Shop Tips

Blades

Blades

Always pick the right blade for your project   Choosing the Right Teeth Use skip tooth blades when you need a fast cut and are not concerned about splintering on the bottom. Use reverse-tooth blades when you need a relatively fast cut that leaves a smoother surface on the bottom. […]

Wood Toxicity

Wood Toxicity

Most woods are safe, but a few common woods can cause some serious health problems. Print out this quick reference chart to keep yourself safe. By Charlie Self Dust masks and air cleaners are on the list of necessary tools in most shops, but research shows that some woods are […]

by September 30, 2015 Shop Tips
Shop-made Push Sticks

Shop-made Push Sticks

Keep your fingers away from sharp blades with these simple designs In Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Summer 2014 (Issue 55), Dennis Simmons offered an Adirondack chair pattern sized for dolls. Since some of the pieces were small, he also created these push sticks to hold the pieces while you cut […]

by April 19, 2014 Shop Tips
Outdoor Finishes and Glues

Outdoor Finishes and Glues

Use the right products to ensure your outdoor projects last In Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Summer 2014 (Issue 55), Technical Editor Bob Duncan presented an introduction to durable outdoor glues and finishes. Download the whole article or share it with a friend. Foolproof Wood Finishing | No Fuss Wood Finishing […]

by April 18, 2014 Shop Tips
Circle Cutting Jig

Circle Cutting Jig

Simple jig allows you to cut perfect circles with a band saw In the Great Book of Woodworking, the Editors of Skills Institue Press demonstrated how to make a Shaker-style Candle Table. The project required you to cut a perfect circle. While there are commercial jigs to cut perfect circles […]

by December 4, 2013 Shop Tips, Techniques
Circle Cutting Jig

Circle Cutting Jig

Simple jig allows you to cut perfect circles with a band saw In the Great Book of Woodworking, the Editors of Skills Institue Press demonstrated how to make a Shaker-style Candle Table. The project required you to cut a perfect circle. While there are commercial jigs to cut perfect circles with […]

by December 4, 2013 Shop Tips, Techniques
Electronic Cutters: Not Useful For Veneer, But…

Electronic Cutters: Not Useful For Veneer, But…

As I mentioned in my editor’s note in the Fall 2013 issue (Issue 52), I had high hopes that I might be able to cut veneer with an electronic cutting machine like the Cricut or Silhouette, which are sold in craft stores. These relatively inexensive machines are very much like […]

by June 26, 2013 Shop Tips
Never Fail Blade Chart

Never Fail Blade Chart

Suffering blade bewilderment? Use this chart to choose the right blade every time! Choosing the right blade can make the difference between smooth, easy cutting and a ragged, poorly cut mess. But there are lots of different types of projects plus tons of blades on the market, multiplied by infinite wood possibilities. How do you choose […]

by April 19, 2013 Shop Tips, Tools for Beginners
Easy Mini-Chuck Use

Easy Mini-Chuck Use

Mount a 1/4″-diameter socket to the side of your workbench to make changing bits quicker. I purchased a mini chuck that features a 1/4″-diameter hex shank to hold small drill bits securely. The instructions suggest clamping the shank of the chuck in a vise while you hand-tighten the bits in […]

by January 5, 2012 Shop Tips
Stack-Cutting Compound Projects

Stack-Cutting Compound Projects

A thicker blank and two front-­view patterns will increase your compound-cutting production. Recently, I was planning to compound-cut several classic reindeer. I usually cut them from 3/4″-thick stock, but I found some 1 1/2″-thick stock. I cut the blanks to the correct length and width, but instead of resawing the […]

by December 16, 2011 Shop Tips