Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 172 i Australian Woodsmith

The dunes, ripples and waves crafted into the new brushbox diffusion-panels in the refurbished Opera House concert hall are staggeringly beautiful. They replace the flat brushbox panels that have stood elegantly in place for the last 45 years. The problem with the old panels was that they echoed sound back into the orchestra pit and around the hall. The acoustics in the concert hall are now world class, the orchestra gets to hear every instrument, as does the audience. VOS Joinery in Tasmania laminated brushbox boards into 600mm wide panels that varied in thickness from 130-70mm. You can read more about the process on pages 18-19. What I was amazed by when I spoke to both the architect who designed them and the workshop that crafted the panels was the…

MAGSWITCH DRILL PRESS FENCE Magswitch has produced a range of clever fences that lock down firmly onto iron surfaces with the flick of a switch. A visit to our workshop will see a whole family of Magswitches clipped to machines or being stored on the power tool cabinet doors. The magnets seem to last forever. The fences were purchased 15 years ago and are as strong as the first day we “switched” them on. The two permanent magnets in the system either line up and oppose each other (annulling the magnetic field) or sit end to end and create a very strong magnetic field. The drill press fence uses two Magswitches that lock it down off the drill press table and a third Magswitch to set the stop in position.…

For years, both corded and cordless drills handled the hole drilling tasks in my workshop. As my skills increased (along with the size of the projects) it became obvious that a hand-held drill didn’t supply the accuracy I needed. And, it certainly didn’t allow me to use some drill bits, like Forstner-style bits, to their full advantage. So I bit the bullet and added a drill press to my workshop equipment. And it took my drilling tasks to the next level. The challenge with a drill press, whether it be a floor or benchtop model, is that it’s really designed for machine shops where drilling metal takes centre stage. While drilling metal, and other materials like plastic, is something I do fairly often, I needed to “upgrade” my drill press…

Stemming from India in the 7th century, chess is the ultimate game of strategy. What appears to be a simple objective on the surface, capture the opponent’s king, is much more involved than that. There are few games that require more planning, strategy and cunning, than chess. This modern take on the classic game is sure to get the attention of your opponent, and maybe give you an edge. DESIGN DETAILS. As you can see in the photo, this elegant chess set features a walnut and maple playing surface that appears to float above the base. A soft, flocked drawer allows you to safely store the chess pieces when not in use. While the playing surface is beautiful, the real show-stopper, in my opinion, is the set of pieces. SOME…

INSTALLING THREADED INSERTS INTO PLYWOOD Installing threaded inserts into the edge of plywood presents a challenge. First, you have to make sure you’re drilling a straight hole. Second, there’s always a chance that the edges of the plywood will split as you install the insert. Luckily, there are a few easy solutions to these problems. The first step is to use a drill guide. You can see what I mean in the upper photo and drawing. It’s a plywood cleat with a through hole glued to a Masonite fence. To ensure the hole is at 90°, I drilled it out on the drill press. Then I simply clamped this to the edge of the plywood and drilled the hole for my insert, using tape to gauge the depth. I used…

In issue 171 we built the Kumiko blocks required to craft a traditional asanoha (hemp leaf) grid pattern in 6mm-thick stock. It was while building the Kumiko blocks, I realised I could use some of the leftover 12mm marine ply and some strips of Kumiko stock to make a Kumiko mitre box. This would allow me to make hexagonal Kumiko and in so doing, open another window into this delightful craft. Way back in Issue 111 we used a dado blade on a table saw to cut the trivets opposite. We could have used a 6mm dado blade to create the same designs in 6mm stock, however that undermines the craft aspect of traditional Kumiko. There is a real joy in making things by hand with only hand tools. You…

When I built my workbench, one of the main goals was to have a surface large enough to handle most projects. It wasn’t difficult to achieve that. However, bench space shrinks quickly once you factor in the tools, plans and other supplies you need close to hand while working. And wouldn’t it be nice to have extra space for assembly, too? Answering all these points leads to the origin of this project. Now I realise that a cart in the workshop isn’t a groundbreaking development. What makes this one unique is how its size and features play into the role of a workbench companion. You know, that trusted sidekick every hero has. The primary feature is the extra acreage supplied by the top. And there are two options: a workbench-like…

I recently had a conversation with Ryan Benson from Best Abrasives about brushless motors and whether they were a spark hazard or not. This conversation led to a longer one about pneumatic versus electric sanders in the workshop. As a youth I spent time in my father’s car dealership. Dad also had a garage to service cars and an NRMA franchise that saw lots of cars towed in to be straightened in the panel shop. There was a big air compressor in its own shed that had lines to spigots on every bench in the workshop. It makes sense that if you have a spray-painting booth, you need compressed air. You also need air to inflate tyres. Since the air is there, you may as well use it to power…

In our next issue we admire the work of bodgers and fix an antique chair with wooden nails. We then jump two centuries and see how 3D printing has a place in a modern workshop. In our techniques section we detail an easy method for making panels on the table saw and then dive deep into how to use hand saws without heartache. Our weekend project is a clever geometric chip-carved square that is bound to whet your appetite for more. The designer project is a desk for the study so the kids can be “home schooled” when need be. The heirloom project is a dresser for the bedroom that takes a nod towards the Arts and Crafts movement. The workshop gets a zero-play sled for the drill press, while…

The Sydney Opera house is truly a wonder of the modern world. Jørn Utzon’s breathtaking vision has gained World Heritage status and is a strikingly beautiful building from every perspective. After nearly 45 years of wear and tear the concert hall closed for refurbishment. The Perspex donuts that hung from the ceiling were removed and replaced with petals designed by the German acoustic engineering company Müller-BBM. Müller-BBM, Steensen Varming, Arup and ARM Architecture took on board the design challenge to improve the acoustics of the hall, upgrade the ventilation and wiring systems, plus automate the stage. ACOUSTICS The first thing you notice when you enjoy a concert in the refurbished hall is the clarity of the sound. It is amazing! My wife and I attended the opening concert and could…

Murray Taylor passed away in 2020. His gentle voice and clear instrucions live on in his videos (available at artisanmasterclass.co.uk). This is one of the last stories he wrote. While visiting a festival of wood recently I was drawn to a couple of second-hand tool stands. As a self-confessed tool collector – or an ‘addict’ according to my wife – I did buy an old gouge that I obviously ‘could not live without’. Looking around at a plethora of old tools, some of quality, some not, I got into conversation with a novice carver who had selected a handful of old chisels and gouges. ‘Have you got a big project in mind?’’ I asked. ‘No,’ he replied, ‘but they probably will come in useful one day.’ His reply put me…

Anyone that’s stopped to consider the shape, form or function of an object will unwittingly have engaged in a conversation about design. Even choosing between Thai, Italian or tapas for dinner constitutes having an opinion on the merits of each regardless of how well equipped we are to do so. Just having an opinion can make us an expert sometimes for they are so often gut-felt and conceived without rational thought as to make them the most honest of human responses. Aside from the categories used to group items in chronological order like Georgian, Victorian, etc., we also have more general terms that take into consideration the aesthetic nature of objects. The history of furniture is packed with references to Japanned items, Chi-noiserie and Classical proportions. Most of the time…

1 Foam chuck This is a method of holding an awkwardly shaped part so that it can accept additional turning. Start by turning a hollow into a prepared softwood chuck. This hollow has to be of sufficient size to accommodate the awkwardly shaped part you want to hold. Make a collar with an opening which will fit over the turned hollow and hold the shaped part firmly in that hollow. Wrap the part to be held in cling film and set on one side. Now for the fun. 2 Old techniques, new ideas Don’t dismiss old techniques and ideas as being of little use now that you own all the hi-tech ‘stuff’. Think how you can bring those old techniques up to date. You know the problem with turned chess…

HNT GORDON Terry’s range of vices can be seen on the HNT Gordon website. Terry has upped production and is now making them in batches of 25 or so. There is often a waiting list for the more complicated patternmaker’s vice. Installing an HNT Gordon front and tail vice will revolutionise your woodworking. No racking means that you have no need to over crank the vice, finger pressure has the whole face of the vice working for you. DRILL PRESS GUIDE Two styles of drill bit that also need to be added to the list is the range of STAR-M brad point bits (super clean bits) from Japanese Tools Australia. The STAR-M bits have curved knives ground onto the outer flutes that shave the hole perfectly round. The other bit…