I used to work in a cabinet shop that churned out countertops by the truckload. We used this simple jig to keep plastic laminate from lifting during the cut or from [...]
by John Vasi Sometimes I prefer to sand by hand using a rubber block. This method gives me a better feel for the work than using a random-orbit sander does. Blocks [...]
by Chip Harding Sanding between coats of polyurethane is tough on sandpaper. And I make it tougher, because I never wait the recommended 72 hours before recoating. But if the [...]
by Tim Johnson Waterstones have always been my preferred method to produce a razor-sharp edge. I store them in a plastic tub filled with water, so they’re always [...]
by Lou Bush I’ve had my canister-filter dust-collection system for about two years. It works great, but I figured out a new way to get it super clean.Some [...]
by Frank Muhvich Storage space is limited in my shop, so my pipe clamps hang from the ceiling. I made this rack from 3/4-in. plywood and attached it to the ceiling joists with 3-in. decking [...]
I hated the black hole that appeared when I installed corner bifold doors in my kitchen cabinets. To get rid of this annoying gap, I decided to make the main door (the one [...]
Press fitting pen parts requires a deft touch, but you don't need a special clamp or vise to do the job: I use my lathe and a pair of 1-1/2-in.-thick hardwood blocks. [...]
I made this quick-release sanding block from four pieces of 1/2-in. -thick birch plywood. The top three pieces are glued together. Wrap a quarter sheet of sandpaper [...]
A can of lubricant is very useful around the shop, and so is the little red straw…if you can find it after the first use! I figured out that the straw fits in [...]
Trimming miters used to drive me crazy, because I couldn’t hold the piece I was trimming securely enough against the miter gauge. The piece would always slide away from [...]
Why doesn’t a drill press come with an adjustable fence? My solution is essentially a two-part table. The fence (C) is attached to the top part, which slides on [...]
