October 2017
Issue Number: 249
6 Essential Drill Bits
Though we may romanticize the brace-and-bit days, today we can choose from specialized drill bits, many of which create clean, tear-out-free holes, and others that drill specially shaped holes, something that eluded woodworkers of long ago.These bits fit most of the needs of today's woodworker.
Make Smoothing Wood Plane Simple
Built-to-Fit Stand-up Shelving
Outift any room with maximum shelf space using minimum materials. Extend or shroten the shelving by 16" or 32" increments to suit your space.
Plan is available in the WOOD Store
Slide-away Hideaway
Shop test: Powered Sharpeners
Struggle with sharpening your hand tools? Electric sharpeners deliver consistently sharp tools with a lot less labor than using a handheld honing guide and some stones. And let us state this up front: We’re not sharpening snobs. We’ll use any system or method that delivers acceptable results. So we set out to find the best powered sharpeners from a group on nine wet-and dry-wheel sharpeners.
Portable Mitersaw Stand
Designed for today’s ultra-compact battery-powered mitersaws but customizable to your saw, this slender stand boasts ample outfeed when in use, but politely stays out of your way when not needed.
Plan is available in the WOOD Store
Mil-spec Destroyer Toy
Designed to defend against threats from the air, sea, and even below the sea, destroyers accompany carrier strike groups, and also patrol independently. Turn your shop into a shipyard for just a few evenings to create this naval workhorse.
Plan is available in the WOOD Store
Edge-gluing Tricks for Flat, Mar-free Panels
Crafter's Project Center
If your dining room doubles as a crafting space, this cabinet will corral the clutter with shelves, oodles of storage on the doors, and a spacious fold-down worksurface. When not in use, close the doors and presto! Your workshop hides behind the doors of an attractive traditional-style cabinet.
Plan is available in the WOOD Store
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Tip of the Day
Poor man’s bench vise
I wanted a vise on my secondary workbench, but didn’t want to pony up the cash for another heavy-... read more