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Projects Southern Sugar Chest
Glen D. Huey
This 19th-century piece was designed to safeguard a then-precious commodity. Not so long ago, obtaining sugar wasn’t easy. It’s difficult to believe that the commodity we have in almost everything today was scarce and highly valued in the early part of the 19th century. During those days well-to-do patrons required somewhere to store this sweet…
Continue Reading Tricks of the TradeFoam-Tubing Seal
American Woodworker Editors
After hooking up my new dust collector to my contractor’s saw, I found that it just didn’t pull as much air as I’d like, even after sealing up the most obvious leaks. After further inspection, I found the problem: major gaps underneath the table where it bolts to the stand. I bought a 4′ length…
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Techniques Tablesaw Dovetails
Jim Stack
Machine joints that look hand-made. Imagine cutting through dovetails with pins and sockets spaced any way you like—as if they were cut by hand. Now imagine cutting them without using a dovetail saw or a router. The humble fixture showcased above allows you to do just that—using your tablesaw. It allows cutting both pins and…
Continue Reading Tricks of the TradeRandom-orbit Buffer
Serge Duclos
To prevent rust and reduce feed friction, I apply paste wax regularly to my metal tool tables and other surfaces. It does a great job – but what a chore to buff the wax by hand! To make the job easier, I decided to turn my random-orbit sander into a buffer of sorts. I cut…
Continue Reading TechniquesWhat is Cupping and Why Do Boards Do It?
Yoav Liberman
Getting to know the what and why of cupping lumber. In our 1960s house, many of the old-fashioned closet shelves were crafted from solid carpentry-grade softwood. It appears that the lumber for these shelves was never kiln-dried and was roughly cut by the carpenter to fit inside the closets. Left initially unfinished, the shelves were…
Continue Reading Shop BlogThe Patternmaker
Logan Wittmer
I’ve long talked about woodworking containing a variety of disciplines such as turning, carving, scroll sawing, etc. In my opinion, there’s one type of woodworking that shaped this country (and possibly even the world)—patternmaking. Imagine building something out of wood precisely to an engineered drawing to the thousandth of an inch. I guess that sums…
Continue Reading Tricks of the TradeCrosscut Sled Cam Clamp
American Woodworker Editors
I use a sled for cross cutting 3/4-in. melamine and plywood panels up to 24 inches wide. These panels can be hard to hold in position while making a cut, so I installed a cam lever that securely locks the panel to the bed. The radius of the cam increases from 1-1/8-in to 1-3/8-in. Now…
Continue Reading InterviewsWoodworking in America: Eden Klinger
Collin Knoff
We’re interviewing makers from across the country. Today we’re featuring Eden Klinger, a furniture maker and designer from Louisiana. How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? Woodworking didn’t really enter into the picture for me until 2020. My partner and I had been wanting to start keeping chickens for a while, and…
Continue Reading Tricks of the TradeCollapsible Drying Rack
American Woodworker Editors
Sturdy yet collapsible is easier said than done, but this drying rack is both. It folds flat against the wall to save space until I need it. I made my rack 36 in. tall, with 8 in. between levels. Each side of the rack is made by sandwiching hardwood support arms between plywood uprights. Each…
Continue Reading ProjectsWall Hung Basswood Cabinet
Doug Stowe
Simple construction and elegant design make this cabinet a welcome addition to any decor. Project #2403 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 2 days • Cost: $100 Ever work much with dowels? Many artisans would shy away from the use of dowels having had experience with broken down old chairs where they were pushed by…
Continue Reading TechniquesEasy Frameless Cabinet Joinery
David Munkittrick
A hassle-free fast track to frameless cabinets. I’ve always liked the clean, modern look of cabinets built without face frames. My early attempts involved building plywood boxes first and applying hardwood edging later. But cutting, fitting, gluing and clamping each edging piece was frustratingly slow. But that was nothing compared to leveling the edging flush…
Continue Reading Tool ReviewsBosch Smart Jigsaw Review
Collin Knoff
Tool: 18V Brushless Connected Barrel-Grip Jig Saw GST18V-60BC Shop Now Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $209 (bare tool + 2 blades & anti-splinter insert) Smart tools: Love them or hate them, you’re going to keep seeing more and more of them going forward. The new GST18V-60BCN from Bosch is a good tool with a good app, which…
Continue Reading Shop BlogShopNotes Podcast Episode 182 — I’m Just Cheap Enough to Try It
Pop Wood Editors
It’s the Phil and Logan show on this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast. We’re talking about fixing up old tools, working in the shop in the winter, and exploring our glue comfort zone. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.
Continue Reading Tricks of the TradeHook for Inset Doors
American Woodworker Editors
Have you ever closed an inset door in a cabinet you were building and found that you couldn’t open it, because you hadn’t added the knob yet? Well, I have. Here’s an easy, effective solution: Make a little hook from a plastic lid. Cut out the opener as shown above, with a raised tab that’s…
Continue Reading Design MattersFine-Tuning Furniture Designs
George Walker
Minor adjustments typically beat a hatchet job. I knew a guy who didn’t shave or cut his hair for 12 months at a time. On day 365 he looked like the wild man from Borneo. On day 366 (or day 1 of the next cycle), he would show up at work shaven and shiny like…
Continue Reading InterviewsWoodworking in America: Autumn T. Thomas
Collin Knoff
We’re interviewing makers from across the country. Today we’re featuring Autumn T. Thomas, a wood sculpture artist from Colorado. How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? My journey as a wood sculpture artist was a bit of a surprise to me. After finishing graduate school at the University of the Arts, having…
Continue Reading Tool ReviewsDouble Dowel Tenon Cutter Review
Logan Wittmer
Tool: Double Dowel Tenon Cutter Shop Now Manufacturer: Double Dowel MSRP: $600 During AWFS in Las Vegas this last year, I ran across an interesting little company producing and sell- ing a tool called the Double Dowel Tenon Cutter. In short, it’s a router table fixture that cuts a pair of twin dowels on the…
Continue Reading Load moreFeatured Videos: Experts Guide to Gluing & Clamping Wood
Gluing and clamping is one the the most widely-used skills for woodworkers. Done correctly, you can make strong, lasting bonds in your projects. Done incorrectly, you’ll add additional time and frustration down the road. We’ll address best methods and practices and also look at possible variations. We’ll look at edge joints, mitered joints, casework and clamping and gluing curves. Our special thanks to Bessey and Titebond for sponsoring this series.
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