Popular Woodworking November/December 2022

If someone walked up to me and told me I wasn’t a very smart man, I’d have a hard time arguing with them. There are often times when I do something knowing full-well that the outcome isn’t going to be in my favor. For example, I was recently cruising my local online classifieds when I came across a 24" (yes, you read that right) J.T. Towsley jointer for sale locally. I immediately knew it was coming home with me. Should I have consulted with my wife? Probably. Was not doing so a dangerous move on my part? Certainly. However, I’ve always told myself that I’d eventually own a few stupidly large pieces of vintage woodworking machinery. I’m at the point where my biggest fear is that “eventually” will become “never.”…

DILLON BAKER: Mini Curio Cabinet–pg. 46 Dillon Baker attended Iowa State University and majored in Studio Arts. For the past five years, Dillon has been a Project Designer and Design Editor for Woodsmith Magazine. Recently, he's been contributing to Popular Woodworking Magazine as the Project Editor. Dillon’s favorite furniture style to design and build is a toss up between Art Nouveau and Postmodern. Outside of the shop, Dillon’s often found with a book in his hand or cycling around town. COLLIN KNOFF: Nordic Birdhouse Ornament–pg. 55 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 until he took wood shop in high school, however, that he…

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS Lawn Darts April 2022 | #264 Logan, I just got my husband’s August issue out of the mail and was flipping through it. Hats offon your response to the Connect section to the readers who were concerned about your lawn dart piece! Your emphasis on personal responsibility and using common sense was so logically refreshing and rare these days I just had to let you know that it was appreciated. I’m sure I am not the only one who loved it, and I am not even a woodworker! — Gina Wisniewski Watchmakers Cabinet June 2022 | #265 I just wanted to let you know that I have really enjoyed reading the Watchmakers Cabinet article in Popular Woodworking. I don’t think I’ll make it, unless I find I use for it in my home,…

NEW TOOLS Blue Spruce Toolworks Scrapers and Burnisher The very first hand tool that I ever purchased was a set of Lie-Nielsen card scrapers back when I was taking highs-chool shop. Boy, did I think I was hot stuff with those fancy scrapers. And to this day, I still like them because they’re thin and flexible. But when Blue Spruce Toolworks announced a new set of scrapers and burnishers, I knew I had to add them to my collection. In stark contrast to my beloved Lie-Nielsen scrapers, these from Blue Spruce are thick. So thick, in fact, that you have a hard time flexing them. However, it's unnecessary with the up-swept corners and the razor-sharp edge that the 1095 steel produces. In fact, the Blue Spruce scrapers (of which there are three sizes…

WORKSHOP TIPS Folded Sandpaper Works Better Sheets of sandpaper aren’t easy to work with. It’s tempting to scrunch a sheet up so you can get a better grip, but if you do that, most of the paper gets wasted. Tame the abrasive beast by tearing it into four pieces. Each folded quarter sheet makes a sanding pad that works like an extension of your fingers. This allows you to use every inch of paper. When the two outer surfaces are worn out, simply refold the pad to expose the inner ones. The pad is firm enough to sand flat areas, flexible enough for contours, and it’s got plenty of corners and edges for getting into tight spots. — Tim Johnson Plug-Trimming Router Base Here’s a fast way to level screw-hole plugs. Make a new baseplate…

When I build a project, I use a variety of “fancy” tools (readers' words, not mine). Lie-Nielsen, Bill Carter, and Blue Spruce, amongst others. It never fails that I get comments about how “it must be nice” or “I can only afford vintage tools.” Well, here’s my secret: me too. Now, I don’t mind paying for craftsmanship. However, I’ve paid for almost every one of my “nice” modern tools by buying vintage tools, restoring them, and selling them. The money goes into a “nice tool” fund that I use to fund this… problem… that I have. Do these “fancy” tools work better than a good, restored vintage tool? Nope. Not at all. I’m just shallow and love the look of them. However, I don’t want anyone to think that a…