Innehållsförteckning för December 2022 från Woodworker's Journal

Sweet Solution Vintage cutters’ delicious duty. Twenty-five readers offered guesses about the purpose of Ruth Van Kuren’s T-handled mystery tools, at right, which appeared in the August issue. And theories ranged to some degree. “I believe the tool is a flower bulb planter, asserts Tim Cox from Logan, Iowa. “You pushed it into the dirt, gave it a twist and pulled it out, leaving a perfectly round hole.” Dave Elder agrees with him. “These may have been used to clean up tenons in post/log construction,” says Guy Young of Menasha, Wisconsin. Also offering an industrial purpose, Frank Ramezzano, hailing from San Rafael, California, thinks these might be antique gasket cutters. “Back in the day before rubber was commonly available, gaskets were often made of leather. I think that these would…

Mailboxes in front of the 3½-feet-tall structures installed at public parks around Minnesota invite passersby to write down wishes for the elves to grant. Children ask for toys, adults ask for peace of mind and Jerry Carlson (and the elves) collect the mail and sometimes share letters at jerrycarlsonelfhouses.blogspot.com. Icelandic lore says the dwellings are for the huldufólk (“hidden people”), who provide their visitors with strength, good luck and good health. Jerry first learned of the concept when he and his wife watched the movie Eurovision, in which an Icelandic competitor in a singing contest visits an elf house for good luck. His research since then indicates that many Icelanders still believe in the concept. “It’s important to them to have this understanding that there’s something that might be a…

Bow ties are a simple form of wooden inlay in which the bow tieshaped workpiece fits into a shallow mortise that exactly matches the inlay’s shape. They’re a classic way to bridge cracks in slabs and thinner boards or hide knots while adding a bit of decorative flair. In the case of our “Contemporary Table” project on page 28, they tie the two tabletop components together in a way that’s not often seen but definitely visually engaging! Rockler’s Bow Tie Inlay Starter Kit (item 65846; $59.99) has been a popular option among customers for some time, because it makes the process of routing the inlay piece and a mortise about as easy as can be with a handheld router. The same acrylic template, which fits inside of a larger acrylic…

Q I’m painting a maple tabletop with oil-based enamel. How do I make it look super smooth? Originally, I attempted to paint it with a spray can, but I could not get a smooth surface. I then tried sanding it down smooth with increasing grits of wet/dry sandpaper and brushing on the same type of paint. While the brush marks are less noticeable than the result from spraying, it is still not as smooth as I would like it to be. A “Glass-smooth” painted finishes are not accidental! They are the result of very carefully planned steps executed patiently and in order. To get that smooth surface you’re seeking, the wood surface must be made as smooth as the finish you desire. This is typically done, in the case of a…

Thrilled to See My Project! Thank you so much for publishing the photo of my keepsake boxes in the August 2022 issue [From Our Readers, page 10]. You made this loyal subscriber incredibly happy! Joseph Gervasio Scituate, Rhode Island Rob Johnstone Responds: We’re always pleased to see reader projects, whether they’re your designs or ours. Thanks for sharing, and please keep them coming! Self-watering Plant Stand Modification I enjoyed building Char Miller-King’s “Three-Tier Plant Stand” in the June 2022 issue. This will be a Christmas present for my newly married grandson and his wife. I decided to modify the project to incorporate a drip-feed watering system, which can be easily connected to any hose spigot; all that is required is a pressure-reducing valve and a timer to program the watering cycle.…

Keep Tools Cool: Mark Extension Cord Ratings I once learned the hard way that the extension cord you use for a tool must be capable of supplying the maximum amperage the tool requires (as indicated on the motor label). I overheated the tool motor because my cord was too long for the necessary amperage. Since this information isn’t stamped on the cord, I now write the cord length and amp rating near both plugs of my new cords with a permanent marker. I’m determined to never ruin another power tool again. John Cusimano Lansdale, Pennsylvania Score First to Stop Dovetail Blowout Dovetail routing jigs are notorious for blowing out the corner of the tail board at the end of the cut (upper left photo) when routing half-blind dovetails, because that…

With the holidays approaching, candlesticks add ambiance to any festive evening setting, and they make thoughtful gifts. They’re also a good way to practice your spindle-turning skills. I favor candlesticks that have a classic design with a good-sized base to resist tipping over. The classical shape of the candlesticks you see here is derived from Greek and Roman architecture. Such pieces are often called neoclassical when made in modern times. On the next page, I’m providing a Drawing of the 8½"-long turned shaft that details the length of various geometric elements and diameters at key places. While this candlestick could be turned from a 4½"-square by 10"-long billet, incorporating both the base and the shaft, such a scheme would be very wasteful of wood. Making a blank for it would…

Live-edge Coffee Table Here’s a live-edge walnut coffee table I built recently with a butterfly key installed where there’s a small crack. I think the swirling grain and color changes are really pretty. I thought fellow readers might like to see it. Ed Willer Via the Internet Greene & Greene Bed The Greene & Greene-style bed plans that were in the February 2015 issue inspired me to build one recently for our home. I built a Stickley Mission-style chest of drawers several years ago and wanted to advance to this style. This bed is made from cherry to match the rest of the bedroom furniture, and I used real ebony for the square plugs. I really enjoyed making this piece! Dick Warner Lancaster, Ohio…

Drop leaves on a classically made tabletop overlap the center panel with rule joints. Unlike the flat interface of a hinged door in its opening, the center panel on a tabletop rule joint will have a roundover profile along the drop-leaf edges, with a short, flat fillet formed along the top of the roundover. The drop leaves, in turn, have a mirror-image cove profile, also with a flat edge on top, so they can nest against the center panel and rotate down and away from it. In the “down” position, the joint still overlaps, hiding the dropleaf hinges underneath. Only one style of modified butt hinge will enable this overlapping joint to work properly: a drop-leaf hinge. As you can see in the photo above, drop-leaf hinges are asymmetric: they…