Innehållsförteckning för April/May 2023 från Woodsmith

Outdoor projects seem to come in two flavors: easy-to-build but clunky or high-style and complex. Design Editor Dillon Baker steers a middle path with this planter bench combo. You can see from the photos its clean lines give it strong visual appeal. As we go along, you’ll appreciate how quickly and easily it can be constructed. As big as the outdoors often feels, space on a deck or patio is still at a premium. So this bench is a triple threat. Seating is the obvious function. Under the seat lies some enclosed storage space (always a plus). On the end a planter bin adds greenery to your space, or you can put it to use for other needs. MODERN MATERIALS. Besides design and function, outdoor projects require other considerations in…

Dowel Cutting Sled Cutting dowel pins can be tedious, but a simple sled speeds things up. This sled doesn’t take long to make, and even has a tray to keep the cutoffs corralled. Begin by cutting the fence, sizing block, and base to size. Drill a hole through the sizing block of the same diameter as the dowels you’ll be cutting. Next, cut the tray sides to width, but leave them as one extra-long blank. Bevel the top, then cut and miter the pieces. Once they fit neatly on the base’s end, glue up the sled. To use the sled, first cut a kerf to determine length of the dowels. Push a dowel through the hole in the sliding block until its flush with the end and make the cut.…

GREAT Gear Let’s be honest, the table saw is one of the biggest workhorses in most shops, if not the biggest. When it comes to ripping, few tools even compare. For crosscutting, a miter gauge or table saw sled provides better precision than many miter saws. As for joinery, there are few projects that I don’t end up making a dado or groove at the table saw at least once. Of course, even the most diligent workhorse needs a little care now and again. Because they’re used so often, table saws often get gunked up, misaligned, and worn down. Thankfully, this isn’t anything that can’t be fixed with a little time, some manpower, and the right tools. CLEANING Whenever it comes time to tune up a tool, it’s best to…

HEIRLOOM The table you see here pays homage to the work of a fellow named John Goddard. In the 18th century he had a thriving furniture making business in Newport, Rhode Island. Tea tables prior to this point were more delicate and refined objects. John decided it was time to add some weight and substance to this classic piece of furniture. He fleshed out the legs and kept the cabriole profile, but replaced the “slipper” feet with the more substantial claw foot you see here. That adjustment won over wealthy patrons that were wanting an earthy elegance to distinguish themselves from the folks on the east side of the pond. Speaking of the British, Mr. Goddard’s company and career were cut short when the English lads decided to take up…

IN THE Shop Part of the appeal of building projects yourself is the ability to create quality pieces that stand the test of time. As woodworkers, we like to sweat the details of design, construction, and finishing. All those things get extra attention when it comes to building a project that will spend its days outdoors. Wide temperature swings, intense sunlight, drastic humidity changes, and exposure to rain, snow, and wind all conspire to wear down your projects. Let’s look at one aspect of building for the outdoors: choosing fasteners. THE STEEL STANDARD. The “standard” woodscrews you have in your shop are made of steel for its strength and longevity. They likely have a shiny zinc coating. The coating provides adequate protection — for indoor use. It’s quite thin and…

WEEKEND The scenario (in black and white) is similar across the land: the oven beeps and a juggling act ensues. With oven mitts, a spatula, and a cookie sheet gathered on top of the stove, you open the oven door and rattle the rack out. You grope for the cookie sheet with the mitted hand and grab the spatula with the other. From the back side of the pizza the spatula’s task is to coax the pie towards the cookie sheet without it sliding past the sheet straight to the floor. Who needs this? Imagine, if you will, another time and place (in living color) the chime goes off on the oven and you glide into the kitchen picking up the peel as you open the oven door. After you…

SHOP Sawhorses can be some of the most underappreciated tools in the shop, and it’s easy to see why. Whether supporting broad panels of plywood or long, rough stock, they take a beating with every use, and they don’t need to look pretty to work well. However, sawhorses are a necessity in nearly any shop, and a good set will serve you well for some time. The ones here are meant to do exactly that, and more. PORTABLE WORKSPACE. Sawhorses aren’t just for sawing unwieldy pieces to a manageable size. When you’re low on bench space, or when you’re working away from the shop, a piece of plywood on sawhorses makes for a great makeshift bench, but this project takes it one step further. An optional worksurface and shelf transform…