WOOD Magazine May 2023

There are two types of false dichotomies in the world: those that are instructional and those that are suspect. The one above is likely the latter. But there is pretty much one type of letter we receive regarding our regular “Your Shop” column, and it tends to be a variation on the theme of “That shop is so neat and sawdust-free, there can’t possibly be any woodworking happening in it.” On the other extreme is my ironically-non-magazine-worthy shop of which has been said, “Your shop is so messy, there can’t possibly be any woodworking happening in it.” When I start to worry about it, I repeat the mantra: “Woodworking is my hobby.” It helps me remember what woodworking is not for me: a competition. Nothing sucks the joy out of my hobby…

You’ve maxed out the exemptions on your W-4 form, claimed every child in the neighborhood as a dependent, and deducted your hobby shop as a business expense. Now, the payoff: that sweet, sweet tax return. We all know you’re spending it on tools. But before you dive into these head-to-head reviews to help you decide which, please allow us to say that presenting them to you in no way implies our endorsement of your tax fraud and by visiting these links, you acknowledge that you absolve WOOD® magazine of any complicity in your crimes and misdemeanors. Shame on you; now go buy these tools! PLANER AUDIT There was no withholding in our review of these 15 models, which found one benchtop planer worthy to be named Top Tool. Get the plane scoop READ MY…

I read Scott Smith’s letter seeking advice for his father who wanted to continue woodworking in his retirement-home apartment (Issue 285, Nov. 2022). I hope I will still be looking for projects to do when I am 89! My first thought was Kumiko. It’s a quiet, low-dust process, especially if you can buy the strips or have a local woodworker help make them. Dan Erickson via email Great idea, Dan! The responses we received to Scott’s letter were overwhelming and a true testament to the solidarity in the woodworking community. It makes me believe that Scott’s father won’t have any trouble finding local woodworkers to give him a hand. Here are just a few of the many responses. Lucas Peters Editor-in-Chief I am also getting to the age where I’ll have to downsize. So I have…

SEND US A PHOTO OF YOUR WORK Want to see your work showcased in WOOD® magazine? Send a high-resolution digital photo of your completed project to woodmail@woodmagazine.com. oneida-air.com…

Where most would see an old pole barn, Bill Houghton saw a blank canvas for a dream workshop. Bill set about transforming the former horse stable into a center for his woodworking and the restoration of a 1948 Ford F-1 panel truck. Bill started by partitioning the barn into three spaces: an auto shop, a woodshop, and a large utility room that includes a half bath. Next, he cut window openings in the metal siding. Previous owners had installed rigid foam insulation between the 2×4 banding before covering it with plywood. In front of this, Bill added framed and insulated walls before covering them with ½" drywall and wainscoting. The result is an exterior wall thickness of over 6½". For the ceiling, Bill added joists between the trusses, covered them with painted OSB,…

Q: I hear a lot of talk about tracksaws and how useful they are. For years, I’ve gotten by just fine using a circular saw with a straightedge guide. Am I missing something? Is there a big advantage to a tracksaw vs. a circular saw with a guide? Bill Wilcox Asheville, North Carolina A: Most circular saws live their lives as construction tools; they’re great for quickly crosscutting framing lumber or breaking down sheet goods. But upgrade the stock blade and pair it with either a shop-made guide (below) or aftermarket straightedge and you can get cuts that rival those of most tracksaws (or tablesaws). Tracksaws take this concept a step further. Instead of riding alongside a straightedge guide, a tracksaw rides on top of a track with the blade tight against one edge.…