A woodworker is only as good as his tools. In a world with enough woodworking tools to fill entire big-box stores, it’s important to know what you should buy (and what to avoid) so you can produce the best pieces possible and save money. Our tool reviews are different. Rather than use pseudo-science, we use the tools in the shop (we’re all experienced woodworkers), and report back how they perform. So whether you are in the market for a new set of chisels or a powerful table saw, we’ve got the best tools covered.
When it comes to … well most anything, I’m a huge skeptic. I’m not a conspiracy theorist mind you, but I seldom believe what I hear or read. I have to be convinced. Tool manufacturers, [...]
Sometime in the Summer of 2011, Festool will introduce a new ultra-compact drill. The company calls the drill CXS – Conquer. Xplore. Solve. The CXS is expected to become your everyday [...]
A couple years ago (four and a half to be exact) I wrote in response to questions from several readers about my funky old knife and where to get one. The questions came because of an article in [...]
Here’s a dirty little secret about pinners and brad nailers. Norm Abram isn’t the only woodworker to use them. Many of the guys I know who build reproduction furniture – myself [...]
The only complaint I every hear about the Veritas bevel-up planes is that the rear tote isn’t as comfortable as that on an old Stanley or new Lie-Nielsen plane. If you are one of those people who [...]
I finally found the time (it was between the couch cushions) to set up the new Stanley socket chisels. I’m working on the backs today, and here’s the news so far. Of the eight chisels, I’d rate [...]
We have to hand it to Bosch. The axial-glide system found on the Bosch GCM12SD is the most innovative design idea to hit miter saws – ever. Hinged arms replace slide tubes. You can see the [...]
By David Thiel Page: 33 From the October 2005 issue #150 Buy this issue now In our February 2005 issue we tested 15″ planers and, honestly, we missed one. The Shop Fox W1724 should have [...]
By Christopher Schwarz Page: 32 From the October 2005 issue #150 Buy this issue now Allow me to skip to the bottom line here and say that the Veritas Mk.II Honing Guide is the most thoughtful, [...]
By David Thiel Page: 32 From the October 2005 issue #150 Buy this issue now When Jet announced its new line of parallel jaw clamps, I asked if they would be less expensive. Company officials [...]
By David Thiel Page: 28 From the April 2005 issue #147 Buy this issue now When we reviewed all the 12-volt drills on the market more than a year ago, we knew Fein had a new one headed our way. …
By David Thiel Page: 22 From the October 2006 issue #157 Buy this issue now For the past 17 years, the M12V plunge router from Hitachi has been a staple in many professional and home shops, often [...]