Woodcraft Magazine April/May 2018 (82)

As an Eagle Scout, Daniel Friday would build small woodworking projects with his father. That foundation in working with his hands led to an appreciation for the craft. Today, Daniel designs and builds custom Southern Swing Beds (p. 36) in Hoover, Alabama. When not in the shop, he enjoys the great outdoors with his wife, Marianna, and their 8-year-old Siberian husky, Dakoda. Ralph Lee Anderson began his photography career at age 13 on the school yearbook staff. Since then, he has shot everything from fashion to food. Ralph recently retired from product photography at a major publishing company and now enjoys gardening, scale model building, and freelance photo assignments (see p. 36). Ralph and his wife, Sally, live in rural Kentucky. Photography assignments have brought Randy O’Rourke to 26 countries and every…

Slap it on the Wall! Check out our new Facebook Live series. Here’s your chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at magazine-making. As we place the next issue’s pages on the wall, you can track our progress, preview what’s coming, and hear some entertaining stories about how our content comes together. Tips & Tricks videos. We’re making video versions of our favorite tips. These helpful hints are on our website. Let us know what you think, or submit your own trick to help someone become a better woodworker.…

I’m proud of our team. I get to work with the best woodworking journalists in the business. It’s the same group that for years has consistently delivered an inspiring mix of projects, techniques, and tool stories in every issue. And we’re always looking for new ways to make your time in the workshop more rewarding and enjoyable. One such feature that I’m particularly excited about is BasicBUILDS. You’ll notice an icon, designed by art director Bobby Schehl, on projects that can be easily built by anyone with a modest set of tools. This issue’s BasicBUILD project turned out to be our strongest cover contender—proof that you can build something beautiful (and useful) with basic tools; it just takes a good design and the right instructions. Our own Joe Hurst worked with…

Furnituremaker, teacher, author, playwright, photographer, mountain man… just exactly who is Gary Rogowski? To find out, I spoke with the man whose furniture lives in homes nationwide; who operates and teaches at Northwest Woodworking Studio in Portland, OR; who mentors high school students through his nonprofit organization Woodworking Ideas Northwest (WIN); who starred in four DVDs and authored three books, including his latest, Handmade: Creative Focus in the Age of Distraction; and who likes to traverse the Cascade mountains as a counterpoint to working in his shop. Perhaps it’s best to describe Rogowski as a modern Renaissance man—Leonardo da Vinci with a pen and a bandsaw, if you will. His hard work, curiosity, and the occasional walk in the mountains let him cut through the bull and busyness that define our…

I read Woodcraft Magazine each month and buy more than a few things from my local store. I appreciate both the magazine and the store for advice, ideas, project plans and of course tools and materials. Last issue’s (#81, Feb/March 2018) “Table Saw Kick Switch” story blew me away. As I looked at the different custom solutions, I wondered how I lived without one for all these years, and then, if I would be able to adapt this sweet solution to suit my SawStop. As it turns out, it was very easy to do (see photo). I used 11/4" aluminum angle, the hinge section from a lock hasp, a piece of 1/4"-thick acrylic, some button head machine screws, and a felt furniture glide. The round furniture glide focuses the beam’s pressure onto…

Senior Editor Joe Hurst replies: Good catch. You are correct: the Fein does not have an electronic variable-speed switch. However, should the need arise, this vac offers a simple mechanical solution: a slotted coupling on the handle. Opening the vent diverts the airflow, reducing suction at the end of the hose. I hope you don’t regret your purchase. I’ve used the previous model for over 15 years—for all sorts of workshop and home improvement projects—and it’s still running strong. I’m still impressed by the vacuum’s built-in outlet that allows it simultaneously power my 12" miter saw without popping a breaker.…