Indholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2024 i Popular Woodworking

Every once in a while I’m fortunate to be struck by serendipitous situations in this job. After building the record stand (page 42) I was left with a pile of perfectly good rough-cut walnut that would make some great boxes. Only problem was that it was too small to go through the planer, meaning I would need to plane it by hand or make a sled. Just my luck then, that Bosch emailed me about their new brushless 18V planer. The GH018V-26N features a 13,600 rpm brushless motor, a fast and safe blade change system, and a maximum cut depth of 3/32". After a few test passes at a shallow depth of cut, I decided to go for broke and crank the adjustment for a full-depth, full-width pass on the…

Milwaukee recently announced their next generation of tools and batteries at their annual Pipeline showcase. You can check out the full list of all of the woodworking announcements on our website, and we’ll be featuring them in the pages of this magazine as well, like this new Fuel 61½" circular saw. For those who don’t know, Fuel is the label that Milwaukee applies to their professional-level tools and equipment, designating the highest performance available. They also pack in the latest technology which in this case includes the latest Powerstate Brushless Motor and Redlink Plus, which maximizes tool performance and protects against overload, overheating, and over-discharge of the batteries. When paired with Milwaukee’s (also new) Redlithium High Output™ XC6.0 Battery, the saw delivers up to 300 cuts per charge. That’s all…

A router is a fundamental woodworking tool and sooner or later, you’ll want to equip your shop with one or more of these high RPM workhorses. Spinning nearly 10x faster than a drill press, a modern router can handle a bevy of cutting and shaping tasks. Whether you’re in the market for a fixed base, plunge base, or something built for router table use, the specs and tests here should help narrow the field. This review is focused on the most common midsize routers in the 2–2.3 hp range. While compact routers certainly are popular, they’re limited to a ¼" collet and may be best as a second or third router purchase. Full-size 3½ hp routers certainly have the power needed in a production environment, but few hobby woodworkers are…

The best thing about being a woodworker is the ability to make custom furniture for a particular spot in the home. Need a desk that perfectly nestles into a nook or alcove? Once you have the basic skills, you can build fine furniture to suit the available space. This large desk provides ample work surface, along with two pencil drawers and integral desktop organizers for corralling letters. Some advanced woodworking techniques are included to challenge you and keep woodworking fun, including inlays, locking miter joints, and side-hung center guided drawers. Four Good Legs to Stand On This project requires 2¼" square legs that are 30" long. 10/4 solid white oak is hard to come by, but luckily there are a couple good ways to build your own posts from ¾"…

Just like a good pair of socks, a good set of disposable gloves is a luxury that I will not go without. My problem with cheaper gloves are that they tend to tear at the worst possible moment—the final wipe on a coat of finish, or as I’m tightening down a greasy bolt on a machine. A new release from a company called Venom Steel are some of the best disposable gloves that I’ve used. They claim that their gloves are up to 70% thicker than others on the market, and after running through an entire box of 50 gloves, I believe it. Even after poking holes in the glove with a dental pick (don’t ask), they did not tear. In addition to being thick, the gloves are also fully…

The Canadian company JessEm, known for their high-quality router lifts, recently released a new line of precision steel rules. As you can see in the photo to the right, what makes these rules different than others is the laser-cut shapes in the center. These shapes are what JessEm is calling their Flex Grip. The area that’s been laser cut has a very, very slight burr on it. This means that, when you use your fingers to press down the rule on your workpiece, the burr acts like Velcro and keeps the rule from sliding. I’m sure you’ve experienced your rule slipping in the past. The Flex Grip is such a simple idea, and like most simple ideas, it just works. The Flex Grip will hold on to anything that’s softer…

While many woodworkers dream of the largest cabinet saw they can get their hands on, reality often dictates a different path. Whether it’s space or price that’s driving your decision, the new Bosch GTS15-10 is a solid choice of a table saw that can even take a dado stack. The first sign that this saw is ready for all-day woodworking is the is the choice to forgo the ongoing shift to battery powered everything in favor of plug-in 15 amp power. This means you’ll get consistent power (of which the saw has plenty) from the 3,800 rpm motor. The motor also has a start-soft feature and a brake mechanism that helps the blade stop in approximately three seconds. Another standout feature is the four Clampzone™ areas, which allow the tabletop…

The story behind Spring Green Saws is one that I’ve followed for years. I became aware of Charlie Earnest and his saws as I watched his saw building journey over the last several years (via social media). I actually approached Charlie several years back, asking to do this very spotlight on him and his saws. However, being the humble guy that he is, he declined, and it took me meeting him in person (at Handworks, in the Amana Colonies) to finally convince him to let me share his story. Spring Green Saws Spring Green Saws got its start in 2020, and shipped its first commission saw in 2021. Charlie, having spent time in the HVAC field, transitioned to a stay-at-home dad, and became fascinated with vintage handsaws (stemming from his…

No matter what grit sandpaper you use on end grain, there’s one hand tool that can get the job done faster: the No. 80 scraper. The No. 80 is a very simple tool. Although it looks like an oversized spoke-shave, it’s completely different. It cuts like a scraper, with the blade leaning forward. The depth of cut is regulated by a thumbscrew, which springs the blade into a curve. Although you can also use a plain card scraper on end grain, a No. 80 has three big advantages: • It has a 2 ¾" long sole to guide the blade and prevent it from digging in. You can inadvertently make a ripply surface with a card scraper because it’s not guided by a sole.• Your hands won’t get scorched, because…

I recently built a chest of drawers with sliding-dovetail joinery. During assembly, I found that the fit was just a little too snug. Rather than trying to realign my router jig, I looked around for another solution. I needed something that could slip in along the dovetail. I decided to stick some sandpaper to a scrap of wood with double-faced tape. I beveled the edge of the board, which allowed me to get right in where I needed to be. Now this instant rasp is almost indispensable in my shop when I’m shaping, sizing, or final sanding the edges of parts. I’ve made myself a whole set, ranging from very coarse to very fine grits.…

I first learned about exploding outhouses when I was about six or seven. Maybe you’ve seen them: little banks in the shape of an outhouse with a coin slot on top, and a hidden mousetrap inside. Dropping a coin inside makes the whole thing fly apart. They were a big hit at the Tisch Toy Shop. Mr. Tisch, our neighbor, was a retired carpenter who loved to spend his time in his woodshop building toys. I doubt that his business was very profitable, however, because the only thing he liked more than making his toys was giving them away. One evening when I was quite young, Mr. and Mrs. Tisch were over visiting with my parents. They must have joked about me going to stay with them for the night…