Woodsmith April/May 2020

Reuse, repurpose, and recycle has been a common expression for several years now, and most woodworkers I know have been wise to this idea long before it became the trendy thing to do. But one aspect of reusing that has become increasingly popular lately is the use of recycled or reclaimed lumber. In the past, reclaimed lumber usually meant taking old boards or timbers and planing or resawing them to expose the pristine, old-growth wood beneath the surface. But with the rise in popularity of rustic and farm-style furniture, the appeal of reclaimed lumber today is more often for its weathered, time-worn appearance. And that’s exactly the look we were after when building the trestle table on page 46 of this issue. The lumber we used for this particular project was purchased…

Art Noveau Style I was pleased that you had an article on Art Nouveau furniture (No. 245, p. 46). But at the same time, I found the bookstand itself a bit odd. I’ve been studying Art Nouveau for the past year and am working on a presentation for our club in Pittsburgh. There are multiple incarnations of the Art Nouveau style, but I have not been able to find an example that is clearly linked to the design you presented. I understand that your publication slants towards machinery users (that’s not a slam, just a fact of life) so I don’t particularly fault you for a lack of carving. But other folks with whom I exchange information were also not able to find an example. Could you let me know whose work you…

Small Parts Ripping Sled I often find myself in the middle of a project that requires ripping a lot of small parts to a narrow width. The recent model train from Woodsmith No. 245 was one of those projects. So, I decided to build a simple ripping sled to help me safely rip the small parts at my table saw. RIPPING SLED. The fixture I came up with is shown here. It’s a small sled with a pair of T-tracks in the base to attach an adjustable fence. By moving the fence, you can accurately set the width of the cut (inset photo). Once you have the width set, the fence tightens down with a couple of knobs. Then, slip the workpiece in place and use the toggle clamp to hold it down…

Quick Reference Clamps. Dennis Volz of Denver, CO uses a highly visible oil paint pen to mark all of his clamps with the maximum sizes they can hold. Not only does Dennis mark the maximum width of the jaws, but he also marks the maximum depth as well (inset photo). Now, when he reaches for a clamp, he’s sure that it will fit the job at hand. Brush Saver. Manus Cline of Grinnell, IA uses a trick to keep his brushes from drying out while applying finish. He uses a silicone popsicle mold to hold foam brushes. After applying finish, Manus can put the used brush into the tube and seal it. Then, when he needs to apply another coat, he simply pulls the brush out and it’s ready to use. Sizing…

Like most woodworkers, I bought a basic router bit set when I got my first router. It contained a few different size straight bits, a pair of roundover bits, and a single cove bit, along with a flush-trim bit and a chamfer bit. I used them on just about every one of my projects for the first couple of years for everything from basic joinery to decorative edge treatments. The basics were one thing, but it wasn’t long before I found that small set of router bits was a little limiting. To expand my options and capabilities, I began to add other bits to my basic collection. BASIC+ ADD-ONS. The five “basic+” bits that follow are the ones I added first. They’re indispensable for a wide range of tasks. In some cases,…

With the carving board in this issue, one of the key discussions we had was what type of finish to use on the surface. And the reason is simple — you want to be sure to use a finish that’s considered safe for food contact. IT’S ALL SAFE. The reality is that all finishes sold today are safe for food once they’ve fully cured. This is the position of most finishing experts and one that’s shared by a large majority of woodworkers (myself included). However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all finishes are created equal. Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of the various “food-safe” finishes that you’re likely to come across to help you make your choice. NO FINISH The simplest option for a food-safe finish is to skip…