the problem is to keep them from sliding down or falling over. 0ne answer is to loop them together with a length of rope, as shown at left. Drill a hole through [...]

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For making circular cuts out of large panels on the band saw, use a jig like the one shown above. Build the jig from 3/4-inch plywood, cutting the pieces so the top of the jig is level with the saw table when the feet are screwed or clamped to a work table. Before assembling the [...]

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Heating is a necessity for most shops in North America. Some woodworking tasks demand it; gluing and finishing in particular require steady temperatures. Heating your shop also makes it more comfortable and safe; numb fingers invite accidents. If your shop is some distance from your home’s furnace, a separate heating system will be needed. Many [...]

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Since most workshops are set up in basements or garages, concrete floors are a common feature. Yet for anyone who has to spend much time standing on concrete or sweeping it clean, the material can prove both uncomfortable and inconvenient. The hard surface is particularly tough on tools that are dropped accidentally. Simply painting a [...]

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Layout of A Small Woodworking Workshop The illustration below shows one way of making efficient use of the space in a small shop-in this case, one-half of a two-car garage. The three stationary machines chosen are essential for most projects: the table saw, the jointer, and the band saw. The saw and jointer are mounted [...]

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Years ago, I worked in an auto body shop, where we hand-formed body panels. Often we needed two matching panels-one for each side-but we never produced exact mirror images. Subtle differences were easily excused: “You can’t see both sides at the same time.” it was said. In cabinet making, however, matching pieces must be exact [...]

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I look at a new tool as a beginning. Once it is taken from its box or crate I read the owner’s manual to learn what the manufacturer suggests the tool  can do. Then I stand back and think, “There must be more to it than this.” Inevitably, by some strange thought process I cant [...]

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For maximum efficiency, lay Out the tools in your shop so that the lumber follows a faily direct route from rough stock to finished pieces. The diagram at left illustrates a logical work f low for a medium-size workshop. At the upper left-hand corner is the entrance where lumber is stored on racks. To the [...]

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Clearing a particle from the eye Hold your affected eye open with the forefinger and thumb of one hand. Slowly rotate your eye, if necessary, to help expose the particle. Gently wipe away the particle using the twisted end of a tissue moistened with water (above, left). Or, till an eye irrigator with cool water [...]

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PUSH BLOCK TOOLS FOR FACE JOINTING The long, wide base of the push block shown above is ideal for surfacing the face of a board on a jointer. Although push blocks for such jobs are available commercially, you can easily fashion your own. Refer to the illustration for suggested dimensions, but tailor the design to [...]

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