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Logan Wittmer
Joinery machines are much more than one-trick ponies. Here’s an intro, and why you should consider adding one in your shop. There are several machines that come up as “shop necessities”. Table saws, jointers, planers, and band saws are the most common ones. In my opinion, there’s a new class of machine that needs to…
Christopher Schwarz
Learn to set up and wield one of the most useful (and inexpensive) handplanes. Also check out: A primer on adjusting wooden planes. Kevin Drake, a furniture maker who trained under James Krenov, stood before his wonky-topped workbench one day many years ago and hesitated. His urge was to start flattening the benchtop by planing across…
Collin Knoff
Tool: Gen II 18V One+ HP Compact Brushless Drill/Driver (PSBDD02K2) Buy Now Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $139 (includes drill, two 1.5AH batteries, & charger) I have to confess this review is coming from a fairly biased space—the first generation ONE+ HP Compact Drill is probably my favorite drill I’ve ever owned. It was lightweight, powerful, perfectly balanced,…
Tool: 18V Brushless Colt Palm Router Kit (GKF18V-25PL14) Buy Now Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $399 (includes router, fixed base, plunge base, L-Boxx, 4ah 18v battery, charger, misc dust attachments) There is probably not a name more synonymous with compact routers than the Bosch Colt. For twenty years now, Bosch has been releasing compact routers under that moniker,…
Tool: 12″ Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw C3612DRAQ4 Buy Now Manufacturer: Metabo HPT MSRP: $629 In my shop I have fairly high standards for a miter saw. It must be a dual bevel compound of course. And zero clearance is a must. I also like something that can be plugged in or run off battery power….
Tool: 18V ONE+ HP Compact Brushless Barrel Grip Jig Saw (PSBJS01B) Buy Now Manufacturer: Ryobi MSRP: $139 A jigsaw is a great tool for all sorts of quick cuts in the shop. With that in mind, the ONE+ HP Compact Brushless Barrel Grip Jig Saw is just the right size to make it a go-to choice. …
Marc Spagnuolo
Hand tools complement and complete work begun with power equipment. Most folks I talk with in the woodworking hobby seem to follow a similar path. They start out by emulating what they see on television, which is of course, power tools. Eventually, whether through magazines, web sites, forums or local clubs, they hear other woodworkers…
Willie Sandry
Routers — love them or hate them, there are an overwhelming amount of options available. Here’s the breakdown on how this midsized lot performs. A router is a fundamental woodworking tool and sooner or later, you’ll want to equip your shop with one or more of these high RPM workhorses. Spinning nearly 10x faster than…
Paul Anthony
Old chisels can be brought back to life using these simple steps. If ever there was a type of used hand tool that was a good candidate for restoration, it’s a chisel. Lots of good deals on old chisels can be found at flea markets, garage sales and auctions. And while many old tools –…
Roger Holmes
From the Archives: You don’t have to own a lathe to make replacement handles that will feel like an extension of your hand. A few months ago I had to face the unpleasant truth about my chisels. Given to me years ago by my father, my trusty old set of Marples bevel-edge chisels had run…
Build a tool chest that’s worthy of your tools. Customize it to fit exactly the tools you want. Project #2115 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 4 days • Cost: $250 I have a confession. I like nice tools. There’s something about boutique tool makers that I love. I’m guessing it’s the combination of high-quality…
Basic steps for beautiful joints. Dovetails. They get put on a pedestal as a sign of quality. And while not every project or furniture style warrants them, I enjoy sitting down, listening to an audiobook, and cutting them by hand. Once you break down dovetails into a series of basic steps, I think you’ll find…
Keeping warm: What jackets should you be wearing in the workshop? Every year as the days get shorter and the temps get lower, woodworkers emerge from pseudo-hibernation to go into their shops and build throughout the long winter months. There are a lucky few of you who have fully insulated, heated shops, but the vast…
Tool: Scriber Buy Now Manufacturer: Tooley Park MSRP: £28 20% discount on the scribers this week (ends Sat 8th Feb) with the code TPF1 at checkout! There are often times, where there’s simply no substitute for the right tool. A good scriber is one of those tools. Whether its leveling chair legs, scribing a cabinet, or…
Danielle Rose Byrd
Tool: Robin Wood Axe Buy Now Manufacturer: Wood Tools MSRP: £69 (about $85) As a bowl carver, I am frequently asked about recommendations for beginner sets of tools. Though the Robin Wood Axe is always on that list, it’s not just a beginner’s axe. Weighing in at 1 pound, 9 ounces, it is a midweight carving…
Tool: Ultra-Shear Flat-top Blade Buy Now Manufacturer: Woodpeckers MSRP: $149+ Several issues back, I introduced our readers to a new lineup of blades from Woodpeckers. Their Ultra-Shear blades are some of the best I’ve ever used. A few recent additions to the lineup are worthy of taking note of. If you take a look at the…
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