John White, Fine Woodworking’s shop manager, dissects the jointer and explains its parts and how to tune it up. You’ll need feeler gauges, a small try square, and a good, short straightedge, plus a long straightedge to check for flatness. White takes you through four steps: adjusting the gibs, leveling the tables, squaring the fence, and setting the knives. He also explains how to level the tables with a shopmade test bar, how to fix a crooked fence, and how to replace a spring or jackscrew on a cutterhead.
From Fine Woodworking #142
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Makita LS1219L Miter Saw
This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.
While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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