Popular Woodworking September 1st, 2024 Digital Back Issue Cover

Popular Woodworking September/October 2024 (Digital)

(33)

Single Digital Issue

September/October 2024

$6.99

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Instant Start

Subscribe Instead

1 Year Subscription

6 digital issues

$8.99

($1.50/issue)

Go to Subscription

View Subscription Options

Also available on ZINIO Unlimited logo

Get unlimited access to Popular Woodworking (Digital) + Back Issues & 5000+ other magazines

Learn more

1-month free trial

Renews at $8.99/month after trial.
Cancel anytime.

Get unlimited access to Popular Woodworking (Digital) + Back Issues & 5000+ other magazines. Renews at just $8.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Start Trial Learn more

18 Articles

1 min.

Onward, Forward.

As I sit here writing, it’s been a wet, humid summer in Iowa. I’ve finished most of my travels for the year. Typically, from spring to summer, I’m traveling to various contributing writers’ shops to take photos with them. I enjoy it, but I must admit, I breathed a sigh of relief when I returned from my last trip, knowing I had several months of “home time.” However, “home time” doesn’t necessarily mean resting. No, it’s a time to get things done around the house and the shop. I’ve been working on and off on a new miter saw station for our shop (keep an eye out for it in an upcoming issue). I’m also rerouting the driveway on our property to make it more easily accessible (definitely not to make…

1 min.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

WILLIE SANDRY: Banker's Desk pg. 50 / Router Review–pg. 16 Living in the Pacific Northwest, Willie Sandry is a longtime fan of Arts & Crafts furniture. He enjoys taking inspiration for his projects from antique furniture exhibitions as well as “old barn finds.” Never one to do a job partway, Willie has developed a vast skill set to elevate his projects. From sawing lumber and kiln drying it to finishing a chair with top-notch upholstery, Willie sees a project through from the start until the finish. YouTube: The Thoughtful Woodworker. COLLIN KNOFF: Record Stand–pg. 42 Collin has been fascinated with building things as long as he can remember — from LEGO sets to taking apart things around the house just so he could see how they went back together (sorry Mom!). It wasn’t…

1 min.

No Math Octagons

I’m not a numbers guy, so I hate complicated formulas for figuring out dimensions. I’d given up making octagonal wood blanks for my lathe until I discovered this technique. No measuring required! You can also do this on your bandsaw.…

1 min.

Bosch Brushless Planer

Every once in a while I’m fortunate to be struck by serendipitous situations in this job. After building the record stand (page 42) I was left with a pile of perfectly good rough-cut walnut that would make some great boxes. Only problem was that it was too small to go through the planer, meaning I would need to plane it by hand or make a sled. Just my luck then, that Bosch emailed me about their new brushless 18V planer. The GH018V-26N features a 13,600 rpm brushless motor, a fast and safe blade change system, and a maximum cut depth of 3/32". After a few test passes at a shallow depth of cut, I decided to go for broke and crank the adjustment for a full-depth, full-width pass on the walnut.…

1 min.

Venom Steel Shop Supplies

Just like a good pair of socks, a good set of disposable gloves is a luxury that I will not go without. My problem with cheaper gloves are that they tend to tear at the worst possible moment—the final wipe on a coat of finish, or as I’m tightening down a greasy bolt on a machine. A new release from a company called Venom Steel are some of the best disposable gloves that I’ve used. They claim that their gloves are up to 70% thicker than others on the market, and after running through an entire box of 50 gloves, I believe it. Even after poking holes in the glove with a dental pick (don’t ask), they did not tear. In addition to being thick, the gloves are also fully textured.…

1 min.

Scraping is Quicker than Sanding

No matter what grit sandpaper you use on end grain, there’s one hand tool that can get the job done faster: the No. 80 scraper. The No. 80 is a very simple tool. Although it looks like an oversized spoke-shave, it’s completely different. It cuts like a scraper, with the blade leaning forward. The depth of cut is regulated by a thumbscrew, which springs the blade into a curve. Although you can also use a plain card scraper on end grain, a No. 80 has three big advantages: • It has a 2 ¾" long sole to guide the blade and prevent it from digging in. You can inadvertently make a ripply surface with a card scraper because it’s not guided by a sole.• Your hands won’t get scorched, because they don’t touch…

1 min.

Milwaukee FUEL 6½" Circular Saw

Milwaukee recently announced their next generation of tools and batteries at their annual Pipeline showcase. You can check out the full list of all of the woodworking announcements on our website, and we’ll be featuring them in the pages of this magazine as well, like this new Fuel 61½" circular saw. For those who don’t know, Fuel is the label that Milwaukee applies to their professional-level tools and equipment, designating the highest performance available. They also pack in the latest technology which in this case includes the latest Powerstate Brushless Motor and Redlink Plus, which maximizes tool performance and protects against overload, overheating, and over-discharge of the batteries. When paired with Milwaukee’s (also new) Redlithium High Output™ XC6.0 Battery, the saw delivers up to 300 cuts per charge. That’s all well and…

1 min.

JessEm Precision Rules

The Canadian company JessEm, known for their high-quality router lifts, recently released a new line of precision steel rules. As you can see in the photo to the right, what makes these rules different than others is the laser-cut shapes in the center. These shapes are what JessEm is calling their Flex Grip. The area that’s been laser cut has a very, very slight burr on it. This means that, when you use your fingers to press down the rule on your workpiece, the burr acts like Velcro and keeps the rule from sliding. I’m sure you’ve experienced your rule slipping in the past. The Flex Grip is such a simple idea, and like most simple ideas, it just works. The Flex Grip will hold on to anything that’s softer than…

1 min.

Instant Rasp

I recently built a chest of drawers with sliding-dovetail joinery. During assembly, I found that the fit was just a little too snug. Rather than trying to realign my router jig, I looked around for another solution. I needed something that could slip in along the dovetail. I decided to stick some sandpaper to a scrap of wood with double-faced tape. I beveled the edge of the board, which allowed me to get right in where I needed to be. Now this instant rasp is almost indispensable in my shop when I’m shaping, sizing, or final sanding the edges of parts. I’ve made myself a whole set, ranging from very coarse to very fine grits.…

1 min.

Glancy’s No 1 Oil

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The thing I love most about woodworking is the community around us. I meet some fantastic people within it. Take Chase Glancy, for example. We were introduced through a mutual friend (Jamie Harpster, from Plane Wellness). Chase has designed, manufactured, and bottled a new penetrating oil finish, called Glancy’s No 1. Now, here’s where I put my “Editor” hat on. Is it really better than other oils on the market? In short, I absolutely believe it is. Think of Glancy’s No 1 as a replacement for boiled linseed oil or tung oil. It penetrates and, in one coat, creates a finish from within the wood’s surface. Doing this increases the shimmer (chatoyance) of figured wood, and enhances the natural color of the…

1 min.

Bosch Job Site Table Saw

While many woodworkers dream of the largest cabinet saw they can get their hands on, reality often dictates a different path. Whether it’s space or price that’s driving your decision, the new Bosch GTS15-10 is a solid choice of a table saw that can even take a dado stack. The first sign that this saw is ready for all-day woodworking is the is the choice to forgo the ongoing shift to battery powered everything in favor of plug-in 15 amp power. This means you’ll get consistent power (of which the saw has plenty) from the 3,800 rpm motor. The motor also has a start-soft feature and a brake mechanism that helps the blade stop in approximately three seconds. Another standout feature is the four Clampzone™ areas, which allow the tabletop to be…

1 min.

No Trace Screw Removal

Last summer I built some outdoor furniture and used brass screws. Geez it’s a pain when those screws break off. After I snapped a couple, I couldn’t find my screw extractor so I had to get creative! I’ve got a set of steel drill guides that I use to make custom drilling jigs for shelf pegs and dowel holes. I discovered that if I put the 3/16" drill guide into a block of wood and clamped this assembly over the broken screw, I was able to drill it out. Then I plugged the hole with a piece of wood and some glue. Once I inserted a new screw, the fix was invisible. I’ve tried this with brass and mild-steel type screws but it doesn’t work with hard drywall-type screws.…

28 min.

MIDSIZE ROUTER MELEE

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 a drill press, a modern router can handle a bevy of cutting and shaping tasks. Whether you’re in the market for a fixed base, plunge base, or something built for router table use, the specs and tests here should help narrow the field. This review is focused on the most common midsize routers in the 2–2.3 hp range. While compact routers certainly are popular, they’re limited to a ¼" collet and may be best as a second or third router purchase. Full-size 3½ hp routers certainly have the power needed in a production environment, but few hobby woodworkers are…

12 min.

Carving a Spoon

I began woodworking in late 2015, and the more I learned about woodworking, the more I was intrigued by all of its different avenues of creativity. Spoon carving caught my attention because I love cooking and thought what better way to make the process more personal than to create my own custom utensils. I took my first spoon carving class in January of 2018, and discovered my intuition was correct. That first spoon carving class opened up a new passion of mine. I continued to take classes, including how to make your own spoon carving tools and how to improve your knife skills. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were other people who loved carving spoons almost as much as I did. In January 2019, I, along with a…

10 min.

Record Stand

I've always appreciated vinyl for its aesthetic qualities as much as the analog experience of putting a record on. Yet for some reason, my collection has always lived inside of cabinets or cupboards. I decided it was finally time to change that and give my records a prominent spot in my living room. The added benefit is that with everyone out on display, I’m actually using my record player more often. Design One of my favorite parts of the entire woodworking process is the design phase. I spent months bookmarking ideas on Instagram and looking at mid-century pieces. The case design itself came together fairly early; after making several furniture pieces with plywood, I wanted to construct something entirely out of hardwood, and I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to use…

12 min.

Bank Manager’s Desk

The best thing about being a woodworker is the ability to make custom furniture for a particular spot in the home. Need a desk that perfectly nestles into a nook or alcove? Once you have the basic skills, you can build fine furniture to suit the available space. This large desk provides ample work surface, along with two pencil drawers and integral desktop organizers for corralling letters. Some advanced woodworking techniques are included to challenge you and keep woodworking fun, including inlays, locking miter joints, and side-hung center guided drawers. Four Good Legs to Stand On This project requires 2¼" square legs that are 30" long. 10/4 solid white oak is hard to come by, but luckily there are a couple good ways to build your own posts from ¾" stock. Laminating…

5 min.

Spring Green Saws

The story behind Spring Green Saws is one that I’ve followed for years. I became aware of Charlie Earnest and his saws as I watched his saw building journey over the last several years (via social media). I actually approached Charlie several years back, asking to do this very spotlight on him and his saws. However, being the humble guy that he is, he declined, and it took me meeting him in person (at Handworks, in the Amana Colonies) to finally convince him to let me share his story. Spring Green Saws Spring Green Saws got its start in 2020, and shipped its first commission saw in 2021. Charlie, having spent time in the HVAC field, transitioned to a stay-at-home dad, and became fascinated with vintage handsaws (stemming from his love of…

3 min.

The Tisch Toy Shop

I first learned about exploding outhouses when I was about six or seven. Maybe you’ve seen them: little banks in the shape of an outhouse with a coin slot on top, and a hidden mousetrap inside. Dropping a coin inside makes the whole thing fly apart. They were a big hit at the Tisch Toy Shop. Mr. Tisch, our neighbor, was a retired carpenter who loved to spend his time in his woodshop building toys. I doubt that his business was very profitable, however, because the only thing he liked more than making his toys was giving them away. One evening when I was quite young, Mr. and Mrs. Tisch were over visiting with my parents. They must have joked about me going to stay with them for the night because…

Recent Popular Woodworking Digital Issues Browse all back issues

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription March 1st, 2024 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) March/April 2024: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription January 1st, 2024 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) January/February 2024: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription November 1st, 2023 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) November/December 2023: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription September 1st, 2023 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) September/October 2023: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription March 1st, 2025 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) March/April 2025: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription January 1st, 2025 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) January/February 2025: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription November 1st, 2024 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) November/December 2024: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription September 1st, 2024 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) September/October 2024: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription July 1st, 2024 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) July/August 2024: $6.99

Popular Woodworking (Digital) Subscription May 1st, 2024 Issue

Popular Woodworking (Digital) May/June 2024: $6.99