Innehållsförteckning för Best of Shop Notes 2025 från Woodsmith

C ONSTRUCTION D ETAILS OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 36½" W x 72" H x 18¼" D building the Case It’s hard to put a finger on what I like best about this tool cabinet. Certainly, the first thing you notice is the striking color and grain of the Douglas fir. I could also point to the huge amount of storage provided by all the shelves and drawers. Or maybe it’s the heavy-duty stand that keeps the tools within easy reach. On the other hand, perhaps the way all these features come together is what makes it such a standout project. One thing is certain. You’re sure to enjoy building it. In spite of the cabinet’s size, you’ll find it breaks down into three, easily managed sections — case, stand, and a drawer…

For any small shop, getting one tool to perform multiple tasks saves space and makes your shop time more efficient. The belt sander you see above is a great solution for a wide variety of jobs for working with metal and wood. The best feature of the belt sander is its simplicity. A motor drives the abrasive belt around two wheels. Built-in tracking adjustment and automatic tensioning keep the belt in line. And belt changes take about ten seconds. What more could you want? CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 11" W x 22" D x 21¼" H MATERIALS & SUPPLIES 7½ x 12⅛ - 2¼ Ply. 12⅛ x 19¼ - 2¼ Ply. 11 x 22 - 1½ Ply. ¾ x 1½ - 2½ 1½ x 2¼ - 5 1 x 2 -…

Ever since I started woodworking, there are a few tools that I’ve always kept in my apron pockets — things like my tape measure, a 6" steel rule, and a No. 2 wood pencil. But lately, I’ve been adding a few other tools that come in handy for all sorts of everyday tasks around the shop. Here are a few of my favorites. STEEL RULE My 6" steel rule sees a lot of use in my shop. (The one I use is the Paolini rule from Woodpeckers). I use it quite often for things like machine setup, setting fences, and measuring small parts. But you can really add another dimension to a small rule this when you pair the it with a sliding stop, like the one seen here, it…

It doesn’t matter what I’m stopping at the hardware store to buy, somehow I always seem to drift over to the aisle that contains the hardware — things like nuts, bolts, and screws. But it’s not really the hardware that I find interesting. It’s the bank of wide, flat drawers that hold the hardware. Open any one of them and inside you’ll discover neatly organized compartments, each one with its own special contents. This one holds tiny machine screws, that one holds all sizes of wing nuts, and here’s a drawer that holds some kind of fastener I’ve never even seen before. That’s the inspiration behind this hardware storage cabinet. The drawers all ride on wood runners, so they slide nice and smooth. Inside each drawer there are plenty of…

Sets up in seconds. No honestly, this isn’t some catalog hype, you can really start routing with this jig in seconds. All you have to do is clamp the jig in place and set the dado width — that’s it. STANDOUT FEATURES. There are a few features to this jig that make it so easy to use. The best is the self-clamping mechanism that allows the jig to clamp directly to the workpiece without having to use a bunch of other clamps. With just one step, you can secure the jig to your workpiece and automatically square it to the edge as well. Another plus to this jig is that you can align it right on the dado layout lines. There’s no messing around with router base offsets here. The…

Just about every woodworker I know would like to build a workbench that's sturdy and packed full of storage, like the one shown above. But a lot of them might be a little intimidated about building what looks like a complicated project. But you don’t have to worry — this design features simple solutions that make building the bench manageable. For starters, the workbench consists of a number of easy-to-build components that join together to form a solid foundation. As for the cabinets and drawers, they simply slip into place. Since they don’t provide any support for the top, you can add them at any time. Speaking of the top, it’s not a mass of strips that can be hard to glue up and then flatten. Instead, the top is…

It seems like every tool chest I’ve ever had was too heavy to move around once it was loaded up with tools. Well, that’s not the case any more. With just a little “high-tech” aluminum riveted to some ¼" plywood, I was able to build a lightweight chest that was portable and heavy-duty. Then, to keep everything organized, I added removeable dividers, a sliding tray, and a pull-out bin. There’s even a small rack inside to provide quick access to often-used tools. And you can arrange these accessories any way you want to suit your needs. You’ll find all the details for this on page 24. CONSTRUCTION D ETAILS OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 31¼" W x 127/16" H x 14¾" D MATERIALS & SUPPLIES AFront 9⅞ x 30½ - ¼ Ply. B…

Most of the supplies you’ll need for projects in this book are available at hardware stores or home centers. For specific products or hard-to-find items, take a look at the sources listed here. Retailers will periodically discontinue some items, so gather all the hardware that you need before you get started on your project. You can always adjust dimensions or drill different-sized holes to suit your hardware. DRILL PRESS STAND (P. 6) • Rockler20" Drawer Slides . . . . . . . . 47758 • McMaster-CarrDrawer Pull . . . . . . . . . . . . 5193A4 Adjustable Handle . . . . . . 6320K75 HIGH-TECH TOOL CHEST (P. 18) • McMaster-CarrAluminum Angle . . . . . . 88805K57 35 ⁄ 16" Pull Handle…