Woodcraft Magazine August/September 2021 (102)

Not long ago, my wife walked into the shop to find a tool. What she found instead was me laboring over a big project and an even bigger mess. Sawdust and shavings covered the floor, and most of my tools were strewn about any available flat surface. Typically, my shop is somewhat neat, but when I’m deep in a build, “a place for everything and everything in its place” becomes “everything all over every place.” I apologized for the mayhem and sheepishly unearthed what she needed from beneath a pile of scrap wood. But she shrugged it off as “riding the creative wave” and told not me to worry about it. My wise and wonderful wife was right once again! For me, woodworking is a perfect mix of the left and…

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”…

Congratulations to the winners of the 100th Issue Giveaway! Gordon Hoffman takes home the grand prize, a total shop package including a SawStop contractor saw, Rikon bandsaw, Powermatic drill press, and more. Hoffman said that woodworking has provided him many hours of enjoyment. “Woodcraft has been part of my life for some time now and I love the products you sell and the articles you publish.” Trevor Pease won the second prize, a turning package that includes a Rikon lathe and grinder, plus turning tools from Easy Wood Tools and WoodRiver. The third prize, which includes Armor’s workbench and autojig, and carving tools from Arbortech and Kutzall, goes to James Stiefbold. The winners were chosen by random selection. Thank you to all our readers who entered and to the sponsors…

I enjoyed your Great Innovations in Woodworking (April/May 21) article but was surprised that you omitted advances in battery technology. I’m glad I no longer need to run an extension cord out to some far corner to drill a hole or drive a screw. And what a difference it makes to have the shop floor free of the tangle of cords. From drills and drivers to circular saws and jigsaws—and even nail guns and narrow crown staplers—cordless tools make a big difference in my shop. Senior Editor Paul Anthony replies: Of course we couldn’t hope to cover all the great innovations in woodworking in six pages, but you’re right that battery technology deserved some applause. I’ve been working wood for nearly 50 years myself, and the pre-battery days seem like the stone…

Good stuff in the latest issue of Woodcraft Magazine! I really like the Double-Duty Dust Cart (June/July 21). It makes sense to have a dedicated station that wheels around where it’s needed and includes the cyclone corral. I’ve already purchased the cyclone and metal plates with rubber grommets to use instead of pegboard for the cart top. I’m going to align the top of my cart with the top of my table saw and workbench, so I can support longer pieces while sanding or use the cart to support longer pieces when sawing. I’m also thinking about including some sanding disc and paper storage.…

ChopValue, a Vancouver, Canada-based company, is upcycling used chopsticks into laminated tiles that can then be used as coasters or combined to make cutting boards, stair treads, tabletops, and other furniture. After picking up some of the 100,000 chopsticks discarded each day in Vancouver alone, the utensils are dipped in a water-based resin and roasted to sanitize them. Then they are hydraulically compressed into tiles before being made into more than 30 different products. Since 2016, ChopValue has upcycled 33 million pairs of chopsticks and expanded its operations to three other North American cities. How to reach us Email editor@woodcraftmagazine.com Direct Mail Woodcraft Magazine, 4420 Emerson Ave., Suite A, Box 7020, Parkersburg, WV, 26102-7020. Please include your full name, address, and phone number. Published letters are edited for length and clarity.…