Woodcraft Magazine August/September 2022 (108)

Theodore Roosevelt is said to have coined the phrase, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I’ve found this to be true. Comparing yourself to others can rob you of your passion for woodworking. It can stifle creativity. When focusing on the accomplishments of others, we tend to disregard our own, and dwelling on how you measure up can be a downward spiral to frustration and self-doubt. Still, it has its uses. Comparison itself isn’t all bad. It’s one way we humans find our place in the world. With it, we can discover our interests and talents. This selfe-valuation can lay the groundwork for improvement and even spark change in our lives. What’s more, looking up to fellow craftspeople can be inspiring, especially while working to make your own mark. That’s one reason…

We love hearing from readers! And there are all kinds of reasons to get in touch with the crew at Woodcraft Magazine. Check out the details below. General information: 4420 Emerson Ave., Suite A P.O. Box 7020 Parkersburg, WV 26102 800-542-9125 Share a slick tip to win cash or a prize. Here’s your chance to help someone become a better woodworker and get rewarded for the effort. Published tips become the property of Woodcraft Magazine. Email us at tips@woodcraftmagazine.com and put “Tips & Tricks” in the subject line or visit woodcraftmagazine.com, and click on Contact. Important: Please include your phone number, as an editor may need to call you if your trick is considered for publication. Have a tough woodworking question? We’ll do our best to find the expert and provide the answer. Email us at editor@woodcraftmagazine.com and put “Expert Answers”…

My wife adores the round jewelry box on the cover of the most recent issue (June/July 22). I noticed there was no materials list for this project or any other in the magazine. Older issues of Woodcraft Magazine, as well as other publications, include such a cut list. Are you not publishing them anymore? —Oscar Abreu, Indianapolis, IN Senior Editor Ken Burton replies: We stopped including materials lists several years ago, preferring to include bigger drawings and extra photos. Putting your own list together, gathering information from the comprehensive exploded view, may seem like extra work, but gives a better understanding of the project and its intricacies. Some dimensions are key to a project, while others are relative. Some pieces need to be cut to fit, and our drawings reflect this with the…

I would like to make the three-drawer spinning jewelry box in the latest issue, but if I’m going through the trouble of making the router jigs, may I produce several for sale at craft fairs and the like? —Roger Anderson, via email Chief Editor Chad McClung replies: As a general rule, you’re more than welcome to build projects from Woodcraft Magazine for yourself or your loved ones – even if they pay you for your work. But if you plan to build multiples of any project as a business venture, you’ll need permission from the author. You wouldn’t want to profit from someone else’s design without consent. Part of our mission is to inspire. While Ken Burton’s jewelry box has inspired you to build, allow it to inspire you to design. Use…

I tried making the Flatware Caddy from the last issue of your magazine, but I’m having a problem with the directions. The article says to make the twenty blank slats 2" wide, then bevel the edges as shown. I did that and the resulting oval is greater than 13 × 9", while the base from the template is smaller. Further I notice in the photos that the author set up her twenty slats against a metal yard stick with clearance on the yard stick on each end. This means that the twenty slats together is less than 36", that is less than 20 × 2". What is the correct width of the slats? —Les Gagner, Minneapolis, MN Associate Editor Sarah Marriage replies: The information you are looking for is in the “Coopering…

In your article on Milk Paint (June/July 22), Kimberly Winkle says it can be washed down the drain. Most paints are classified as household hazardous waste because of their chemical contents—VOCs, lead, chromium, among others. Milk paint doesn’t contain those chemicals in either its powdered or liquid form. Even so, milk paint shouldn’t be washed down the drain, despite some manufacturer claims, because it is clay-based. It can, however, be thrown away with regular trash or even composted. But to be safe, check your local regulations. —Kendall Pickering, Buckeye, AZ How to reach us Email editor@woodcraftmagazine.com -or write to Woodcraft Magazine, 4420 Emerson Ave., Suite A, Box 7020, Parkersburg, WV, 26102-7020. Important: Please include your full name, address, and phone number. Published letters are edited for length and clarity.…