Stationary belt sanders work very well. However, even though the belts oscillate up and down on most machines, you end up wearing out the lower section of the belt long before the upper half is touched. That’s because the work always sits at table height, and the belt can’t be reversed. To use the fresh abrasive on the upper section of the belt, I raise workpieces with a simple auxiliary table. Make the table as thick as you like, and add cleats to the bottom to stabilize it on the machine.
—JEFF COLLA, Glenwood, Minn. Drawings: Dan Thornton From Fine Woodworking #310.
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.
The WoodRiver circle jig, which produces cuts up to 32-1/2 in. dia., and I can confidently recommend it. Unlike similar jigs that can pop off of their pivots mid-cut, ruining a panel in the process, this one has a robust pivot point that registers securely in the jig and workpiece.
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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