WOOD Magazine November 2019

Shooting the breeze in the shop one day, we got on the subject of two-bit sets. That’s not some pejorative for inexpensive or poorly made TVs but, literally, two matching router bits that create mating joints, such as tongue-and-groove, drop-leaf (rule), or cope-and-stick joints (like the ones in the Divided-light Hutch on page 26). In order to get a precise fit, both bits need to be set up perfectly and test joints cut. No problem, but if you have only one router, you lose the setting of the first bit when you remove it to install the second bit. In most cases, you can use a sample of the second cut to reset the first bit, but it’s not 100 percent reliable. And if you have to re-make one more joint…

Our gift to you: This early reminder OK. This year—this year!—is the year you’re going to get way ahead on your holiday gift projects. No more Christmas Eves in the shop. No more lacquer fumes from under the tree. This is the year you’ll finish ahead of time. And we’re here to help you with some free, easy-to-replicate gift plans, some tips on working efficiently, and a reminder not to blame us if you run late. We reminded you. Use the template routing tips at woodmagazine.com/template to speed your way through duplicating dozens of this Art Deco Desk Clock. Free plans can be found at woodmagazine.com/artdecoclock. Stopblocks from woodmagazine.com/9stopblocks will come in handy for the repeated cuts needed for knocking out copious copies of this coatrack. Find the free plan at woodmagazine.com/coatrack. Speed toward…

Carving Out a New Life Together As a WOOD® magazine subscriber, I have seen numerous wedding unity symbols lately, starting with Dave Campbell’s version in issue 259 (March 2019). But I had never heard of them until my granddaughter asked that I make one for her wedding. Here’s my version. The cross itself is made from black walnut with maple caps. In the poplar base I carved my hands to represent the family holding up their marriage; I also hand-carved the couple in the middle out of a maple tree harvested from our yard. Likewise the coils, which represent the winding roads of life. I call the mahogany ring in the center the “circle of life,” and during the wedding ceremony, my granddaughter and her husband inserted into it the carved couple—it’s held…

Q How far should chisels pry open a wallet? I’m ready for a new set of bench chisels, and am wondering if it makes sense to splurge on a high-priced set. Some brands cost 10 times as much as others! Will I find satisfaction in paying for top-quality chisels, or rue the day I overspent? —Harley James, Arlington, Texas A If you make frequent use of chisels, and depend on them for precise cuts, you’ll feel good about investing in a quality set, Harley. Generally speaking, better chisels arrive ready to work properly out of the box, hold an edge longer and can be resharpened more times, take greater punishment, feel more comfortable in your hand, and look prettier. Now let’s unpack each of those benefits. Bench, paring, mortising: What’s the difference? woodmagazine.com/allaboutchisels Though you…

Under-the-table Solution for Clamp Storage Attach this sliding clamp holder to the bottom of your tablesaw’s extension table to keep bar clamps out of sight but close by for quick access. I sized mine for a 40"-long extension table; you can easily adapt the idea for a workbench. —Dave Blatti, Grand Rapids, Mich. Cut Perfect Circles Quickly Using a Bandsaw With this jig you can accurately and repeatably cut circles of various diameters, even when months pass between work sessions. Simply mark and drill 7mm or 9/32" holes at various radii in the bottom base. Then, insert short lengths of 7mm brass tube, the kind sold for making slim pens, and secure them with cyanoacrylate (instant) glue. Install a ¼" bolt into the pivot base. The bolt fits snugly in the 7mm tube. —Dave McGuffin,…

Nothing says quality craftsmanship like well-fitted doors with true divided lights. It takes only a modest investment in a matched rail-and-stile router-bit set. And once you learn the simple technique for making cove molding on your tablesaw, you’ll find many opportunities to incorporate that feature into other projects. Start Low 1 Edge-join oversize blanks for the lower case sides (A), bottom (B), top (C), and shelf (D) [Materials List, Exploded View]. Set aside the top and shelf blanks. Cut the sides and bottom to size. Dado, rabbet, and drill shelf-pin holes in the sides [Drawing 1], making mirror-image parts. 2 Enlarge the Foot Half-size Pattern and use it to make a hardboard template of the feet. Trace the foot profiles onto the sides and jigsaw and sand them to shape. (Save the template…