#259–Jan/Feb 2017
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Enter the octagon
Old-world exercise hones hand-tool skills
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Museum Bench
Simple but not boring was the goal for this bench, which incorporates two tilted planes for the seat and wide, solid legs pierced with a keyhole slot at the center.
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Display Cabinet on a Stand
Eye-catching details and contrasting woods make this a case to remember
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Combo Squares: The Basics and Beyond
Tips and tricks for getting better joinery from these must-have layout tools
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Pick the Perfect Hinges for Your Boxes
The right choice will help you design and build better boxes.
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Custom Scrapers for Custom Work
Shopmade scrapers smooth tough-to-reach surfaces without dulling sharp details
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Tips for Stronger Tenons
Make them bigger, reduce gaps, and don’t spare the glue
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Shoulder Your Dovetails
Make layout easier and get cleaner results
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Turn a Lidded Canister
With a few basic turning tools, you can create beautiful storage for the kitchen
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Spice up your work with kumiko
Learn how to enhance your furniture with this Japanese latticework technique
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Creating compound curves
Designer Will Acland and maker Tim Smith built the bent-laminated frame of their curved chair using straight-grained, flitch-cut European ash veneer and MDF forms
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Bending to Nature
This bent-laminated chair was built for a client who wanted something “sculptural and amazing.”
Features
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Easy-to-Make Plywood Drawers and Trays
Rout V-grooves in a plywood panel and fold up the edges to form a box.
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Use multiple bearings on a big router bit
When I was making a 2-in.-thick oval lamp base and routing a profile on the edge with a big bearing-guided bit, I needed to make multiple shallow passes for a…
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Utility-knife blade makes a nimble scraper
By turning a burr on a standard disposable knife blade and adding a simple maple handle, you get an amazing detail scraper
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Shopmade Corner Clamps for Boxes
Use two sets of these block clamps when you need extra box-clamping pressure.
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New foot for a toggle clamp
When I needed a longer foot for one of my toggle clamps, I came upon this simple solution
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Wall-mounted grinding/buffing station
Bench grinders take up valuable bench space, and they are dirty. Making matters worse, I need two of them: one for grinding and another that spins backward for buffing (a…
Workshop Tips
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Senco's PC1010N Compressor and hybrid air hose
Senco’s new compressor and flexible hose are a perfect pair
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M-Power Router-bit Sharpener
A diamond stone for router bits
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Rikon 82-100 Wet Sharpener
Wet sharpener is a great value
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MaxiCut Forstner bits by Colt
Forstner bits don’t clog or overheat
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Lapped miter bits by Infinity
Router bits cut better miters
Tools & Materials
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Truing Up a Combination Square
If your combo square isn't as accurate as you'd like, don't buy a new one. It's relatively simple to square it up!
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The Quiet Art of Kumiko
Sometimes we need a break from the noise and dust of machine work. Take a quiet moment and watch as Mike Pekovich assembles a beautiful kumiko panel.
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Easy Plywood Box or Tray
Tom McKenna shows you how to make a simple but sturdy plywood box or tray using a v-groove bit in the router table and some blue tape
