Edition #254.1

Shop Project

Turning Oval & Tapered Tool Handles

Using a simple offset turning technique, Chris Fitch shows how he turns oblong tool handles. This technique involves resetting the center points part way through turning, and creates ergonomic, comfortable handles.

Shop Project

Table Saw Cart

Part 4: Table Saw Cart: Casters & Drawer Slides

Locking rabbets are the perfect way to make drawers for a shop project. Here, Logan shares how he makes a set of drawers for his table saw cart. Then, after assembly, he installs them with full-extension drawer slides.

Shop Tip

Foam Finishing Points

Keeping your workpiece elevated and mark-free is easily done with painter's points. Logan shares a reader's tip to create your own painter's points. They use a few items that you probably already have laying around your shop.

Designer's Notebook

Thomas Day Lounge

Thomas Day was a furniture maker in the early 1800s. His furniture designs and architectural influence are easily recognizable throughout the United States, but especially in the south. Here, we've taken some ques from Thomas Day and designed this Thomas Day-inspired daybed.

Shop Project

Table Saw Cart: Wrapping Up

The final step for any piece of shop furniture, in my opinion, is to add a couple of coats of finish. Here, Logan's painted the cart and fit all the drawers. He shows some of the features of the cart, and how it will be used in his shop, and how you could utilize it in yours.

Designer's Notebook

Slant-Front Bookcase

As a continuation of our recent Modern Desk and shelf build, Chris Fitch has designed this bookcase to complete the trio. The slant front design and base clearly show its Scandinavian style. The fixed shelves and large drawer offer great storage.

Woodworking Technique

Handsaw Technique

If you've ever used a handsaw and found it to be strenuous or hard to control, more than likely it was your body positioning. Here, Logan brings some techniques from a recent article written by Shannon Rogers to life. After correctly positioning your body, you'll find sawing is much more accurate and easier.

Shop Tip

Lathe Stand Revamp

With a recent lathe purchase, Dillon Baker decided to reach way back into the archives and build a lathe stand from Shopnotes issue #10. However, he's put his own twist on it. Here, he shares some of his updates, and some features of this stand that make it a great addition to your shop.

Woodworking Technique

Hand-Cut Half-Blind Dovetails

Dovetails, the classic drawer joint. Creating half-blind dovetails leaves you with a rock-solid joint that looks beautiful. Here, Logan shows us how he creates this joint using hand tools.

Shop Tip

Adjustable Outfeed Support

Ripping long stock at the table saw is easier to do when you have outfeed support. This reader's tip creates an outfeed support that can be used at different tools of various heights. The secret is in the adjustable mechanism that allows you to dial in the correct height.

Designer's Notebook

Patio Planter

Chris Fitch, came up with his latest project design with Spring in mind. This patio planter features tapered stave construction and a custom copper band to bump up the appeal. Once you complete this planter,<br />it’s the perfect choice for showing off your gardening prowess too.

Shop Project

Zero Clearance Insert

Replacing the insert in your table saw is one of the easiest ways to increase the quality of the cuts you make, but purchasing new ones can get rather costly. Phil has a solution for a shop-made insert that can save you a lot of time and money while improving the performance of your table saw.

Shop Tip

Modular Organizer

As you're working in your shop, it's easy for your workbench to become cluttered with tools. This lazy Susan caddy is a quick and easy project to help keep your tools organized and close-at-hand.

Router Workshop

Using a Mortising Machine

In a recent issue of Woodsmith Magazine, we built this Horizontal Mortising Machine that features sliding tables and easy-to-adjust stops. In this video, Chris Fitch gives step-by-step instruction on how to set up and use the mortiser to get accurate and repeatable results.

Woodworking Technique

Cleaning Up Old Tools

Whether you've found an old tool at the bottom of your tool box or at a yard sale, it's nice to get it cleaned up for use or to just display on a shelf. Logan has some tips and techniques you can use to restore your vintage tools to get them looking nice and back to good working order.

Woodworking Technique

Milling Lumber

From logs to lumber... We go on-site with Logan and the crew to see what it takes to mill some basswood logs down to boards that just need to be stacked and dried before they are ready to use.

Designer's Notebook

Martini Glasses

Add one part maple burl cap, one part resin, and pressurize until cured. It may not be a martini recipe, but they are the ingredients for this fun turning project. Project Designer, Dillon Baker, bellies up to the workbench to talk about this out-of-the box project that was recently featured in Woodsmith Magazine.

Shop Project

Revolving Tool Cabinet: Overview

I've never met a woodworker yet who had too much space in their shop. Maybe that explains why we’re always looking for ways to use the space that is available as efficiently as possible. I give it a whirl with this tool station that only takes up nine square feet, can be tucked in to the corner of your workshop, and can facilitate several benchtop tools and lots of storage for accessories.

Designer's Notebook

Micro-Adjustable Router Table Fence

Most router table fences can be fickle to adjust with a lot of back and forth until you get it tuned in, but Phil Huber designed this fence for his compact router table that can micro-adjust to the precise position and even includes dust collection.

Shop Tip

Adjustable Router Stop Block

Creating mortises and grooves on the edge of a workpiece can present some challenges, but a simple way to do that is to use a plunge router and a jig. Then you need a way to start and stop your cuts consistently, and that's where these adjustable stop blocks come in handy.