WOOD Magazine July 2019

Mark Twain popularized this phrase in his autobiography, bemoaning the beguiling power of misapplied numbers to sway people, including himself, to support an otherwise weak argument. Well, we come armed with some freshly handpicked statistics of our own and we think you’ll come around to our point of view. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program estimates a 7.6% decrease in burglaries in 2017 compared with the previous year. This was also the year WOOD introduced the plans for this concealed-storage mirror. Coincidence? We estimate that nearly 100% of the stolen property was not hidden behind a mirror. Find the potentially crime-resistant plans at woodmagazine.com/mirrorstorage. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2010 statistics estimate that the United States ranks 48th in annual alcohol consumption at 9.2 liters per capita. Build this wine rack…

Mission Accomplished Issue 258 (Dec/Jan 2018/2019) arrived at a perfect time for me. I had been searching for just the right project for some white oak I had milled the previous year. When I saw the plans for the Limbert-style Rocking Chair, I knew I had found what I needed. The plans were easy to follow, and the mortising jigs worked great. My wife made the cushions, and the chair is now in my living room. Thanks for the inspiration! —Dan Leatherman Muskegon, Mich. The Woodworker’s Equivalent of an Old Corvette in a Barn Awhile back, I went to a yard sale, where I bought 680 bd. ft. of gorgeous walnut boards, mostly 6/4 and 8/4, for—wait for it—$270. When I asked why he was getting rid of it, the owner said the wood had…

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.…

To make the most of the floor space in his 480-sq.-ft. garage shop, Timothy England went up. That started with a heavy-duty platform he built along the back wall that provides storage on top, and drop-down trays utilizing the space underneath. With the trays closed at the end of the day, he can tuck many of his tools underneath and still have room for two cars. A series of French cleats lines one wall almost to the ceiling, holding dozens of custom racks and shelves for shop clamps and other accessories. Each rack can be removed as needed, and Timothy can rearrange the system as his storage needs change. Casters under every tool base and the workbench make moving them easy. Timothy also saved space by doubling up tools whereever practical. For…

Q Reach new heights with benchtop tools My shop has numerous benchtop tools, and most of them sit on any available surface. Some seem awkward or uncomfortable to use, and I suspect they may not be at the ideal height. I’m ready to build custom bases but need help determining the right height. —Ben Novack, Jonesboro, Ark. A The ideal tabletop height for a benchtop tool, Bengenerally ranges from 30" to 50", depending on the tool, how it’s used, and operator height. A correctly positioned tool will help you work effectively, safely, and with minimal fatigue. Here’s how to get there. First, consider that each tool generally fits into one of three zones from low to high, as shown at right. Keep in mind that depending on how you work, a tool might be…

Store Oodles of Tools on Vertical “drawers” Tools become easy to find and access when you hang them on hooks and nails. But who has enough wall space to hang a shop’s-worth of hand tools? Here’s one good solution: a simple, cubby-type cabinet with pullout I-beam drawers. The cabinet and I-beams consist of ½" plywood, with dado-and-groove joinery. A ¼" back on the cabinet keeps it from racking. I built this one short enough to slide out from underneath my bench. You could put it on wheels or make it taller, as needed. Add nails and custom holders to best support the tools. Pull the I-beam holders completely out and set them down wherever needed, with no tipping. —Mike Thompson, Edmond, Okla. Align Laminations With a Miter-splining Jig I recently needed to laminate small pieces…