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 Thursday, April 30, 2009
A Heavy Load and a Long Road to Haul
A few of us have been kvetching lately about tired, aching feet after a long day in our concrete-floored shop. (Still, I'd rather have sore feet than a sore butt from sitting in front of the computer all day.)
Editor Chris Schwarz spent last weekend teaching at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, and he was on his feet all day, for two days. But he had a nice mat to stand on, so while his fingers were raw from sharpening, his feet were happy. And I spent a number of years as a bartender (and can still mix a mean mint
julep), so I know what a difference a bar mat makes – especially when
traipsing around for hours in high heels (not that I often wear high
heels in the shop).
So, we decided to break down and buy six mats – one for each bench, and one each for the table saw and jointer. I searched the interwebs for stall mats, on a recommendation from Charles Davis, of The Wood Zealot's Workshop (a very funny blog, but not one for the easily offended). Charles claims they're the best anti-fatigue mats he's tried (which makes sense, since the average horse outweighs the average woodworker by at least a couple hundred pounds). You'd think stall mats would be easy to find this close to the Bluegrass state, but we had to drive about an hour east of Cincinnati to score some nice sturdy ones, made on-site out of recycled tires. And those suckers are heavy – 100 pounds each. And they're not very malleable. But, we managed to cram them into the back of my Subaru, then headed off to the relatively nearby lumberyard to pick up some 8/4 stock for an upcoming project.
But, we had three people in the car. So we made the youngest (and most malleable), Drew DePenning, associate editor for the web, sit in back atop the stack of mats and hang on to the stock; after all, it's only 28 miles, and these mats are supposed to be very comfortable!
I believe I need new brake pads and shock absorbers. And should a police officer see the picture below, um, it was all Chris's idea...
— Megan Fitzpatrick p.s. A couple Cincinnati-area readers have asked where we got the mats: From the very nice people at Dandy Products in Goshen, Ohio, 513-625-3000.
Read other entries by Megan Fitzpatrick
Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:34:35 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) 
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
No Axe-wielding to See Here
A few days ago, I took a poll to see what should be done with my decades-old, ugly (but functional) L-bracket-built bookcases. Frankly, I'm surprised the chain-saw option wasn't more popular. But, Mother Nature won out...as did a friend across the street. I popped across to borrow some parm-reg cheese, and she mentioned she was looking for cheap bookcases. Done. I got a block of yummy cheese, and the bookcases have a new home. Now I'm off to make bruschetta.
— Megan Fitzpatrick
Read other entries by Megan Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:29:14 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Channeling Danny Proulx's Ghost
When Danny Proulx was about a third done writing his book, "50 Shop-Made Jigs & Fixtures," he suddenly passed away. He was at a woodworking show in Ottawa, Ontario, doing what he loved to do best — teaching and talking woodworking.
Well, that left me in an interesting spot — I could cancel the book or somehow get it finished. It happened that Danny had one of his students from Algonquin College as an assistant shop worker. His name is Luc Rousseau. I called Luc and asked him if he'd be interested in finishing Danny's book. There was silence for a long time. Then he said, "I could possibly do it if I had some help."
After some discussion, Luc and I decided that we could finish the book, with the help of Danny's father-in-law, Jack Chaters (who was the cameraman at the time). So, I high-tailed it up to Russell, Ontario and met the guys.
As we (Luc, Jack and I) were standing in the middle of Danny's shop, pretty much in the dark (mentally, not physically. Danny had so much lighting in his shop you needed sun block and sunglasses to enter it.) about what to do next, that's when we felt it — Danny's ghost. Danny was a fairly big guy in this life and his ghost was equally formidable. We all stood there and it became clear where Danny wanted us to go. We went into his office and there, in the file cabinet, was his completed outline for this book!
After that, we simply filled in the blanks by building the jigs and fixtures he had already chosen. Luc was very much relieved and Jack started laughing. He said, "This doesn't surprise me in the least, Danny was so organized that he left nothing to chance — not even his own demise."
So, under the tutelage of Danny's ghost and a couple of good guys, we completed Danny's book.
— Jim Stack, senior editor of Popular Woodworking Books
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:43:18 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Bosch: Innovation and a New Technology
Recently the Bosch Power Tools and Accessories division of Robert Bosch Tool Corporation held an event held in Arlington Heights, Ill. Managing Editor Megan Fitzpatrick was in attendance and returned with scads of information – some we can share and some we cannot.
Megan wrote about Bosch’s first foray into pneumatics (read her entry here). The new "Full Force Technology" centers around an innovative tool design where patented air cambers in each tool utilize 100 percent of the air moving from the compressor to the nailers. With no air needed to return the driver to the “ready” position, Bosch’s pneumatic tools are 20 percent smaller and 10 percent more powerful, according to the company.
The innovation didn’t stop there. Bosch has taken the normal "hotdog" style tanks and stood them on end and at a slight angle. This is to increase balance and make transport easier. The company also added a patented "EZ Drain" system for simple front-access tank drainage.
While the focus of the event was to introduce a new line of pneumatics (and other tools, most of which are for construction and destruction), there was another very interesting discovery.
If you’re a fan of new technologies (and what woodworker isn’t) you might know about the new e-Coupled inductive charging system. I, myself, have not been at the forefront of this phenomenon.
This new e-Coupled technology is intelligent wireless power that uses inductive coupling to transfer energy from enabled surfaces to any compatible device. That means there is no need for power cords and battery chargers and there's no on or off switch. Your device has a coiled copper ring near the battery and another copper ring is in the wireless power source. The two rings communicate all the necessary information that allows the device to fully charge. Just sit the device on the e-Coupled platform to charge. For more information, visit this Leggett & Platt web site (click here).
What does this have to do with Bosch Tools? Watch this video and you’ll see a number of Bosch woodworking tools mentioned. Bosch is the exclusive cordless power-tool partner for e-Coupled and is working with e-Coupled to develop something – something we cannot mention at this time, but you can see in the video.
This is totally cool stuff. What do you think?
— Glen D. Huey
Looking for More Free Woodworking Information?• Sign up for our newsletters to get free plans, techniques and reviews HERE. • Like tools? We do! Read our latest tool coverage HERE. • Looking for free project plans? We have hundreds. Click HERE. • Learn a new woodworking technique today. Click HERE. • Want more videos? See all our free videos HERE. • Check out our selection of half-price woodworking books HERE. • Get 8 years of Popular Woodworking on one CD. Click HERE.
Read other entries by Glen D. Huey
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 3:25:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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A Big Truck Showed Up at Our Door Today
As Editor Christopher Schwarz and I were leaving to get coffee at lunchtime today, a big panel truck pulled up to our loading dock – so we hightailed it to Chris's car. But Senior Editor Glen Huey has both our mobile numbers, so there was no escaping the unloading duties (to be fair, I didn't actually do any unloading; someone had to take pictures after all!).
In the truck were two huge crates from Lie-Nielsen – the first of multiple shipments for the upcoming Lie-Nielsen Toolworks' Travelin' Hand Tool Event, May 16 and 17 in our Cincinnati shop.
Admission is free. Hours are noon-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Experts from Lie-Nielsen will be on hand to demonstrate their tools. We'll be here to give shop tours and apologize for dangling modifiers. Members of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) will be giving hand tool demos (click here for the demo schedule). And we'll be joined by John Economaki of Bridge City Tools, Ron Hock of Hock Tools, Kevin Drake of Glen-Drake Tool Works, Ron Brese of Brese Planes, Bob Zajicek of Czeck Edge Hand Tool and Jameel Abraham of Benchcrafted.
So make plans to join us on either or both days at 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236 (look for the F&W Publications sign out front...and the tool makers and users in the parking lot). And here's a link to a Google map of our location.
And the delivery fellow? We told him there were more crates to come. As he was leaving, he mentioned that a shipping competitor has great customer service. I believe there may be some heavy metal in those crates.
— Megan Fitzpatrick
Read other entries by Megan Fitzpatrick
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 2:51:46 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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How to Stop Bamboo From Exploding
It's a good thing that I keep a change of clothes at work. And that I don't wear leopard-print underwear.
OK, let's back up a minute.
This morning I'm finishing up work on the next I Can Do That project, and it requires about 1,000 bamboo skewers that are cut to 8-1/4" long. That 1,000 is not a typo.
We try to obey "the rules" of the I Can Do That column when we build these projects – the tools and materials must come from a home center. And so I wanted to find a way to cut these skewers using the tools in the I Can Do That tool kit. There is no band saw. Only a chop saw and a handsaw.
So I bound together 100 of the skewers tightly with blue tape and marked on the tape where I needed to cut the bunch. I set a stop on the miter saw and began the cut slowly. About three skewers later the entire bunch exploded, and I was glad that I'd visited the Little Editor's Room before beginning the operation.
So I took a bundle out to Senior Editor Glen D. Huey and asked him how he'd cut them.
"With a handsaw – hand tool boy," he said, cackling.
Then he said he'd do it with a band saw, which was my first choice as well. So I bound up another 100 skewers in tape and made the cut on the band saw with no problem.
Looks like we'll be recommending the readers use snips or a handsaw to trim these skewers – perhaps while watching Ingmar Bergman's "Scenes from a Marriage."
Oh, and about that leopard-print underwear comment above: My grandmother always said you should wear undergarments that would look fine in the emergency room when they cut your clothes off – a rule that my mother scandalously violated in her youth with hilarious consequence.
— Christopher Schwarz
Looking for More Free Woodworking Information?
• Sign up for our newsletters to get free plans, techniques and reviews HERE.
• Like tools? We do! Read our latest tool coverage HERE.
• Looking for free project plans? We have hundreds. Click HERE.
• Learn a new woodworking technique today. Click HERE.
• Want more videos? See all our free videos HERE.
• Check out our selection of half-price woodworking books HERE.
• Get 8 years of Popular Woodworking on one CD. Click HERE.
Read other entries by Christopher Schwarz
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:37:55 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, April 27, 2009
Cordless Drills: Remodeling and DIY Dentistry
I'm old enough to remember when you needed an extension cord and a chuck key to use a drill. When cordless drills came along I was grateful, and these tools just keep getting better. I've been remodeling my kitchen at home, and borrowed the three drills in the picture below to see how they performed outside the shop on a job site.  The smaller-size drills now available (thanks to Lithium-ion batteries) are a great leap forward. My old 12-volt drill was heavy enough to make my wrist hurt by the end of the day and it wouldn't always fit in tight spots. The Bosch I-Driver has plenty of power and the articulating head makes setting drawer slides in a 12" wide cabinet, or reaching high overhead, a breeze. It's been my go-to drill in the shop for a couple years now. My co-workers say I hide it, but I just make sure it is put away in a safe place. The little white Makita is a contender for my new favorite. It's light and comfortable to use, has a three-jaw chuck and two speed settings. The ergonomics are outstanding, and the LED light (which I didn't think was important in the shop) turned out to be a real help working inside dark cabinets. I knew it was a comfortable, easy-to-use tool when my wife asked me where "her" little white drill was. The large Makita is a four-function tool-drill, driver, hammer drill and impact driver. I used it extensively driving screws for concrete board for the new tile floor. If I were still working on site on a regular basis I would have to have one of these. It would replace three big, heavy specialized tools that I used to carry but didn't use often. I had to carry them, because when you need a hammer drill or a powerful impact driver, there used to be no good substitutes. Of course any project has interruptions, and tools sometimes get used for things the designers and engineers never dreamed of. This happened on my project last week. My teenage son had his wisdom teeth removed a few weeks ago. The other night he was feeling some pain and asked me to take a look. Peering into your child's orifices is one of the duties that comes with fatherhood, so I went looking for my flashlight. I keep a big Maglite under the kitchen sink. It's not only a great flashlight, but if it turns out that there really is a burglar in the house at 3 a.m., it's also a decent defensive weapon. The problem was that the old sink cabinet had been removed and the new one was still a pile of unassembled parts. I searched for a while to the tune of "Dad, this really hurts, can you take a look?" and a lightbulb went off over my head. I remembered that the big Makita has an LED light that functions by depressing the trigger without engaging the motor.  So this is the kid's-eye view. I didn't see any signs of infection and the pain went away with a salt-water gargle. Hunter and I thought it was pretty amusing (once he stopped flinching as I approached with drill in hand saying "open wide"). His mother, however, was not so amused. – Robert W. Lang
Looking for More Free Woodworking Information?• Sign up for
our newsletters to get free plans, techniques and reviews HERE. • Like tools?
We do! Read our latest tool coverage HERE. • Looking for free
project plans? We have hundreds. Click HERE. • Learn a new
woodworking technique today. Click HERE.
Read other entries by Robert W. Lang
Monday, April 27, 2009 11:12:59 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Design Contest: The Ideal Clamp Rack
SWF in search of the perfect clamp rack. Willing and easily able to relocate a plus. Must be robust but have a svelte figure. Should be able to handle a lot of baggage, but be as simple as my eighth-grade boyfriend.
OK – I don’t think I can carry this conceit any further; I’m just too out of practice with the personal ads. Here’s our problem: We have a lot of clamps. Some might say we have too many clamps. But with four editors regularly building in our shop, we can’t afford to get rid of any of them. So, we need to build an additional clamp rack that can handle the heavy load.
Senior Editor Robert W. Lang designed a mobile clamp rack for the October 2007 issue that’s perfect for a one- or two-person shop, but it’s overburdened. When we load it up, I can’t move the dang thing without a clamp or three falling onto my toes. (This hurts a lot more in the summer. Why can’t I find any steel-toed sandals?)
A cursory count reveals 82 clamps hiding in corners around the shop, and precariously hanging on our poor overburdened mobile rack – and that’s not counting the nine F-styles Editor Christopher Schwarz has hanging around the rim of his trash can, or the various and sundry quick-release clamps, and the score of spring clamps attached to the mullions. In parallel-jaw clamps, we have lengths ranging from 50" to 12" (most are in between). We have F-styles ranging from 18" to 8", and handscrews with massive 18" chops down to wee 8" chops.
So we’re asking you to design the Ideal Clamp Rack – which doesn’t have to hold our whole collection (we’d be mighty pleased if it could securely hold at least 20 parallel jaws of varying lengths, a passel of F-styles and a collection of handscrews). The rack has to be strong; it doesn’t have to be handsome. It has to be simple to build, and preferably easy to move without things falling off. And personally, I’d really like it in lavender…but that may hurt your chances with the three other editors.
Submit your best SketchUp design (or CAD, or hand drawing) by e-mail to letters@fwmedia.com by midnight on May 15, 2009. The winner(s) of the best design(s) will have the satisfaction of knowing he or she has made a major contribution to the well-being and the toe health of our editors, and get a free copy of the latest book from Woodworking Magazine: the hardcover edition of issues 8-12.
— Megan Fitzpatrick
Looking for More Free Woodworking Information?• Sign up for
our newsletters to get free plans, techniques and reviews HERE. • Like tools?
We do! Read our latest tool coverage HERE. • Looking for free
project plans? We have hundreds. Click HERE. • Learn a new
woodworking technique today. Click HERE.
Read other entries by Megan Fitzpatrick
Monday, April 27, 2009 9:01:59 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Get Better at Woodworking
If you’re into period furniture and what makes one piece better than another, if you’re interested in carving top-notch detail into your projects using hand and/or power tools, or if you would like to become more efficient with your time and learn to plan your projects better, plan to attend the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) 2009 Mid-Year Conference, Friday, June 26th through Sunday, June 28th at the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, PA. Registration is open.
Presenters include Steve Latta (a professor at Thaddeus Stevens College), Mary May (a super-accomplished carver of wood and other materials), Will Neptune (a well-known name in woodworking and former instructor at the North Bennet Street School in Boston) and Mickey Callahan (co-founder and current president of SAPFM). For more information, click here.
One thing I’ve discovered while woodworking – and I think it relates to most of life – you have to push yourself to get better at what you do. I look back at the furniture I produced as I began building full time and I wonder how I ever got from there to where I am today. And I hope to look back in 10 years and feel the same.
In order to increase your woodworking abilities, you have a couple choices. First, throw caution to the wind, buy the material to do a project that exceeds your current work and muddle through until you get it right. You can learn a great deal from your mistakes.
While that works for some of us, others feel it’s better to choose the second option, taking a class or seminar. Learning from those that have already muddled through, made and learned from their mistakes and now know how to get things accomplished bypassing those problems is a keen way to improve your abilities quicker and without wasting time and money.
The SAPFM Mid-Year Conference weekend-long program is a standout, events around the conference look great and there is always the chance to meet and hangout with other woodworkers. In fact, I’ll bet you’ll run into a couple contributors to Popular Woodworking while you’re there. — Glen D. Huey
Looking for More Free Woodworking Information?• Sign up for our newsletters to get free plans, techniques and reviews HERE. • Like tools? We do! Read our latest tool coverage HERE. • Looking for free project plans? We have hundreds. Click HERE. • Learn a new woodworking technique today. Click HERE. • Want more videos? See all our free videos HERE. • Check out our selection of half-price woodworking books HERE. • Get 8 years of Popular Woodworking on one CD. Click HERE.
Read other entries by Glen D. Huey
Friday, April 24, 2009 10:17:09 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Reuse, Reduce and Recycle - Or Take a Chainsaw to It?
Happy Earth Day.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about my embarrassing L-bracket bookshelves and the new bookcase I was working on to replace them. I'm finally finished.
We're shooting the opening picture tomorrow afternoon at my house, so last night, I moved all the books off the old unit and piled them on the dining room table, then moved the bockety, dimensional pine piece of crap against the dining room wall, just to get it out of the way to clear space for my slightly less bockety cherry bookcase.
Today, Senior Editor Glen D. Huey helped me schlep the new case to my house and set it up. It barely fit in his Dodge Ram. I simply must stop building such large and heavy pieces of furniture.
So now, I have to decide what to do with the old bookshelves. Sure, I could easily remove the L-brackets and bring the boards into the shop. The shelves are each 12" wide and 48" long, and the sides are both 36" long. I'm sure we could find a use for the wood, even with the drippy cherry Minwax finished I brushed on these many decades ago (sorry Bob Flexner – now I know I should have used a rag).
But what I really want to do is rev up the chainsaw and go straight down the middle. Or start a bonfire. Or take an axe to it. Those would all make for good pictures. But it's Earth Day, and I'm feeling guilty about my yen for destruction.
So, gentle readers, what say you?
— Megan Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 3:19:09 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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