Edition #242.1

Shop Project

Shop-Built CNC Router

Part 1: Shop-Built CNC

Creative director Chris Fitch built himself a CNC a few years ago — just to see what it was like. The result is a machine that costs less than half of a comparable commercial model. Take a look at the details and features here.

Woodworking Technique

Alternate Way to Make a Mortise

Creating a smooth, accurate mortise is the first step in forming a strong mortise and tenon joint. Phil Huber, shares one approach that combines the drill press with an unusual bit. The payoff is a quick, clean mortise.

Shop Tip

Cheaper Sweeper

Half the battle in keeping your workshop clean is having a broom or brush close by. Here's an easy, inexpensive solution for making a brush for each power tool in your shop.

Designer's Notebook

Drill Press Table

Building a table and fence for your drill press makes it easier and safer to support a large workpiece. But the table can get in the way of the height adjustment crank. This table gives you easier access with some smart hardware solutions.

Shop Tip

Handy Paper Towel Holder

Keeping a roll of paper towels close by is an easy solution for managing spills and wiping down glue drips. Try this solution to prevent the towels from rolling off the bench.

Designer's Notebook

Sugar Chest

As a Kentucky native, Creative Director Chris Fitch has a soft spot for the old-time sugar chest. Here he talks about his riff on the design and the fun woodworking that goes into making one.

Woodworking Technique

Installing a Chest Lock

Adding a lock to a chest gives a storage project a classic touch, even though the security factor isn't as big of a deal as it used to be. Logan Wittmer shows how to install a half-mortise chest lock using hand tools. It's easier — and more fun — than you might think.

Shop Tip

Solvent Dispenser

If you've ever spilled solvent from a metal can, here's a tip that will save you frustration — and another mess to clean up. It's a smart reuse of a container often used for makeup.

Woodworking Technique

Arts & Crafts Details

You can use your table saw to create distinctive Arts & Crafts details. In this video, Phil Huber shows how easy it is to create a four-square look by combining some basic cuts.

Shop Project

Router Lift

Part 1: Router Lift Upgrade

A shop-made router lift makes Phil's router table that much easier to set up and use. An ordinary socket wrench can be used to raise and lower the bit. However, Phil found a better and faster way by using an old-time tool.

Shop Project

Router Dado Jig

Router Dado Jig

A hand-held router makes life easy for creating smooth dadoes and grooves. Logan Wittmer shows you how to build a jig that adjusts for perfect-fitting dadoes and attaches to the workpiece without extra clamps.

Working With Tools

Cutting Dadoes Using a Router Jig

Plywood often measures less than its stated thickness — frustrating but true. Logan Wittmer shows a process for getting a snug fit with a unique router jig.

Shop Tip

Crosscut Sled Finger Joint Jig

A crosscut sled makes cutting so much easier and more accurate that many woodworkers have one on their saw practically all the time. Here's a way to get even more use out of your sled — add a box joint jig.

Project

Plant Stand

Small succulents and air plants don't require much soil or maintenance. That makes them popular additions to homes. Phil Huber walks through the process for making a set of stands ideal for these plants. And you can do most of the work right at the table saw.

Shop Tip

Glue Gun Tote

Far from a simple craft tool, a hot melt glue gun is surprisingly welcome addition in a workshop. The little puddles of melted glue? Not as welcome. Solve the problem with this simple tote.

Designer's Notebook

Sliding Cutoff Grinder

As a woodworker, chances are you have to cut metal for projects every now and again. If you're a homeowner or a DIYer, you cut metal regularly. Chris Fitch says it's time power up and skip the hack saw. He designed an upgrade that turns an angle grinder into a metal-cutting powerhouse.

Mastering the Table Saw

Crosscut Sled

You may think that a crosscut sled is needed only for cutting wide panels. Not so, says Phil Huber. He built a small-scale sled to handle just about all of his everyday crosscutting needs. The result is smoother, cleaner cuts and reliable performance.

Shop Tip

PVC Outfeed Support

An all-purpose shop cart works as a trusty sidekick. Here's a way to get even more use out of it by turning it into a support stand. Now it can catch long boards coming off the end of your table saw.

Woodworking Technique

Curved Tapered Leg

One of the details on this Kentucky sugar chest is the shape of the legs. Erich Lage breaks down the process so you can step up and add this feature to your own projects.

Shop Tip

End Grain Router Sled

Routing across the end of the workpiece brings all kinds of considerations: safety, workpiece control, preventing tearout, and keeping the workpiece square to the bit. With a few pieces of scrap material though, you can make a simple sled to answer the call.