Woodsmith April/May 2022

An issue of Woodsmith comes together over two months. Well, project development takes longer. But in those two months, themes sometimes emerge. You’ll find two such themes in this issue. The first is router techniques. The dresser, air cleaner, the chest, and the watering vessel all rely on extensive router techniques or jigs for key elements. The router in my shop is my favorite portable power tool. There are just so many things you can do with it. So I think it’s fun that these projects show off those capabilites. A second commonailty is red oak. I’ll admit to holding a bias against red oak due to the careless use of flatsawn oak in so many projects over the years. Too much wild grain patterns. But the chest and bench in…

Becky is a product of Woodsmith. “I have known the business all my life. My dad, Ted Kralicek, was the former Creative Director. Which means I grew up in a house full of saw dust, scrap wood, and prototype furniture.” Since artistic abilities run deep in her roots, she studied graphic design at Grand View University. Working alongside her pops was great, but since his retirement, she’s found her place in all Woodsmith media: TV and video, online seminars, books, photography, and of course illustrations. You’d be hard pressed to find something at Wood-smith that doesn’t have Kralicek fingerprints.…

Router Table Storage I was looking for some extra storage in the shop when I came up with this use for the open space between the legs of my router table. After making a frame to span the gap, I screwed a piece of pegboard across the bottom, keeping items securely inside. The “door” on this little cabinet is a key-holed panel of pegboard. The key holes allow the panel to easily slide on and off when I need something from inside, and the pegboard itself allows me some vertical storage too. You can see the dimensions I used to the left, but to make your own just match it to the dimensions of your router table. Larry Anderson Brookfield, Missouri Mini Router Circle Jig When it comes to making circles, I prefer a…

Drill Guide. Quinten Long of Des Moines, IA came up with this way of drilling pin holes. By attaching a cleat to one side of a small piece of pegboard, he had an instant drilling guide. After drilling the first hole, he used a dowel as a spacer, then drilled the rest of the holes using the pegboard and dowel to guide him. Easy Zero Clearance. Mike Strickland of Hiram, GA rarely uses his zero-clearance insert, so it was hidden away when he needed to use it. Instead of stopping to search, he simply used a scrap piece of hardboard. After clamping the panel down, he raised the blade to cut a kerf into the panel, then cut the piece he needed on top. Ruler Snap Bracelet. John Doyle of Ankeny, IA…

The common thread between the classic Hadley chest and the stylish porch bench in this issue is that ubiquitous material they’re both made of — oak. Oak has an unmistakable look. Its strong grain pattern always draws attention. And maybe most importantly for a woodworker, it’s a friendly wood to work with, and you can be certain the project will last a lifetime. Top this with the fact that oak is readily available and moderately priced, and you can see why it’s so high on the list. ISN’T OAK JUST OAK? But when you decide on oak for your project and make a trip to the lumber store to buy the stock, you discover the decision isn’t always so simple. Right off the bat, you’re confronted with choices about specific species…

The first woodworking I ever did was carving up sticks with a pocket knife. I’ve had a soft spot for green wood ever since, and I enjoy working with basic hand tools like axes and knives. Here, I’ll go through a common green wood carving project, a spoon, and some tools and techniques for working with green wood. First of course, you’ll want a sharp axe. A hatchet or a small forest axe is a good choice. You’ll also need tools for the final carving. I use a hook knife to work the curves and a straight knife for the longer lines, as well as a spokeshave for some smoothing. Lastly, you’ll need a space to do the carving on. I prefer a tall, thick hunk of wood for the job. Whatever…