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I sand a lot of projects at my workbench. The problem is that the power cord and the dust collection hose of the sander are always in my way. Either they’re tugging as they hook on the edge of the bench, or they trip me up as they snake around …
Woodworking is a hobby and it's supposed to be fun. — Chris Fitch, Creative Director There's a creative outlet in building projects from wood. At the end of our shop time, we've made something real. That doesn't mean there aren't times that are frustrating, or maddening. Learning a new skill …
Sock for Safety Glasses Storage. John Doyle from Ankeny, IA, has found a way to keep his shop glasses from getting dusty. He stores them in an old (but clean) sock. This has the added benefit of protecting the glasses from being scratched if they get knocked off the workbench. …
Last week, Logan travelled to Las Vegas for the biannual AWFS woodworking trade show. While directed at the commercial & industrial segment of woodworking, there were some fun things to learn about and people to meet. It was also nice to be out and about seeing folk in person. One …
Paper Towels on the Go Jeff Hougman of Denver, CO, likes to keep paper towels close at hand in his shop. Two dowels and a length of rope give him options for tethering the roll into the round dog holes on his workbench or clamping it in the bench vise. …
This episode is brought to you by Shaper Tools, makers of Shaper Origin, the handheld CNC router that brings digital precision to the craft of woodworking. Tackle joinery, cabinetry, hardware installation and more with speed and precision. Try it risk-free in your shop for 30 days. Visit Shapertools.com to learn …
Lately, I’ve been making a lot of projects using pocket-hole joinery. I don’t have the workbench space to dedicate to a permanent setup. But clamping and unclamping the jig on my workbench was getting old. My answer was a simple portable platform. Just three pieces of plywood and a dowel …
Attaching Cauls to Clamps Emanuel Ringel of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, has a solid fix for a wobbly problem. By cutting V-grooves in small blocks and screwing them to his bar clamp pads, he no longer has to struggle when clamping curved shapes. True Grit Rich Flynn of Huntington Beach, California, …
Screen Spline Spacers. Recently, while building cabinet doors, Doug Chasse of Kittanning, Pennsylvania ran out of “space balls” to fit in the grooves on the stiles and rails. Instead, he used ⅛ window screen spline. The screen spline can be used in short lengths or long strips. Simply Square. Mike …
Workbenches generate a lot of insterest and discussion among woodworkers. For some a bench is just a place to set tools or plans while the construction happens elsewhere. Other woodworkers spend most of the time at a workbench. Both Phil and Logan built workbenches years ago to support their craft. …
Workbench space is at a premium in my shop. To make the most of the space I do have, I wanted an easy way to use smaller bench-mounted tools (my grinder and machinist’s vise) in the same location. What I came up with is this interchangeable work platform that clamps …
Barrel Bolt Bench Stops Serge Duclos from Delson, Quebec attaches barrel bolts to the sides of his workbench to serve as additional bench stops. Automatic Nail Set Instead of putting larger holes in trim work using a nail set, David Fraser of Modjeska Canyon, California sets the nail heads with …
On this episode, John, Logan, and Phil share ultimate or "bucket list" projects that they would want to build as a way to prove their woodworking skills or add something to their homes. Of course, the discussion easily sidetracks into tools and even techniques that would get someone closer to …
What's your favorite wood species? If could only work with one type of wood, what would it be? A version of these two questions get thrown around a lot among woodworkers. In this episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Logan, Dillon, and Phil answer instead with a category of wood species …
Usually a hold-down is used to clamp a workpiece flat against a benchtop. That’s okay for some work. But if you’re sawing, drilling, or routing, it often requires clamping the piece so that it overhangs the edge of the workbench. As a result, it’s not adequately supported, which makes for …
