The June 2011 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine will start mailing to subscribers soon, so we thought you might want a preview of what to expect. Our cover story, by Editor Christopher Schwarz, chronicles the bookcases that were designed by Thomas Jefferson for his personal library at Monticello. These pine cases were the foundation of our Library of Congress when Jefferson sold his collection of 6,700 books to Congress. Chris uses the through-dovetails with mitered shoulders at the corners as they were used in the 1959 reproductions.
For those of you who like to read about woodworking as much as we do, we present the 130 best books on woodworking – the editors chose as many as would fit onto 5′ of shelving. Then we asked some of our most eminent woodworkers to weigh in on the tomes that have had the most lasting impression on how they view their craft. We’ve broken them into categories, such as design, finishing, tools and shops, techniques, etc. We encourage readers to comment with their votes.
For those of you who love inlay, Senior Editor Glen D. Huey uses some unconventional techniques to construct a traditional tea caddy. You’ll gain from Glen’s experience as he reveals his many tricks in this exacting construction technique.
The secrets of the sector are revealed by Jim Tolpin. Invented by Galileo, this navigational tool from the 17th century was also used by artisans and architects to help them to get their proportions right.
The many uses of the combination square are discussed by Executive Editor Robert W. Lang. And so much more. But for those of you who can’t wait, we’ve posted our “I Can Do That” article as a free PDF. Of course, there is still plenty of time to subscribe to the magazine and receive the June issue in your mailbox (and you will save 47 percent off the cover price).
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.