Woodworker's Journal June 2013

ADVENTURES IN WOOD BUYING ... I’ve had great success buying lumber from established retailers on the Internet, woodworking specialty stores and, of course, lumberyards. But the places where I’ve had the most fun buying wood were small, local sawmills. Often one-man shops, the lumber is locally sourced and often found in thicknesses and groupings hard to get elsewhere. You want four slabs of 3"-thick oak in a sequential flitch? (Got it right here!) Chunks of 4"-thick black walnut with plenty of sapwood included? (How many you want?) While you’ll find no exotics, local sawmills are often a source of lumber that you’ll have a hard time finding anywhere else. And, I’m guessing a lot of you appreciate the joy of traveling off the beaten path to find great prices on…

Stickier Screw Lube Lubricating screws with a bit of wax makes them easier to drive, but beeswax is often too hard and flakes off the threads. While helping a friend replace a toilet recently, I noticed that the wax ring was a soft, sticky consistency, perfect for screw lube! But the shape would be messy to store. So, I melted the wax down in a double boiler and poured it into an empty deodorant container. It winds up easily when you need more, and you can just cap it when you’re done, for no-mess toolbox storage. John Cusimano Lansdale, Pennsylvania Broader Shoulders Make Better Planing When I need to adjust an uneven tenon shoulder, I use a shoulder plane set for a thin cut. The trouble is, there isn’t much…

THIS ISSUE’S EXPERTS Sandor Nagyszalanczy is a writer/photographer of several woodworking books and a frequent contributor to Woodworker’s Journal. Michael Dresdner is a nationally known finishing expert and the author of The New Wood Finishing Book. Joanna Werch Takes is a senior editor at Woodworker’s Journal. James Vintzel is global product manager, compressors, for Stanley Black & Decker. Contact us by writing to “Q&A,” Woodworker’s Journal, 4365 Willow Drive, Medina, MN 55340, by faxing us at (763) 478-8396 or by emailing us at: QandA@woodworkersjournal.com Please include your home address, phone number and email address (if you have one) with your question. Q After reading the very thorough Tool Review in the December 2012 issue [“Eight Benchtop Band Saws”], I started shopping for a Skil 3386 in local stores and online.…

After Len Urban of Rancho Mirage, California, sent in his mystery tool featured in the February Stumpers, Dean Miller of Kilgore, Texas, knew “it’s a specialized portable router with a special bit.” Darrell Slimick of Hayward, California, recognized it, too, but admitted: “I must say that I have inside information; I am a locksmith by trade.” What does a locksmith know about a specialized portable router? Randy Beauchene of Valley Springs, South Dakota, explains: “The Stumper is a lock mortiser. Clamp it to the edge of a door, turn the handle clockwise, and the router will travel back and forth, routing out the edge of a solid core door so a mortise lock can be installed.” “Not clearly visible in the picture you provided, there is an adjustment on the…

Downsizing Woodworker Creates a Lasting Legacy Over the past few months, readers have had a discussion going in our Letters department about what to do with a shop full of tools when a woodworker’s time of using them is past. Jim Neuman of St. Joseph, Michigan, donated his in a way that’s truly nurturing a new generation of woodworkers. “About a year ago, at age 65, I decided not to build a new shop on the property where we were building our new house,” Jim said. “I felt that at that age I would not likely get the value from such an expensive undertaking.” That disappointed the Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor: over the years, Jim had built cabinets, displays and even animal cages for them. So, the nature…

A bench grinder is, in essence, a double-ended motor with a grinding wheel mounted on each of the protruding shafts. As well, the motor has a base and guards surrounding the grinding wheels and eye shields to protect you from sparks and debris. Top-end grinders even have a variety of upgrades to this basic package. You can pay anywhere from well south of a hundred bucks to several thousand dollars for a bench grinder. Obviously, you get something for your money, so let’s take a look at features. Wheel Size Size: Grinders are sold in 6", 7", 8" and 10" sizing, which refers to the diameter of the grinding wheels the machine accepts. Unless you’re on a limited budget, avoid the 6" and 7" machines. They generally lack enough power…