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Tips & Techniques4

  • Page 6: Illustration
    The cutoff box is made of 3/4" plywood, not 1/2" plywood as indicated in the callout.

Rare-Earth Magnets8

When you see what these versatile magnets can do, they won't be "rare" in your shop.

Whether it’s around the shop or in a furniture project, rare-earth magnets will come in pretty handy. The two sources we rely on are Lee Valley and K&J Magnetics. You’ll find the contact information below. At the websites, you can find magnets, washers, cups, and accessories in a variety of sizes. Both the magnetic belt clip (50K19.01) and standoff tool holder (50K18.01) came from Lee Valley.

Pocket Planes10

You'll find that one of these small planes will definitely earn its keep.

The small “pocket” planes shown on page 10 of Woodsmith No. 166 aren’t lightweights when it comes to versatility. Either the Veritas or Lie-Nielsen plane would make a great addition to your shop. The planes are available from the makers and the sources below.

Sharpening Drill Bits12

Make your drill bits work like new. Basic tools and a step-by-step technique are all it takes.

It doesn’t take much time to put a sharp edge on a dull Forstner or brad point drill bit. And one way to make the job go even faster is to use diamond needle files. You can buy them individually or as a set. The 600-grit files came from the Woodsmith Store.

Router Inlay Kit14

With an easy-to-use router bushing kit, adding perfect-fitting inlays to a project is a breeze.

A router inlay kit, like the one shown on page 14 of Woodsmith No. 166, takes the hard work out of adding inlay to your projects. We’ve included several sources below. The kit we used included a centering post and came from Amazon.com (Woodstock H3133).

Quilt Rack16

Through mortises on the table saw? We'll show you how it's done on this classic, Craftsman-style project.

  • Page 18: Illustration detail A.
    The foot is mislabeled as Part B; it is really part A.
  • Page 19: Illustration and detail A.
    The side is mislabled as part A; it is really part B.
  • Page 19: Illustration detail A
    The dado blade should be 7/8" wide by 1 1/4" high, not 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" as printed.
  • Page 19: Detail a, Side View
    Detail 'a' is a side view, so there should be a vertical line to show the chamfer along the cheek of the tenon.
  • Page 19: Detail d, Front View
    Detail "d" should show a top view of stretcher (C) to detail the thickness of the tenon (1/2") and size of chamfer (1/8")

No-Fuss Chamfers20

For quick, clean chamfers on a workpiece, a block plane is sometimes the best tool.

Space-Saving Loft Bed22

Great looking and practical, but what you'll really like is the straightforward construction.

  • Page 32: bracket jig dimensions
    Clarification Note: The article references the Shop Notebook on page 32 for details on making the jig. The Shop Notebook article contains an error; please see the correction note for that article.

One of the nice things about making the loft bed is that most of the supplies you need to build it are pretty common. But there are a few items to point out.

To provide sure footing on the ladder, we applied strips of 2"-wide tread tape to the steps. The tape is made by 3M and is available at many hardware stores and home centers.

The 1-1/16"-dia. aluminum tubing used in the railing is made by National Manufacturing and is found at most True Value hardware stores. Other stores and home centers carry (or can order) similar products. To drill the holes to fit the tubing, you’ll need a matching bit. Ours came from Lee Valley (06J71.17)

You’ll also need to track down some plastic laminate. The color we used is “Hollyberry” (D307-60) and is made by WilsonArt. You can find a local distributor from the contact information shown below.

Shop Notebook32

  • Page 32: Routing template pattern.
    The two large holes should be centered 1 3/4" from the outside face, not 1 1/4" as printed. Jig is used in the Space-Saving Loft Bed project. The dimensions given on page 28 of that project article are correct.

Dressing Mirror34

The elegant detail of this full-length mirror is sure to draw attention. But we make creating this look a simple task.

There isn’t much hardware you’ll need to build the mirror frame on page 34 of Woodsmith No. 166. The mirror we ordered is 1/4" thick. And since the edges of the mirror are exposed in the frame, we asked our local supplier to polish the edges. To secure the mirror, we used Gardner Mirror Mastic and Mastic Tape that we found at a local home center.

Finally, the 1"-wide traction tape applied to the feet is made by 3M and can be found at hardware stores and home centers.

Easy Router Table Upgrades42

Add a few shop-built accessories to your router table and get better results.

Tips for Perfect Planing44

A planer is a handy addition to any shop. Here are ten great tips for top-notch results.

Water-Based Dyes46

It's hard to beat water-based dyes for quick, natural-looking color. We'll show you the basics.

The grain-popping effect of water-based dyes can really add to the look of a project. The Lockwood’s dyes I like to use came from the Woodsmith Store. You can also order them directly from the manufacturer. Other brands of water-based dye are available from the sources shown below.

Q & A48

Keyed Mortise and Tenon50

Learn everything you need to know to craft this traditional, knock-down joint.

Final Details52