Woodsmith April/May 2021

Make it a set. As a woodworker, we have so many possibilites to take familiar projects in a different direction. Take the humble bookcase. We’ve featured dozens (just take a look at www.WoodsmithPlans.com). When a new bookcase plan came up on the schedule, we decided to work it into three-piece home office collection that started with last issue’s desk and wall cabinet. The challenge is coming up with a design theme that looks good together without being repetitive. Of course, the bookcase looks great on its own, too. We’ll be featuring this set in season 15 of the Woodsmith Shop later this fall. Speaking of design, I got to play designer a bit, myself. The router table fence on page 48 is my own creation based on a shop need. While…

Todd started his Woodsmith Art Direction gig in 1995, after a move back “home” from Phoenix, Arizona. This marked the beginning of the digital era for Woodsmith as he helped usher in the extensive use of computer technology to bring this Magazine where it is today. A “maker” of the truest sort, Todd dabbles in many things that require the use of hands and tools. Restoring classic cars, combining woodworking with audio electronics, and old house renovation are a few examples of activities close to his heart.…

Modular Pegboard Caddy If you need a way to keep small hand tools organized on your workbench, much like I did, then this lazy Susan tool caddy is a quick project for you. The caddy has pegboard sides held by grooved corner posts. You’ll want to make sure the holes in the opposite sides line up with each other. You can slide 1/4" dowels through the sides to divide the space inside the caddy. To hold bigger tools, simply skip over a line of holes to create larger storage areas. By making the dowels extra long, you’ll have a great place to hang small hand tools like wrenches. A 3/4"-thick plug screwed to the caddy keeps it square. Self-adhesive magnetic strips can be added to the outside of the caddy to hold…

Apron Helper. Carol Roy of Grand Rapids, MI Carol found herself switching between a drill bit and driver on a recent project. Instead of putting the bits in her apron pocket only to get buried in dust, Carol used a pair of magnets clipped to her apron. That way, Carol can snap the bit, driver, and screws on the front of her apron. Foam Painter’s Points. Seth Deitrich of Port Hillard, MA needed a few painter’s points when finishing a project. Seth utilized some polystyrene scraps he had laying around his shop. By driving a long screw through squares of foam, they create the perfect, quick painter’s points. The foam holds the screw so it doen’t fall over, and you can support the piece without marring the freshly finished surface. Bright Tool…

When it comes to woodturning, I often get asked about carbide tools and if I recommend them to a beginner. My answer is almost always the same: “If you want an easy-to-use tool and don’t want to learn to sharpen, then yes, use them.” However, that’s not to say that they don’t have a place at a traditional turner’s lathe (I consider myself a traditional turner). So here, I want to dig into some of the finer points of carbide turning tools, how they’re used, and how you can use them at your lathe. THE BASICS. As you can see in the main photo above and at left, carbide turning tools look a little different than traditional cutting tools. A carbide tool consists of a handle with a steel bar. That…

Diamond Sharpening Stone. If you’re the type of person that orders a new cutter before you need it, then I’d like to shake your hand. I usually discover that my edges are dull before I’ve ordered a new one, however. Luckily, as you wait on a new cutter to arrive, you can stretch a little extra life out of your carbide cutter with a diamond stone. By rubbing the top of a standard carbide cutter on a diamond stone, you can freshen up an edge. It won’t be as sharp as a new cutter, but it’s often good enough to get by until your replacement cutter arrives.…