John White, Fine Woodworking’s shop manager, shows readers how to make and use a bandsaw blade-tensioning gauge. When used with an ordinary automotive feeler gauge, this shopmade tool allows you to set the correct tension on your steel blade quickly. White share plans and directions for making the gauge. He explains how to determine the right amount of tension, and how to set it properly. White also details the role of the spring in your bandsaw and offers tips on selecting a replacement.
From Fine Woodworking #147
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Rockler Deluxe Panel Clamp
These clamps can handle glue-ups between 10 in. and 36 in. wide, and boards up to 3 in. thick. Sliding feet attach to the lower bars with magnets, letting you position them quickly for stability on any surface. The spring-loaded jaws adjust easily, dropping into notches along the bars. And the powerful clamp handles clear the benchtop.
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.
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
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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