WOOD Magazine November 2022

NO-FEAR FINISHING Woodworkers, like nice guys, finish last. Why? Most would say it’s because that is the final step in the process. Those people are probably right. But I say it’s because finishing represents the last opportunity to mess up the perfect project on which you’ve worked so hard. These articles are here to help you push through that fear and niceness to finally finish first! (Metaphorically, that is. You technically still want to save it for last.) Eliminate Brush Marks woodmagazine.com/brushmarksChoose the Best Brush woodmagazine.com/bestbrushFix Stain Streaks woodmagazine.com/stainstreaksAll-Weather Finishing woodmagazine.com/allweatherfinishDefeat Dust Nibs woodmagazine.com/dustnibsWater-Based Finish Success woodmagazine.com/waterbasedfinishFinishing Oily Woods woodmagazine.com/oilywoodfinishWhen to Finish First (for real) woodmagazine.com/finishfirstFinishing Curves, Cracks, and Crevices woodmagazine.com/nonflatfinishing…

YOUR VOICE Home-study Hammock I began building several projects with my grandsons as part of their independent study elective class when their school implemented COVID-19 restrictions. Together we have built a complete bedroom set, a children’s craft table with chairs, a storage cabinet for a pre-school, and a Murphy bed, to name a few. Kaden and I made the Dream-time Hammock from issue 280 (March 2022). He was assigned the task of drilling all the holes and rounding the edges at the router table. Then, he threaded the rope to complete it. —Tommy Thompson Ukiah, Calif. We Can’t Cant I am starting to build “One Cherry Rocker” from issue 283 (Sept 2022). After making the templates, I found a mistake in the parts view illustration. The angle on the top end of the front leg (A) should…

Q Why all the stink about formaldehyde in plywood? My wife and I are remodeling our kitchen and I’m planning to build the cabinets. Because of her sensitivity to many chemical odors, I worry the formaldehyde in the plywood will be a problem for her. Am I worrying over nothing? —Craig Millman, Temecula, Calif. A Formaldehyde, a colorless and pungent-smelling gas commonly used in adhesive and resin production, can be found in many building products, such as plywood, particleboard, MDF, insulation, and carpeting. Due to the off-gassing of these products, nearly all homes contain some level of formaldehyde. In small concentrations (100 parts per billion or less), formaldehyde does not pose a significant health risk for most people. At higher levels, it may cause headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems. Extremely sensitive people may experience these symptoms…

Rise up to the Clamping Challenge Worksurfaces with T-track open up all kinds of possibilities for workholding. My shop is too small for a dedicated clamping table though, and I don’t want to embed T-track in my workbench top. So, instead I made this simple auxiliary clamping table. I started by laminating two pieces of ¾" plywood together (mine were 24" square). This provides plenty of thickness for the T-track without sacrificing strength. To create grooves for the T-track, I went to the router table. After installing the T-track, I fastened 2×4 risers with screws to elevate the auxiliary table off my bench. This allows me to clamp it securely to my workbench while keeping the clamps out of my way. The table’s small size also makes it easy to store. —Merle Riesgaard,…

Buffets take up space. But this compact design builds in extra serving and display areas with a pair of wings that swing up for use. Plus, the upper doors swing completely to the side to provide full access to the upper cabinet and wings. As an option, build the lower cabinet as a stand-alone buffet by adding a top panel (T). Drill dead-on shelf-pin holes. woodmagazine.com/fastshelfpins Box up the Lower Cabinet 1 From ¾" plywood, cut the lower cabinet top/bottom (A) and sides (B) to size [Materials List, Drawing 1]. 2 Lay out and drill the shelf-pin holes in the sides [Drawing 1a]. 3 Cut the edging (C, D) to size, then glue the front edging (C) to the top/bottom flush with the ends [Drawing 1]. Glue the end edging (D) to the top/bottom. Finish-sand…

Chip carving provides a great way to learn carving basics. This method employs shallow, angled cuts to remove a wedge-shaped, three-corner chip. This simple style is sometimes called Swiss chip carving. For centuries, chip carvers decorated household items such as small boxes, plates, and spoons, many as gifts. It was a favorite pastime during the cold, harsh winters. With a sharp knife and a little practice, you’ll soon be creating attractive designs sure to earn the admiration of friends and family. On the Cutting Edge Chip carving, in its basic form, utilizes a specialized chip-carving knife. You’ll find plenty to choose from. Plan to spend from $20 to $50 for a quality knife. The blades and handles vary in size and shape but all are similar in design [Photo A]. The traditional chip-carving…