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Episode 2: Router Templates

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Learn how to craft a router template that yields consistent, accurate through-mortises. Episode 3 coming May 24, 2013. Episode 2: Router Templates
Learn how to make a simple router template that makes installing beautiful offset knife hinges a breeze. How to Install Offset Knife Hinges
Furnituremaker Gregory Paolini demonstrates how to make clean, accurate mortises using a plunge router. Mortises with a Plunge Router
Furniture maker Gregory Paolini demonstrates a technique for jointing wood on the router table. Use Your Router Table as a Jointer
Woodworker Gregory Paolini demonstrates the right way to cut rabbets on a router table. How to Cut Clean, Accurate Rabbets on a Router Table
Woodworker Gregory Paolini demonstrates techniques for adding a soft, gentle roundover to otherwise sharp furniture parts. Safe, Easy Roundovers on a Router Table
Throw away your old-fashioned dado jigs and step up to a luxury model, complete with plenty of hold-down clamps and lots of adjustability. Clever Dado Jig for Shelves of Any Thickness
In this part of the video series on the living history museum at Colonial Williamsburg, Mack Headley demonstrates how 18th century craftsmen used an array of hand planes to plow grooves and dadoes, and profile edges. How They Did It: Before the Router
Router guru Patrick Warner shares his clever method for making deep grooves, rabbets, or dadoes at the router table with a single height adjustment of the router bit. A series of spacers and a systematic approach are all that's required. Router Table Tricks for Deep Cuts
At the AWFS trade show, we visited the Porter-Cable booth to examine their newest router. See how its bit-raising mechanism makes this tool especially compatible with a router table, incorporating the functions of an after-market router lift. Porter-Cable Router Gets a Lift
Contributing editor Mario Rodriguez shows us how to use a rub collar (also called a template guide) with a template to cut precise stopped dadoes with a router. He uses a small organizer project to demonstrate the scaleable technique. Routing Dadoes with a Template
Patrick Warner, author, designer, and craftsman, demonstrates the use of two jigs he's developed to aid risky operations: an end-grain sled for small, short pieces of work, and a long-grain sled used when routing the face of long narrow pieces. Two Simple Router-Table Jigs
Most owner's manuals recommend a check router brush wear every 50 to 100 hours of running time, but that's hard to track. John White shows you how to check them on two common types of routers and tells what to look for when the brushes are removed. Replacing Router Brushes
Custom furniture maker Yeung Chan details an innovative router jig he developed to cut large-diameter circles with a router. To demonstrate, he leads you through the process of making a 24-in. diameter tabletop. Cutting Circles with a Router
Low-tech plunge-router trick to avoid dials, knobs, and turret systems Router Depth-Stops Demystified
Two surefire ways to transfer the offset from router base to workpiece without measuring Router Jig for Perfectly Aligned Dadoes
Anatole Burkin shows how to make a simple, accurate fence to guide a router for cutting through dadoes and stopped dadoes. Because wood or plywood is almost never exactly the same thickness as a router bit, you finesse the cut to get a good fit. Cutting Dadoes with a Router
See how a pair of crowned boards makes a jig that lets you joint perfect edges quickly and perfectly on a stack of veneers. The jig consists of two identical poplar boards bolted at their ends. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Veneer Trimmer
A featherboard is a fixture that holds small or narrow stock in place to keep your hands safely away from the router bit. This video demonstrates how to make and use a large, versitile featherboard you can clip to the router-table fence. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Featherboard
Made from masonite, this auxillary fence makes it easier to cut a profile on a short piece so the piece won't dip into the open sapce or catch at the outfeed side of the opening by closing the gap around the router bit. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Zero-Clearance Fence
Watch how to make this basic but effective bearing-guided flush-trimming jig that lets you duplicate profiles quickly and precisely. It is made from MDF with plywood locator blocks. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Pattern-Routing
Watch how a simple sled with a hinged base makes it easy to cut stopped grooves at an angle. It makes it easy to cut the slots needed to hold a hidden spline in a miter joint. The jig can be constructed of plywood or MDF to hold a range of sizes. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Miter-Angle Sled
Serge Duclos, of Quebec, devised a simple backer block to use on a router table. Its angled handle helps you press the workpiece against the table's fence. Made of MDF, it stabilizes the work and helps prevent tearout, especially on narrow stock. Quick Tip: Router Table Backer Block
Gary Rogowski of Portland, Oregon, founder of the Northwest Woodworking Studio and a longtime Fine Woodworking contributing editor answers often-asked questions about routers: "Should I try to sharpen a dull bit?" Router Questions: Sharpening Dull Bits
Gary Rogowski of Portland, Oregon, founder of the Northwest Woodworking Studio and a longtime Fine Woodworking contributing editor answers often-asked questions about routers: "What's a climb cut?" Router Questions: What's A Climb Cut?
Gary Rogowski of Portland, Oregon, founder of the Northwest Woodworking Studio and a longtime Fine Woodworking contributing editor answers often-asked questions about routers: "What's the best way to handle difficlut grain?" Router Questions: Handing Difficult Grain
Router Question: 3 Router Questions: Minimizing Chatter
Router Question: 4 Router Question: How Many Do I Need?
Gary Rogowski of Portland, Oregon, founder of the Northwest Woodworking Studio and a longtime Fine Woodworking contributing editor answers often-asked questions about routers: "What bits are essential?" Router Questions: Essential Bits
North Carolina Woodworker Gregory Paolini developed a way to make clean through mortises with a router. Here he shows you how to locate the mortises on the work piece and cut the mortise with a router fitted with a guide bushing and finish the cut. Cut Through-Mortises with a Router
By properly installing the right type of blade in your machine, you can say goodbye to bandsaw "drift" and hello to better cuts. How to Change a Bandsaw Blade
Bandsaw Jig for Curved Components
Mack Headley, the master cabinetmaker at the historic cabinet shop at Colonial Williamsburg, explores the various saws used in 18th century furniture making. Handsaws of all shapes and sizes were used to cut curves and rough shape furniture parts. How They Did It: Before The Bandsaw
Use a commerical gauge or a shopmade one to measure the tension of your bandsaw blade. In this video, John White details how to make his handmade tensioning guide and demonstrates how to use it to tune up a bandsaw. Set the Tension on Your Bandsaw
Fine Woodworking's Roland Johnson visted the Jet booth at the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers show to examine the updates Jet has made since the release of its previous 18-in. bankdaw including a new upper wheel support. Jet Updates its 18-in. Bandsaw
Folding a bandsaw blade is the best way to store it, says Fine Woodworking shop manager John White, but it takes some practice to get it right. In this video, he demonstrates a simple technique that gets the job done quickly and safely. Folding a Bandsaw Blade
FWW shop manager John White shares a simple solution for extending the hard-to-reach handle, which is usually located tight against the housing for the blade, to make adjusting the tension on your bandsaw an easy operation. Bandsaw-Tension Handle Extension
Hit your mark each time you adjust your bandsaw table. FWW shop manager John White gives you and easy solution to make this tedious task easier, especially when sawing dovetails or cutting veneer for marquetry. Bandsaw Table-Tilt Fix
Versatility is the reason for the popularity of the bandsaw -- it rips, resaws, crosscuts, and cuts curves. But not all bandsaws are created equal. Shop manager John White details some features he feels are critical to your purchasing decision. What to Look for When You Buy a Bandsaw
In this video, shop-machine guru John White, a frequent contributor to FineWoodworking.Com, shares his technique for uncoiling a bandsaw blade. All it takes is a quick toss. He also shows how to coil the blade up again quickly and easily. How to Uncoil a Bandsaw Blade
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. In this, part three of the 9-part series, he answers questions about horsepower in bandsaws. Bandsaw Questions: Horsepower
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. Here you'll learn how to cut freehand curves safely in this last video of the 9-part series. Bandsaw Questions: Blade Binding
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. Here's what you need to know about choosing blades in this, part one of a 9-part series. Bandsaw Questions: Best Blades
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. In part two of a 9-part series, he addresses what to do when a blade wears a groove in the tires. Bandsaw Questions: Worn Tires
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. In this, part four of the 9-part series, he shows how to make sure thrust bearings work properly. Bandsaw Questions: Thrust Bearings
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. Here he shows you how to be sure the guides stay in alignment in part five of a 9-part series. Bandsaw Questions: Blade Alignment
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. Here's the best way to set up the saw and fences for resawing. Part six of the 9-part series. Bandsaw Questions: Cutting Straight
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. Here are necessary adjustments to compensate for blade drift. The seventh of Bandsaw Questions: 7 Bandsaw Questions: Curing Drift
Contributing editor Roland Johnson answers questions about keeping a bandsaw's blade, tires, wheels, and guides adjusted properly for trouble-free cuts. Here are steps to take to be sure the blade tracks properly. Part eight of a 9-part series. Bandsaw Questions: Align Wheels
Author Doug Stowe demonstrates how to resaw stock on the tablesaw as well as the bandsaw. He also shows how to use a miter sled on the tablesaw to cut box sides accurately, with grain that appears continuous across the miter joint. Resawing and Mitering with Doug Stowe
Learn how to cut this joint, also known as a bridle joint, in a few simple steps on the bandsaw. Slot Mortise and Tenons on the Bandsaw
Furniture maker Garry Knox Bennet demonstrates how to cut aluminum on the bandsaw. He says most standard woodworking tools can be used on aluminum with special preparations and safety considerations. Cut Aluminum on the Bandsaw
Mark Duginske takes you step-by-step through the process of making decorative boxes from solid pieces of wood with only a bandsaw. Build a Bandsawn Box
The bandsaw is the ideal tool for resawing thick lumber to produce thin veneers or book-matched panels. For optimal results when resawing on the bandsaw you must make several adjustments to your machine to prevent the blade from drifting or swerving. Set Up Your Bandsaw for Resawing
Laguna Tools introduced a new bandsaw fence at the 2006 International Woodworking Fair for its new 20-in. bandsaw and as an aftermarket add-on to large-capacity bandsaws. Take a test drive and see some of its unique features. IWF 2006: Laguna Bandsaw Fence Aimed At Resawing
At the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta, machinery maker Rikon introduced a new 14-in. bandsaw to its line-up that caught our eye. Rikon's Deluxe model No. 10-325 bandsaw has upgrades woodworkers should like. IWF 2006: Rikon 14-in. Bandsaw
Achieving a Perfectly Square Table Achieving a Perfectly Square Table
The Best Way to Move Your Bandsaw The Best Way to Move Your Bandsaw
Furniture maker Michael Fortune demonstrates how to properly resaw lumber on the bandsaw. Resawing on the Bandsaw
Furnituremaker Michael Fortune shows you how to properly set up your bandsaw for perfect cuts, every time. How to Set Up a Bandsaw
Learn how to cut some of woodworking's most common joints—cleanly and accurately, at the tablesaw. Episode 7: Tongues, Tenons, and Miters
Learn how to cut grooves, dadoes, and rabbets accurately and quickly at the tablesaw. Episode 6: Grooves, Dadoes, and Rabbets
Prepare your saw and your accessories to cut some top-notch joinery. Tips include blade and sled maintenance, building a sacrificial rip fence, and more. Episode 5: Gear Up for Tablesaw Joinery
Learn how to build a safe, accurate crosscut sled for your tablesaw. Episode 4: Build a Crosscut Sled
Learn Marc Adams's techniques for safe, accurate crosscuts at the tablesaw. Episode 3: Crosscuts
Kickback is one of the most dangerous hazards of working with a tablesaw, and it happens most often while ripping lumber. In this episode, Adams offers tips on how to stay safe and cut accurately. Episode 2: Ripping
With hundreds of students passing through his woodworking school each year, Marc Adams has had to develop a series of firm guidelines designed to keep tablesaw users safe. Episode 1: Tablesaw Safety
Celebrated woodworking teacher Marc Adams offers an overview of the topics he’ll cover in his guide to Tablesaw Techniques. Introduction: Tablesaw Techniques
Celebrated woodworking teacher Marc Adams offers an overview of the topics he’ll cover in his guide to Tablesaw Techniques. Introduction: Tablesaw Techniques
Learn furnituremaker Gregory Paolini's simple techniques for tablesawn through-dovetails. Plus, a trick for half-blinds too. How to Cut Dovetails on the Tablesaw
Learn how to safely and effectively use your tablesaw for a variety of cuts. Five Minute Guide: How to Use a Tablesaw
A compact caddy that stores tablesaw blades and protects their teeth. Watch how to make it. Quick Tip: Sawblade Caddy
FWW's Roland Johnson demonstrates how to set up a tablesaw so that the blade is parallel to the miter slot and fence and square to the surface of the tablesaw. He goes inside the assembly and goes through every step of the tune-up process. Tune Up Your Tablesaw
SawStop, a Portland, Oregon, development company shows off its technology for a safer tablesaw at the AWFS semi-annual trade show. The device works by shutting down the blade when it senses that it is cutting into human flesh. SawStop is Safety Centric
When fine-tuning the accuracy of your tablesaw, a number of operations require accuracy that only a dial indicator can get you. FWW shop manager John White shares plans for a dial-indicator jig and shows you how to use it to set up your tablesaw. A Jig for Tuning Your Tablesaw
Because so much tablesaw run-time is spent ripping and crosscutting, it's especially important to have good work habits while making these fundamental cuts. Kelly Mehler of Berea, Kentucky demonstrates some safe techniques for getting smooth cuts. Mastering Tablesaw Basics
Fine Woodworking's contributing editor Gary Rogowski offers a few tips and tricks to upgrade a tablesaw crosscut sled. His suggestions will keep this useful jig running and cutting smoothly and talks briefly about safety components. Tune Up Your Crosscut Sled
Fine Woodworking's Asa Christiana looks at a the JessEM Mast-R-Slide 7500 sliding crosscut table in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers tradeshow. Better Crosscuts on the Tablesaw
Fine Woodworking's Ernie Conover took a look at the new Powermatic PM2000 10-in. cabinet saw in Las Vegas, during the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers annual tradeshow. He visits the WMH Tool Group's booth to examine the tool. A Cabinet Saw with Legs
FWW contributing editor and Fashion Institute of Technology restoration professor Mario Rodriguez demonstrates how to cut dadoes and rabbets on the tablesaw and outlines general safety procedures. A Basic Dado and Rabbet on the Tablesaw
Richard Beebe makes a lot of Shaker-style furniture in his basement shop, and many of the pieces have tapered legs. His prefered method of tapering is on a tablesaw, but commercially available jigs didn't feel safe, so he designed his own. Tablesaw Tapering Jig
Tilting the blade distorts and elongates a cove. To achieve the cut you want, you can draw your pattern on the end of the workpiece, sight across the blade, and, by trial and error, arrive at your blade-tilt and fence angle settings. Or, as shown in Asymmetrical Coves on the Tablesaw
Lon Schleining warns, "If the sled's fence isn't 90° to the blade, every cut will be inaccurate." To that end, he shares tips for building a tablesaw crosscut sled that will slide smoothly in your tablesaw's miter slots for accurate cuts. Squaring a Crosscut Tablesaw Sled
To avoid tearout from a tablesaw blade when using a crosscut sled, maintain a zero-clearance kerf. Author Lon Schleining shows his method for keeping the kerf of your crosscut sed nug to the blade even after cutting miters and dadoes or box joints. Returning Your Crosscut Sled to Pristine Condition
Roland Johnson reviews the riving knives systems, an incredible safety feature, on eight tablesaws in the 2009 Tools and Shops issue. In this video, he explains how kickback can happen and shows a riving knife reduces the risk. Fight Kickback with Riving Knives
John White shows you how to get a handle - literally - on the problem of large and slipperly sheets of plywood, medium-density fiberboard, and other sheet goods on your tablesaw. How to Handle Large Sheets on the Tablesaw
When a tablesaw is out of alignment it produces cuts that aren't square. John White shows you how to use a short block of wood to determine if the blade is parallel to the rip fence and explains how to make the needed adjustments for proper alignment An Easy Way to Check Tablesaw Alignment
Learn how to make a custom-fitted throat plate for a tablesaw. Aftermarket throat plates, or inserts, are available, but this one can be had on the cheap for just some shop time. Shopmade Tablesaw Throat Plate
Watch as we examine the SawStop 10-in. contractor's saw, testing the brake mechanism by running a hot dog into the blade once with a regular blade, and again with a dado-blade stack. Also, take an up-close look at the machine features. The SawStop Contractor Saw in Action
FWW's Ernie Conover explains how you can make a simple but useful outfeed table from lumber and plywood you probably have lying around the shop. He also gives useful tips for using the tablesaw safely. Expert Lesson: Tablesaw Safety
Arlington, Texas, woodworker Keith Rust has developed an alternative method for surfacing lumber that makes use of his wide bench planer and a shopmade jig. Rust demonstrates flattening one side of a wide board with his planer sled. A Planer Sled for Milling Lumber
Cutting crown molding for trim or furniture can be intimidating, but the right tips and tools can make all the difference. Gary Katz, contributing editor to Fine Homebuilding, demonstrates the steps to take before making cuts to the expensive trim. Set Up a Miter Saw to Cut Crown Molding
Fine Woodworking's Roland Johnson details the basics of oscillating spindle sanders, demonstrating how it works and for which tasks it works best. Also demonstrated is a simple jig that allows you to use your spindle sander to sand flat edges. Spindle-Sander Basics
Learn about the advantages of a benchtop radial-arm drill press. Radial-Arm Drill Presses
editor David Heim demonstrates the changeover process on the MiniMax FS30 and the Rojek 315, two European-style machines that received editors choice awards in our review. The process only takes a minute once you get the hang of it. Jointer/Planer Changeover
A thickness planer is an essential shop machine to smooth and flatten boards. Learn how to get the most from your planer with woodworker Roland Johnson. Get the Most from Your Planer
When fine-tuning the accuracy of your tablesaw, a number of operations require accuracy that only a dial indicator can get you. FWW shop manager John White shares plans for a dial-indicator jig and shows you how to use it to set up your tablesaw. A Jig for Tuning Your Tablesaw
Custom furniture maker Yeung Chan details an innovative router jig he developed to cut large-diameter circles with a router. To demonstrate, he leads you through the process of making a 24-in. diameter tabletop. Cutting Circles with a Router
Discover fool-proof tips and techniques for using a biscuit joiner from Tony O'Malley, a writer and cabinetmaker in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. He recommends using a base of the biscuit joiner as a reference when cutting along the edge of a workpiece. Accurate Biscuit Joints
A jointer is second only to the tablesaw on the list of essential tools for a shop, according to author and woodworker William Duckworth of Woodbury, Connecticut. Here he describes some of the differences to take into consideration before purchase. 8-in. Jointers
The bandsaw is the ideal tool for resawing thick lumber to produce thin veneers or book-matched panels. For optimal results when resawing on the bandsaw you must make several adjustments to your machine to prevent the blade from drifting or swerving. Set Up Your Bandsaw for Resawing
Here we take a look at all of the features and applications of a portable chip collector and share secrets for maximizing collection capacity and serving a greater number of tools in your shop. Improving a Portable Chip Collector
Woodworker Gary Williams demonstrates in this video how to cut rough lumber and large sheet goods with a circular saw. He shows off two simple jigs that are designed to put a straight edge on any workpiece, short or long, by guiding a circular saw. Straight Cuts with a Circular Saw
Whenever you change jointer knives, or when you find knives have dulled, the jointer needs adjustment for the best performance. John White fine-tunes the height of a jointer's outfeed table, using a series of test cuts to align the table and knives. Adjusting a Jointer
Portable thickness planers vary in price form less than $300 to nearly $500. Lon Schleining put nine thickness planers through a hands-on test and explains a couple of the differences between the machines tested, offering suggestions for choosing one What to Look for in a Planer
Cutting dadoes properly with a router requires precision measurements, as well as control over the router and the workpiece. Pat Warner shows off his "router horse" as he teaches you precision router joinery and gives you great tips and tricks. A Simple Dado for Shelves
To use a circular saw most effectively you need to think of it as "a precision saw, not just a 2x4 cutter," says Gary Williams. He shares his tune-up strategy, which includes adjusting blade wobble and tuning the fence and blade for the best cuts. Tuning Up a Circular Saw
Do you know what a smooth-running bandsaw is suppposed to sound like? How about a handsaw? FWW shop manager John White listens to tools as he works as a good way to identify common problems, such as dull blades or bearings that are out of whack. Listening to Tools
In this video, John White explains how to test the accuracy of the slots cut with a biscuit joiner. The precision of the tool will have a direct result on the quality of your biscuit joinery. Testing Biscuit Joiners for Parallel
Venerable woodworker and teacher Ernie Conover gives the lowdown on drill bits, focusing on high-speed twist drills. He explains the reasoning behind fractional sizes, and bits labeled with letters or numbers as well as providing useful drilling tips Expert Lesson: Drill Bits
If you're not careful, a belt sander can produce dips, gouges, and deep scratches on a workpiece. Several manufacturers make sanding frames that fit the bottom of the machine. Scott Gibson demonstrates how to attach and use a sanding frame. Sanding Frames for Flat Work
John White, shop manager at Fine Woodworking, details how to construct a jig to install new knives on your jointer, which uses magnets to set the knives even with the surface of the jointer. He also demonstrates how to cut evenly and accurately. A Nailer that Knows the Details
Fine Woodworking art director Michael Pekovich shares his technique for sharpening a card scraper, and warns against the two most common mistakes made when carrying out the process. How to Sharpen a Card Scraper
Furniture maker Garrett Hack demonstrates his techniques for honing a chisel to a razor sharp edge. How to Hone a Chisel
Woodworker Tommy MacDonald shows you how to set up a brand new handplane, straight out of the box. How to Set Up a New Handplane
In this excerpt from the Woodcarving Basics DVD, wood carver David Sobol shows you how to become a master by learning the basic skills of woodcarving, including the expert tip of keeping your chisel as sharp as possible with stones and strops. How to Sharpen Woodcarving Tools
Furniture maker Garret Hack offers up some advice on the essential chisel set for woodworking. The Essential Chisel Set
Forget sanding -- a properly used scracper will create a mirror surface. Chair maker Brian Boggs shares his secrets for using a card scraper to prepare the surface of a board allowing you to bypass most of the sanding in your project. Using a Card Scraper
A well-tuned handplane and a simple device called a shooting board work together to quickly and accurately trim the ends of stock. David Finck shows how he assembles and uses a shooting board to square ends and produce clean, accurate miters. A Shooting Board in Action
Furniture maker Garrett Hack offers an overview of Japanese woodworking chisels. Understanding Japanese Chisels
Furniture maker Garrett Hack demonstrates the proper technique for paring and chopping with a chisel. Bench Chisel Techniques
A card scraper makes a very effective smoothing tool, but it's also one that can be challenging to maintain. Bob Van Dyke, director of the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking shares the sharpening technique that works best for him. Bob Van Dyke Shop Tip: Burnishing a Card Scraper
Card scrapers are ideal for lightly cleaning up areas of torn or gnarly wood that no other tool can deal with, but sharpening it is a task that frustrates even experienced woodworkers. Watch the proper method for keeping one in perfect working order. Tune Up a Card Scraper
The director of the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking shows how to use a card scraper in combination with fine sandpaper, giving the wood with a beautiful surface quickly and efficiently. You may never reach for a random-orbit sander again. Bob Van Dyke Shop Tip: Using a Card Scraper
Furniture maker Garrett Hack demonstrates how to chop mortises using a bench chisel. Bench Chisels Can Do Mortises
Furniture maker Garrett Hack discusses the merits of a high quality chisel. Evaluating Low-Cost Chisels
Furniture maker Garrett Hack demonstrates his method for grinding a chisel square. Quick Tip: Sharpen a Chisel
Furniture maker Garrett Hack demonstrates techniques for rehabilitating old chisels found at flea markets and tag sales. Soup-Up a Flea Market Chisel
In this part of the video series on the living history museum at Colonial Williamsburg, Mack Headley demonstrates how 18th century craftsmen used an array of hand planes to plow grooves and dadoes, and profile edges. How They Did It: Before the Router
Learn how hand tools are made—from start to finish—in this exclusive video tour of Lee Valley's Ontario manufacturing facility. Lee Valley Veritas Tool Tour
Furniture maker Garrett Hack discusses mortise chisels. A Case for Two Mortise Chisels
Before power tools, 18th century craftsmen wielded handsaws and planes to four-square lumber for furniture. Watch demonstrations on how lumber was handled at the historic cabinet shop at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum. How They Did It: Dimensioning Lumber By Hand
Jig for Sharpening Gouges Jig for Sharpening Gouges
In Colonial Williamsburg, furniture makers and instrument makers use 18th century tools and techniques to recreate a busy cabinet shop that did business here in the 18th century. Touring a Colonial Williamsburg Shop
The cylindrical cutter on a pin-style gauge normally leaves a ragged line when marking across the grain. Precision is difficult because the beam of the tool blocks the line of sight. Scott Gibson demonstrates a couple of simple modifications to help. Modify Your Marking Gauge
A spokeshave is a very nimble plane with a short sole that can follow convex and concave surfaces. A good shave can follow an S-curve and leave a surface that needs little further attention, but it takes practice. Brian Boggs demonstrates techniques. Using your Spokeshave
Mack Headley, the master cabinetmaker at the historic cabinet shop at Colonial Williamsburg, explores the various saws used in 18th century furniture making. Handsaws of all shapes and sizes were used to cut curves and rough shape furniture parts. How They Did It: Before The Bandsaw
Fine Woodworking's Roland Johnson visted the Lie-Nielsen booth at the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers show to examine a few new products for 2005 including a cabinetmaker's screwdriver, a countersink, and a modelmaker's plane. Lie-Nielsen Expands Tool Line
George Wilson and John Laubach use modern machines and inginuity to produce all of the tools used by the more than 70 craftsman that practice 18th century woodworking at Colonial Williamsburg -- everything from folding rules to panel saws. Antique Tools are Modern Made
Woodworker Scott Gibson demonstrates a technique for sharpening a marking gauge cutter to improve the quality of its marked lines when cutting across the grain. After some minor filing, Gibson creates a knife edge from a previously dull pin. Sharpen a Marking Gauge Cutter
Throw away your old-fashioned dado jigs and step up to a luxury model, complete with plenty of hold-down clamps and lots of adjustability. Clever Dado Jig for Shelves of Any Thickness
FWW's John White explains how he used an adjustable-wing circle cutter (also known as a fly cutter) to cut the holes and discs, both accurately and safely, in his tabletop to connect the dust port with his dust-collection system. Using a Circle Cutter
Keeping your hands a safe distance away from the spinning knives of a jointer is an important safety concern for woodworkers. FWW contributing editor Gary Rogowski demonstrates a variety of jointer push sticks that he uses in his shop to stay safe Push Sticks for the Jointer
A bench vise works best when it can clamp evenly along the entire length of its jaws or it's only a matter of time before you'll end up replacing the vise. Christian Becksvoort shows you a solutionto this problem -- measured spacers. Spacers for a Workbench Vise
Woodworker Carol Koebbeman shares her smart solution for cutting matching curves between panels and solid wood edging. Using her technique, you will be able to cut curved profiles that match exactly from end to end. A Jig for Cutting Mating Curves
John White details how to construct and use a knife-setting jig to aid in the tough task of installing new knives on your jointer and assure an even and accurate cut. The jig uses magnets to set the knives even with the surface of the jointer. Jointer Knife-Setting Jig
When fine-tuning the accuracy of your tablesaw, a number of operations require accuracy that only a dial indicator can get you. FWW shop manager John White shares plans for a dial-indicator jig and shows you how to use it to set up your tablesaw. A Jig for Tuning Your Tablesaw
Need to bore a hole into the end of a long piece of stock? FWW's Gary Rogowski demonstrates a jig he built for his drill press that makes this operation easy. See how the jig is made and how it's used. Vertical Drilling Jig
FWW contributing editor Gary Rogowski shows off some of his favorite drill-press jigs that help him speed through a variety of drilling operations. Here he demonstrates an auxillary table and an adjustable plywood jig. Two Jigs for the Drill Press
Fine Woodworking's contributing editor Gary Rogowski offers a few tips and tricks to upgrade a tablesaw crosscut sled. His suggestions will keep this useful jig running and cutting smoothly and talks briefly about safety components. Tune Up Your Crosscut Sled
Router guru Patrick Warner demonstrates a jig designed to cut tenons and sliding dovetails. This MDF jig clamps to a table or workbench and is easy to set up for a variety of operations and repeatable results for large-scale projects. Tenoning Jig for the Sophisticate
Leigh Industries recently came out with a new version of its flagship dovetail jig. The D4R has many of the same features as its predecessors, including the ability to cut half-blind and through dovetails in a variety of sizes and configurations. Leigh Upgrades its Dovetail Jig
Woodworking benches are designed to place the workpiece at a height that's ideal for hand-planing. But that height is often too low for routing and handwork. Jeff Miller designed the mini-bench to raise the action to a comfortable height. Using a Benchtop Bench
Richard Beebe makes a lot of Shaker-style furniture in his basement shop, and many of the pieces have tapered legs. His prefered method of tapering is on a tablesaw, but commercially available jigs didn't feel safe, so he designed his own. Tablesaw Tapering Jig
Jeff Miller, Chicago furniture maker, teacher, and writer, demonstrates his tried-and-true method for making mortises. An auxiliary fence, mounted to the edge guide, slides in a groove to keep the router bit running straight. Using a Shopmade Mortising Jig
It is often impractical to have permanent extension and outfeed tables around all of the tools in your shop, but with the purchase of a couple of work-support stands you can meet most of your workshop requirements. Support Stands
In the opinion of Michael Standish, Boston cabinetmaker, the Leigh FMT Jig's pin-and-template guide system not performs the functions of securing a workpiece and guiding a cutter, but also comes as close to foolproof as can be imagined. Using the Leigh Frame Mortise and Tenon Jig
The cylindrical cutter on a pin-style gauge normally leaves a ragged line when marking across the grain. Precision is difficult because the beam of the tool blocks the line of sight. Scott Gibson demonstrates a couple of simple modifications to help. Modify Your Marking Gauge
Added after the box has been assembled, keys can be made of a similar wood or a contrasting wood. Woodworker Gary Rogowski explains the use of two jigs to hold your work while cutting keyed miters and demonstrates their insertion and the finishing. Tablesawn Keys for Mitered Boxes
Patrick Warner, author, designer, and craftsman, demonstrates the use of two jigs he's developed to aid risky operations: an end-grain sled for small, short pieces of work, and a long-grain sled used when routing the face of long narrow pieces. Two Simple Router-Table Jigs
Custom furniture maker Yeung Chan details an innovative router jig he developed to cut large-diameter circles with a router. To demonstrate, he leads you through the process of making a 24-in. diameter tabletop. Cutting Circles with a Router
Lon Schleining warns, "If the sled's fence isn't 90° to the blade, every cut will be inaccurate." To that end, he shares tips for building a tablesaw crosscut sled that will slide smoothly in your tablesaw's miter slots for accurate cuts. Squaring a Crosscut Tablesaw Sled
To avoid tearout from a tablesaw blade when using a crosscut sled, maintain a zero-clearance kerf. Author Lon Schleining shows his method for keeping the kerf of your crosscut sed nug to the blade even after cutting miters and dadoes or box joints. Returning Your Crosscut Sled to Pristine Condition
The miter joint is an elegant method for joining parts that meet at an angle without showing any end grain. Gary Rogowski explains how to master this essential woodworking joint and demonstrates the use of a picture-frame tablesaw jig. Picture-Frame Jig that Masters the Miter
See how to use three types of story sticks Story Stick for Accurate, Repeatable Cuts
Two surefire ways to transfer the offset from router base to workpiece without measuring Router Jig for Perfectly Aligned Dadoes
A clamp-on auxiliary fence that’s perfect for cutting rabbets Rabbeting Fence for the Tablesaw
Save money and cut precise joinery with a shopmade tablesaw jig Make Your Own Tenoning Jig
Get repeatable cuts using a simple tablesaw jig crafted from scrap plywood Shopmade Stop Block System
Fast and safe panel raising with a shopmade tablesaw fence A Super Sturdy Raised Panel Fence
Fine Woodworking's Garrett Hack often uses a scratch stock in his furniture making. Here he takes you through the steps to make one in less than an hour with blade materials you may have on hand. How to Make a Scratch Stock
Lonn Lorenz, of San Jose, Calif., devised an easy-to-use jig that lets you mark a line on a curved workpiece. Take a closer look. Quick Tips: A Jig for Marking Curves
See how a pair of crowned boards makes a jig that lets you joint perfect edges quickly and perfectly on a stack of veneers. The jig consists of two identical poplar boards bolted at their ends. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Veneer Trimmer
A featherboard is a fixture that holds small or narrow stock in place to keep your hands safely away from the router bit. This video demonstrates how to make and use a large, versitile featherboard you can clip to the router-table fence. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Featherboard
Made from masonite, this auxillary fence makes it easier to cut a profile on a short piece so the piece won't dip into the open sapce or catch at the outfeed side of the opening by closing the gap around the router bit. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Zero-Clearance Fence
Watch how to make this basic but effective bearing-guided flush-trimming jig that lets you duplicate profiles quickly and precisely. It is made from MDF with plywood locator blocks. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Pattern-Routing
Watch how a simple sled with a hinged base makes it easy to cut stopped grooves at an angle. It makes it easy to cut the slots needed to hold a hidden spline in a miter joint. The jig can be constructed of plywood or MDF to hold a range of sizes. Essential Router-Table Jigs: Miter-Angle Sled
Christopher Aman, of Webster, N.Y., uses a mesh laundry bag as a filter for a shop vac. It's an easy way to pick up sawdust and shavings but leave small parts behind. Quick Tip: Mesh Bag Vacuum Filter
Serge Duclos, of Quebec, devised a simple backer block to use on a router table. Its angled handle helps you press the workpiece against the table's fence. Made of MDF, it stabilizes the work and helps prevent tearout, especially on narrow stock. Quick Tip: Router Table Backer Block
A well-tuned handplane and a simple device called a shooting board work together to quickly and accurately trim the ends of stock. David Finck shows how he assembles and uses a shooting board to square ends and produce clean, accurate miters. A Shooting Board in Action
John Gush devised his own router jig to work in conjunction with a lathe to create American Federal style furniture with its hallmark leg designs adorned with flutes and reeds. Here he demonstrates the jigs versatility and enhances router-cut shapes. A Jig for Cutting Flutes and Reeds
Fine Woodworking's Andy Rae shows three ways to flatten a large plant when it is too big for even your largest jointer. Rae's choice of portable tool for the challenge is a power plane used in conjunction with a good straightedge and winding sticks. Andy Rae Shop Tip: Flattening Wide Boards
This rollabout sanding station was originally built for the Fine Woodworking shop, but it would be right at home in a one-man shop, too. It consists of a straightforward cabinet on casters made from medium-density fiberboard, with a latticework top. A Versatile Sanding Station
Veneer specialist Thomas R. Schrunk devised an easy solution to the noise generated by a shop vac by constructing a box from particleboard lined with acoustic padding to create a reduction as effective as many hearing protectors. Build a Simple Box to Muffle Your Shop Vac
Many woodworkers cut box joints with a dado blade on the tablesaw. But that's not the only option. In this video, German woodworker Guido Henn demonstrates a shopmade jig he designed to cut variably sized box joints on the router table. [IN GERMAN] Router Table Box-Joint Jig -- in German
Many woodworkers cut box joints with a dado blade on the tablesaw. But that's not the only option. In this video, German woodworker Guido Henn demonstrates a shopmade jig he designed to cut variably sized box joints on the router table. Router Table Box-Joint Jig
This variation of a bench hook holds sharpening stones firmly in place and keeps work benches cleaner. Learn how to make one for your own work area. Bench Hook Holds Sharpening Stones
Designed by Indiana woodworker David Lehman, the shop-built router circle jig in this video uses an innovative system to position a workpiece square and centered when cutting matchign mortises for loose mortise-and-tenon joinery. Using the Self-Centering Mortise Jig
Woodworker Roland Johnson demonstrates his collapsible router table, built from plywood, solid-wood lumber scraps, and a few bits of hardware. Stow-and-Go Router Table
Round or square? Fine Woodworking's Mark Schofield illustrates the benefits of both bench dog versions during his test of commercial workbenches. A bench dog is essential for holding down a workpiece when using hand or power tools. Quick Tip: Choosing Bench Dogs
Get publisher Anatole Burkin's recipe for turning a two-car garage into a four-season shop. Burkin shares tips on creating efficient workflow in close quarters. He covers machine layout, dust collection, lighting, shop flooring, and storage. Shop Tour: Good Design for a Garage Workshop
Take a video tour of Garret Hack's Vermont workshop. Hack cleaned 9,000 recycled bricks and built the entire timber-frame structure inspired by old New England mills. Thanks to Hack's design the new shop "looks like it has lived here for a long time" Tour Garrett Hack's Workshop
Tour Murray, Utah woodworker Chris Gochnour's new shop. An upgrade to his cramped 360 ft. space, he expande his space, valuted the ceiling, added windows, and a door to create the ultimate work area. Tour: Chris Gochnour's Workshop
Take a tour of the Fine Homebuilding Project House workshop for a whole host of tool storage solutions for your own home shop. Shop Tour: Fine Homebuilding Project House
Alan DeVilbiss, a retired engineer, desiged his shop around a central island.All of his stationary machines -- tablesaw, bandsaw, drill press, router table, planer, and radial-arm saw -- share centralized infeed and outfeed space and dust collection. An Island Workshop
Tour the ultimate underground workshop, a creative solution to meeting local planning rules, built by Richard Ciupka of Montreal. "The Bunker" was a budget buster, but is a naturally noise-insulated and warm space even in Canada's cold winters. Shop Tour: Underground Workshop in Montreal
Follow along with a day in the life of a Pennsylvania custom mill to see how trees are harvested, cut, and dried to create furniture-grade lumber. In this installment of the series, Mario Rodriguez takes you on a guided tour of the mill. Tour a Boutique Lumbermill
View unique solutions to tough workshop challenges. Tour Paul H. Breskin's second-story shop and see how he transports heavy benches and machinery to the shop. Also see David DiRanna's effective and space-efficient downdraft sanding table. Unique Workshop Solutions
Phoenix woodworker Marc Spagnuolo takes viewers on a tour of his garage workshop in this excerpt from his funny and irreverent video podcast, The Wood Whisperer. Here he proves that you don't have to break the bank to acquire a well-equipped shop. The King and His Castle
Take a tour of Lonnie Bird's Tool Chest. He shows off some of his favorite planes and hand tools. Lonnie Bird's Tool Chest
Tim Caroll, an inner-city school woodshop teacher was "totally shocked." He says: "I can't believe that I was chosen. It feels like Christmas with all these tools coming." Watch this inspiring video about his big win and a well deserved payback. Pennsylvania Man Wins a Shop
Step into the John Grass Co., and you immediately understand why the shop deserves to be saved from pending closing. It's an irreplaceable example of the engineering and ingenuity that powered the U.S. through much of its history. Philadelphia Woodturning Shop Tour
Learn how to pop the beautiful grain in quartersawn walnut with a safe, low VOC finish that wipes on easy and provides plenty of protection. Apply the Finish
Jeff Jewitt, a wood finisher, demonstrates the proper way to apply an even spray finish to three-dimensional opbjects like tables and chairs. Spraying Three-Dimensional Objects
Teri Masaschi, a professional finisher from New Mexico, demonstrates her technique for finishing turned furniture projects with slightly open-grained wood or areas of exposed end grain. A Two-Step Finish for Wood Turnings
Pullover is a specially formulated product for rubbing out nitrocellulose lacquer made by the English finishing company Mylands. Restoration expert Sean Clarke demonstrates how pullover works with nitrocellulose lacquer for a high gloss finish. Use Pullover for a Hand-Rubbed Lacquer Finish
There are a few tricks that make finishing with an aerosol can effective and easy, and they're quickly learned, as demonstrated in this video by Fine Woodworking senior editor Mark Schofield. Applying an Aerosol Finish
Raised panels have many surface levels and edges. The nooks and crannies they create are traps for drips and unwanted pooling of the finish. Professional finisher David Sorg demonstrates some methods and techniques for great results. Finishing a Raised Panel
Find tips for applying a hand-rubbed oil-based varnish finish in this video. Fine Woodworking contributing editor Christian Becksvoort shows you the steps to a lasting finish that can be applied on anything from baby cribs to cutting boards. A True Oil Finish
How to use an electric polisher and automotive polishing compound to create a mirror finish in no time High Gloss in Minutes
Learn how to get that creamy color you can only get with maple Peter Gedrys: A Clear Finish for Maple
Fine Woodworking managing editor Mark Schofield demonstrates methods for adding a high-gloss finish to cherry that accentuates beautiful grain. How to Pop the Curl in Cherry
Here is a formula for customizing varnish with tung oil, Japan drier, and turpentine for a finish that mixes and applies easily, dries quickly, wipes on with no streaks or lap marks and resists water. A Fast Drying Wiping Varnish
Watch how professional finisher Peter Gedrys creates an easy-to-make applicator that allows you to put down thin, even coats of shellac without lap marks. Tips on Making a Shellac Pad
Professional finisher Jeff Jewitt demonstrates how to alter or correct the color of a dye once it has been stained and dried, in this excerpt from the DVD "Hand Applied Finishes." Coloring Wood Like a Pro
Glazing is a finishing technique in which color is added between coats of clear finishes. It can be used to adjust the color of wood, darken the pores, equalize color in dissimilar woods, or give an antique look. Here watch two techniques in action. Two Techniques for Applying Glaze
Professional finisher Peter Gedrys discusses the most common raw ingredients that make up commercially available waxes, and explains how to choose the right one based on the intended application. Discover the subtle difference between commercial wax. Furniture Wax: What's Inside
Phoenix woodworker Marc Spagnuolo demonstrates three methods for finishing a cutting board in this excerpt from The Wood Whisperer video podcast. The food-safe solutions include mineral oil, a mixture of mineral oil and wax, and a special varnish. Edible Wood Finishes
Woodworker and Fine Woodworking associate art director Kelly Dunton demonstrates an Arts and Crafts technique of staining a white oak table by exposing it to ammonia fumes which react chemically with tannins in the wood permanently change color. Fuming with Amonia
Fine Woodworking's Mark Schofield demonstrates the tricks of color-matching. His technique is universal and his finish of dye, shellac, and wax brings a rich, consistent color to the mahogany, poplar and makore veneer in a Chippendale mirror Color Matching Woods
In this video excerpt of the DVD Wood Finishing Basics, author Dresdner details the various types of spray equipment for hobbyists and professional woodworkers (standard, HVLP turbine, HVLP conversion) and shows you how to build a simple spray booth. Introduction to Spray Finishing
Professional furniture maker Andy Rae shares one of his favorite finishing recipes in this video. Watch as he demonstrates how to mix and apply a wipe-on oil/varnish top coat to a cherry chest of drawers. Rae also shares some useful finishing tips. A Durable Wipe-On Top Coat
Learn how to apply a beautiful oil finish to your projects as we wrap up construction on our Shaker nighstand of American walnut. Episode Eight: Applying a Beautiful Oil Finish
Professional finisher Peter Gedrys details how to mix clear furniture wax with dry pigments and artist's oil colors to create decorative finishes, man-made patinas, and color-matched protective finishes for furniture. Mixing and Applying Wax
Michael Allison, guitar finisher turned bowl maker, talks about tools and finishing techniques to create a stunning sunburst of colors in his finishes, such as using an airbrush to apply Homestead brand TransTint dyes and a top coat for dimension. A Sunburst Finish for Bowls
There are ways to work with more than one dye color at once including applying one dye and immediately following with another. The technique of graduating colors from light to dark, as shown here, is used on the back of many musical instruments. How to Create a Sunburst Finish
Graduating dye from light to dark as you move away from the center is known as a sunburst effect. The secret to using more than one color and creating a smooth color transition with water-based dye is to keep the board just wet enough. A Sunburst Finish in Figured Maple
If you are working with white oak or walnut, consider the "ebonizing" technique described. It takes a few easy supplies for this homemade solution. It reacts with the tannins in the wood here to stain your wood black and leaves grain visible. Ebonizing White Oak
If you want to refinish a piece of furniture, your first step is stripping the old finish. Unfortunately, the process is filled with noxious fumes and sloppy, toxic goop. Peter Gedrys takes you through the process highlighting important safety tips. Refinishing Furniture: Step One -- Stripping the Old Finish
In this segment of the series, professional finisher Peter Gedrys show you how to create a smooth and clean surface for finishing, thwarting headaches down the road. Refinishing Furniture: Step Two -- Surface Preparation
In this third video of the series, professional finisher Peter Gedrys shares techniques for sealing and coloring wood and demonstrates how a shellac pad helps lay smooth, thin layers. Refinishing Furniture: Step Three -- Sealing and Coloring
Watch as Gedrys adds a topcoat of varnish to a table, sharing valuable tips along the way. This is step four in a five-part video refinishing series. Find links to the other video steps below. In this segment, Gedrys uses durable varnish to help the Refinishing Furniture: Step Four -- Apply a Varnish
This final video in the Step-by-Step Refinishing series by professional finisher Peter Gedrys demonstrates the rubbing-out process which turns a good finish into a fine finish. Watch Gedrys rub down the varnish topcoat and give it a final wax polish. Refinishing Furniture: Step Five -- Rub Out a Finish
FWW contributing editor Christian Becksvoort shares a trick for aligning the grove on the sides, front, and back of a dovetail drawer so the drawer bottom slides in the groove without a hitch. A Simple Trick for Aligning Pins and Tails
Chamfered Dovetails Offer a Distinctive Look
Handsawn dovetail joints are frequently the measure of a woodworker's skill. There are a few basics to master and then practice. Here we go step by step through choosing and using a dovetail saw to create tight-fitting joints - a good starting point. Cutting with a Dovetail Saw
Learn furnituremaker Gregory Paolini's simple techniques for tablesawn through-dovetails. Plus, a trick for half-blinds too. How to Cut Dovetails on the Tablesaw
Leigh Industries recently came out with a new version of its flagship dovetail jig. The D4R has many of the same features as its predecessors, including the ability to cut half-blind and through dovetails in a variety of sizes and configurations. Leigh Upgrades its Dovetail Jig
Fine Woodworking's Andy Rae takes you step by step through the process and shares secrets for making a dovetailed drawer that's square, flush, and flat at the corners. Andy finishes paring pin sockets and uses light paring cuts to produce a tight fit Precise Dovetails: Assembly and Glue-Up
Fine Woodworking's Andy Rae takes you step by step through the process and shares secrets for making a dovetailed drawer that's square, flush, and flat at the corners. Andy marks parts to keep proper orientation. Precise Dovetails: Laying Out and Cutting Pins
Fine Woodworking's Andy Rae takes you step by step through the process and shares secrets for making a dovetailed drawer that's square, flush, and flat at the corners. Andy uses a marking gauge to strike the lines that set the depth of pins and tails Precise Dovetails: Tips for Laying Out Tails
In this video excerpt from the DVD Router Jigs and Techniques, Pennsylvania woodworker Bernard Maas demonstrates the steps to cutting the dovetail-shaped mortise and tenon with a router. The sliding dovetail is a strong, mechanically locking joint. Router-Cut Sliding Dovetail
Demystify a dovetail joint with these warm-up excersises - no tape measures, squares, sliding, bevels, or marking gauges allowed. Fine Woodworking's Gary Rogowski shows you how to just pencil the layout of your tails and half pins and cut. The Five-Minute Dovetail
Woodworker Tim Albers took a look at 11 of the most popular high-end dovetail jigs on the market. Albers covers the defining features of the top four picks explaining the difference between jig designs and features most desirable for dovetail joints. Top Picks in Dovetail Jigs
Fred Sotcher reviewed seven single-use dovetail jigs that are limited to cutting 1/2-in. half-blind dovetails. Here Sotcher demonstrates the basic set up using the Porter-Cable 42-10 -- his choice for best overall -- to demonstrate methods of cutting Using a Half-Blind Dovetail Jig
Fine Woodworking reader, Tom Rawson of Oakland, California spent two days in Portland, Oregon, at Gary Rogowski's school, the Northwest Woodworking Studio, for some expert one-on-one attention to sharpen his dovetailing methods and technique. Watch the Dovetail Doctor in Action
Router guru Patrick Warner shares his clever method for making deep grooves, rabbets, or dadoes at the router table with a single height adjustment of the router bit. A series of spacers and a systematic approach are all that's required. Router Table Tricks for Deep Cuts
FWW contributing editor and Fashion Institute of Technology restoration professor Mario Rodriguez demonstrates how to cut dadoes and rabbets on the tablesaw and outlines general safety procedures. A Basic Dado and Rabbet on the Tablesaw
Contributing editor Mario Rodriguez shows us how to use a rub collar (also called a template guide) with a template to cut precise stopped dadoes with a router. He uses a small organizer project to demonstrate the scaleable technique. Routing Dadoes with a Template
Cutting dadoes properly with a router requires precision measurements, as well as control over the router and the workpiece. Pat Warner shows off his "router horse" as he teaches you precision router joinery and gives you great tips and tricks. A Simple Dado for Shelves
Two surefire ways to transfer the offset from router base to workpiece without measuring Router Jig for Perfectly Aligned Dadoes
Anatole Burkin shows how to make a simple, accurate fence to guide a router for cutting through dadoes and stopped dadoes. Because wood or plywood is almost never exactly the same thickness as a router bit, you finesse the cut to get a good fit. Cutting Dadoes with a Router
Learn how to cut a dado and matching rabbet on the tablesaw, creating a simple joint that's well-suited for drawer boxes, trays and other pieces that don't demand super-strong joinery. Bob Van Dyke plans the joint, lays it out, and sets the blade. Bob Van Dyke Shop Tip: The Lock Rabbet Joint
How to make a frame with a simple variation on mortise-and-tenon joinery. Watch how to make a haunched tenon on the tablesaw and cut mortises with a router. Mortise and Tenon Joints for Cabinet Doors
A shoulder plane is the most traditional method for sizing a tenon, but it's not the only way. In this video, Chicago furniture maker Jeff Miller demonstrates the tradtional technique and a few alternatives, which will help you achieve a perfect fit. Fitting a Fat Tenon
Router guru Patrick Warner demonstrates a jig designed to cut tenons and sliding dovetails. This MDF jig clamps to a table or workbench and is easy to set up for a variety of operations and repeatable results for large-scale projects. Tenoning Jig for the Sophisticate
Jeff Miller, Chicago furniture maker, teacher, and writer, demonstrates his tried-and-true method for making mortises. An auxiliary fence, mounted to the edge guide, slides in a groove to keep the router bit running straight. Using a Shopmade Mortising Jig
In the opinion of Michael Standish, Boston cabinetmaker, the Leigh FMT Jig's pin-and-template guide system not performs the functions of securing a workpiece and guiding a cutter, but also comes as close to foolproof as can be imagined. Using the Leigh Frame Mortise and Tenon Jig
A mortise angled at 5° works well for single fixed wedges, allowing each side of the tenon to flare outward to create a dovetail of sorts that locks the joint securely. Minneapolis woodworker and artist John Nesset starts with a simple drawing. Cutting a Wedged Mortise
Lon Schleining demonstrates the procedure for making tenons fit. He recommends using the same materials and running the grain in the same direction as teh mortised workpieces and to make sure there is plenty of room left over to trim planer snipe. How to Make a Floating Tenon
Garrett Hack, Vermont author, teacher, and contributing editor demonstrates the care and patience required when cutting a hinge mortise completely by hand so you don't unintentionally create a wider mortise than you intended. Chop a Hinge Mortise
Learn a simple way to avoid glue squeeze-out in mortise and tenon joinery in this episode of Fast Fix. How to Avoid Glue Squeeze-Out
The mortise and tenon joint is simple and strong, well suited for the frame on frame and panel construction. Woodworker and teacher Andy Rae covers the construction of this joint step by step showing you how to make the joint with haunched tenons. Frame-and-Panel Basics
North Carolina Woodworker Gregory Paolini developed a way to make clean through mortises with a router. Here he shows you how to locate the mortises on the work piece and cut the mortise with a router fitted with a guide bushing and finish the cut. Cut Through-Mortises with a Router
Learn how to cut this joint, also known as a bridle joint, in a few simple steps on the bandsaw. Slot Mortise and Tenons on the Bandsaw
Practice cutting this joint with hand and power tools, and learn new tips and techniques for cutting, sizing, and fitting a mortise and tenon. The Complete Mortise and Tenon Joint
Nashville woodworker Matthew Teague demonstrates how to prepare and assemble a drawbored mortise-and-tenon joint - one of the strongest variations of this ubiquitos joint. Drawbored Mortise and Tenon
In this excerpt from the DVD "Making Rustic Furniture," woodworker Paul Ruhlmann demonstrates how to produce the mortise and tenon joinery unique to rustic furniture made from found branches and sticks. Joinery for Rustic Furniture
To pin mortise-and-tenon joints, Christian Becksvoort has devised a simple jig for aligning and drilling holes that are straight and with no tearout or wandering. Here he demonstrates the process using an apron-to-leg joint on a small table. Pinning a Mortise and Tenon Joint
Watch author and teacher Frank Klausz go step-by-step through the process of cutting a haunched mortise. This traditional joint is used to join table legs to aprons, to join stiles and rails on a frame-and-panel door, and more. Chop a Mortise by Hand
The toughest part of preparing a frame-and-panel door for a finish is working the corners where the rails and stiles meet with perpendicular grain orientations. Jeff Miller, a Chicago furniture maker, demonstrates planing stiles and rails on a door. Planing Frame-and-Panel Doors
Learn how to make a square, stable door that fits perfectly in the case. Make a Flat, Sturdy Door
Learn how to build simple, strong, and attractive cope and stick doors. Build Simple Cope and Stick Doors
How to make a frame with a simple variation on mortise-and-tenon joinery. Watch how to make a haunched tenon on the tablesaw and cut mortises with a router. Mortise and Tenon Joints for Cabinet Doors
Andy Rae shows how a bridle joint - a joint similar to conventional mortise-and-tenon and half-lap joints - works well when constructing frame-and-panel doors. The joint provides strength and can make an interesting design element. How to Make a Bridle Joint
A cope and stick joint makes an attractive way to assemble the frame for a cabinet door. But, this joint has some drawbacks. Woodworker Andy Rae shows how to deal with each of those drawbacks. Make a Cope-and-Stick Joint
The mortise and tenon joint is simple and strong, well suited for the frame on frame and panel construction. Woodworker and teacher Andy Rae covers the construction of this joint step by step showing you how to make the joint with haunched tenons. Frame-and-Panel Basics
Writer and furniture maker Graham Blackburn discusses the broad options to consider when designing a frame and panel door. Learn how wood movement can affect panel proportions and see examples of panel designs. Designing a Frame and Panel
Furniture maker and woodworking instructor Mario Rodriguez details how to dress-up a simple frame-and-panel door with bead-and-quark molding. He demonstrates his technique for milling strips of molding and shows how to apply it to the door. Dress Up a Frame-and-Panel Door
Before power tools, 18th century craftsmen wielded handsaws and planes to four-square lumber for furniture. Watch demonstrations on how lumber was handled at the historic cabinet shop at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum. How They Did It: Dimensioning Lumber By Hand
Ensuring that your lumber stays put when transporting it from the lumberyard to the shop is essential for the safety of your lumber and for the safety of others on the road. In this video, Southern California woodworker Gary Williams shares his tips Tying Down Lumber for Transport
At Horizon Wood Products, a hardwood sawmill operation in western Pennsylvania you'll see how logs are sorted and graded, and how the log manager finds "the best way to open the log," looking for the greatest yield as well as best grain and figure. Horizon Sawmill Tour: From Logs to Lumber
Tour Horizon Wood Products, a hardwood sawmill operation in western Pennsylvania and see the company's conservation practices. An offshoot of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, The Evergreen Initiative is a program that Horizon began years ago. Horizon Sawmill Tour: Evergreen Initiative
Watch the sawyers at work at Horizon Wood Products hardwood sawmill operation controll the massive computerized bandsaws. Horizon specializes in veneers and sawn logs to European markets. American Black Cherry is their "signature" species. Horizon Sawmill Tour: Sawing Logs
Gerorge Terbovich and his crew at Horizon Wood Products of western Pennsylvania use six state-of-the-art dry kilns in their hardwood sawmill operations, but sometimes good old-fashioned methods are still used to gauge moisture content. Horizon Sawmill Tour: Kiln Drying
Jim Budlong, a graduate of the College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program and instructor at the school, shares one of his lectures: How to read the grain direction for a carved or bandsawn leg, so that the grain follows the curves you've made. A Lesson in Grain Direction
Jim Budlong, a longtime instructor at the College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking program, shares one of the lectures. Using a piece of ash, he demonstrates how to rough out straight stock on teh bandsaw to ensure the grain will run straight. Grain Direction
Follow along with a day in the life of a Pennsylvania custom mill to see how trees are harvested, cut, and dried to create furniture-grade lumber. In this installment of the series, Mario Rodriguez takes you on a guided tour of the mill. Tour a Boutique Lumbermill
Author and furniture maker Mario Rodriguez goes on location in Worcester, Penn., to the mini mill of Dave and Carol Spacht, for a comprehensive overview of what it takes to process a log into furniture-grade lumber. From Log to Lumber
A seasoned sawyer shares tips of the trade for drying lumber by air or in a kiln in this installment of the series on drying lumber with Mario Rodriguez. How to Dry Lumber
Find out why this quarter sawn lumber is so expensive and so coveted. The answer lies in the milling process. Mario Rodriguez gets to the bottom of this question during a visit to the mini mill of Dave and Carol Spacht in Worcester, Penn. Quarter Sawing Lumber
furniture and cabinet maker John Ogden puts a portable bandsaw mill to work near his Vermont home. Watch as his milling partner, Cameron Chalmers, uses a Wood-Mizer portable mill to cut up a tree into furniture grade lumber. Backyard Lumber Mill
In this excerpt from Episode 4 of The Wood Whisper video podcast, Phoenix woodworker Marc Spagnuolo demystifies the process of selecting and buying wood at the lumber yard explaining how it is measured and priced using board-foot calculations. A Lumbering Feeling
The way a board is cut from the log has a lot to do with how it will look and act when used in furniture. In this excerpt from The Wood Whisperer Video podcast, Marc Spagnuolo explains how to determine how the board is sawn and the benefits of each. Three Ways to Cut a Log
Chicago-based furniture maker Mark Cwik talks with Fine Woodworking's Mark Schofield at the 2006 Fine Furnishings show in Providence, RI, about the challenges in creating the impressive bubinga writing table on display in his booth. Tips for Working With Live-Edge Lumber
Basswood is the the most versatile wood for carving, but it's not the only suitable one. Pennsylvania woodcarver David Sabol also suggests carving with wet white pine or tupelo. Sabol reveals the working properties of these woods and how they carve. The Best Woods for Carving
Learn about the techniques involved in building a high quality humidor that resists wood movement and conquers moisture problems. How to Build a Solid Humidor
A flat workspace is an essential feature of any shop. Fine WoodWorking's Marc Spagnuolo show you how to build a dead-flat assembly table with a torsion-box tabletop and sturdy base. Follow the links for the plans to this project. Dead-Flat Assembly Table, Part One
A flat workspace is an essential feature of any shop. Fine WoodWorking's Marc Spagnuolo show you how to build a dead-flat assembly table with a torsion-box tabletop and sturdy base. Follow the links for the plans to this project. Dead-Flat Assembly Table, Part Two
Phoenix woodworker Marc Spagnuolo walks through the process of making an end grain cutting board from maple and purple heart. This basic project is suitable for most skill levels and the techniques can be applied to any end grain assembly. Make an End Grain Cutting Board
Mark Duginske takes you step-by-step through the process of making decorative boxes from solid pieces of wood with only a bandsaw. Build a Bandsawn Box
Woodworker Roland Johnson demonstrates his collapsible router table, built from plywood, solid-wood lumber scraps, and a few bits of hardware. Stow-and-Go Router Table
Two days before he turned 90 years old, Sam Maloof broke ground on an art gallery and archive center on his ranch in Alta Loma, California. The 5,000 sq. ft. Maloof Foundation Educational Center will feature galleries and educational facilities. Sam Maloof Celebrates 90 Years
View highlights of a exhibtion Fine Woodworking assembled for the 2005 Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers trade show. In honor of FWW's 30th anniversary we displayed a collection of furniture and project constructed over the years. Fine Woodworking Turns 30
Lowe discusses the first (and last) workbench he ever made, which is still in his shop today. Lowe Q&A: First Workbench
Lowe discusses what he believes are the most important aspects of woodworking training and why he thinks learning hand tool skills is so vital. Lowe Q&A: Woodworking Training
Lowe picks out a few of his tried and true favorites off his tool shelf and describes why he returns to them time and time again. Lowe Q&A: Favorite Tools
Lowe advises never to walk into your shop if you're not prepared to be alert, focused, and self-aware. Also, learn why your ears might be your best shop tool. Lowe Q&A: Shop Safety
Besides a couple of push-ups, Lowe finds that the process of woodworking provides pretty good exercise. His biggest advice is to just keep active... "If you stop, you rust" Lowe Q&A: Woodworking and Exercise
Lowe explains why he loves music... everywhere but in the shop. Besides avoiding the distraction, listening carefully to the sounds of the shop can make you a better woodworker. Lowe Q&A: Shop Music
Lowe selects three contemporary woodworkers that he greatly admires and explains what makes them special. Lowe Q&A: Contemporary Woodworkers
During a break from a larger video shoot on period details, Phil Lowe answers questions about how he got started in woodworking. Lowe Q&A: Getting Started
A slide show and interview with the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts founder Philip C. Lowe Philip Lowe Interview
Legendary woodworker James Krenov explains his approach to shaping handplane bodies and the desirable qualities one wants in a plane. Fine Woodworking Interview: James Krenov on Handplanes
Visit T.J. McDermott's gallery in Portland, Maine, where he displays and sells carving projects from a variety of materials. Learn how his early days in boat building lead to a successful sign business, and eventually to the artistic work he loves. Carving Out His Niche
Dick Jarmon may have amassed the largest collection of antique Porter-Cable tools outside the company. Here Jarmon shares his story, which began in 1966 while working in Detroit for General Motors, and shows off classic saws, routers, and sanders. Dick Jarmon: Ultimate Tool Collector
Leading furniture maker and teacher Lonnie Bird of Dandridge, Tennessee, is best known for building period reproductions with modern ingenuity. Here he tours you through four of his classic reproductions in his home collection. Building a House of Furniture