paulsshop

Two things I always reach for are the square shank awl from lee valley and the stanley push drill for screw pilot holes
Unfortunately you made the wrong case for travel.Years ago fine homebuilding described a carpenters box with drawers for tools and a large open area in the base for planes etc. The cover serves to hold saws and long tools. I added a set of wheels and a handle and this chest has made many a plane trip , motor home and car trip as i teach hand dovetailing. Also the top serves as a bench when doing home repairs.This type of box was used by joiners whose work was more lik furniture as evidenced in older homes.
I am about to leave for three months but if I have the time I will photograph this wonderful chest fromFHB and send it along.In the meantime go to the archives and look it up

I recently made a dinning room table with a leaf for my daughter in Philadelphia and used light weight MDF for the core.It was veneered with 1/16th figured Western maple both sides and bordered with birdseye. This was not my first choice but cross banded plywood was not easily available.The structural nature of the product caused me to use inserts when attaching the apron and the sliders as I did not trust the material if I just used screws.Also the edge treatment had me worried so I splined the table edge with 1/4 inch ply and excivated the table and leaf edges to create a greater glue surface.Next time I will wait for delivery of cross banded plywood
In my shop we use birch ply for jigs and avoid that awful dust from MDF.A bit of wax and/or shellack provides slip where required
From Victoria B.C.