Surface Prep

Workshop Tip: Pipe-Clamp Cradle Holds Long Boards for Planing

May 8, 2019

It’s difficult to control long boards when face planing. Benchdogs don’t always work, and a simple end stop doesn’t control long boards well, especially when you skew the plane. This…
Tool Review: Random-Orbit Sander ‘SandNet’ Disks by Diablo

March 28, 2019

Long-lasting mesh sanding pads
Tool Review: 3M Ultra Flexible Sanding Sheets

December 12, 2018

Ben Brunick takes a look at these contortionist sanding sheets
Simple Pipe-Clamping Jig Flattens Rough Slabs

June 28, 2018

Here’s a simple way to flatten uneven stock using standard shop tools. It’s especially helpful for rough tree-trunk slabs that would otherwise be difficult to handle. It involves two 3⁄4-in.…
Holding Thin Stock for Planing

November 28, 2017

We've all been there. Hand planing a thin piece of wood—a workholding nightmare—you find that your planing stop is too tall. Even if it isn't, the second the blade engages…
Working With MDF

October 5, 2017

If you're painting a cabinet, medium-density fiberboard is hard to beat
Taming Tough Grain with a Bevel-Up Plane

September 11, 2017

See how Bob Van Dyke uses a 45º blade in his low-angle bevel-up planes to tame highly figured wood and to break hard edges without worrying about grain direction
Use sandpaper strips to target tiny areas

September 5, 2017

When you need to sand a small area without damaging the surface around it, strip-sanding is a great method. Cut a long strip of sandpaper and trap it between your…
Offcuts create a planing cradle for tapered legs

August 29, 2017

A while back I built a Shaker-style round stand but wasn’t sure how to plane accurate tapers on both sides of each leg. I found the answer in the curvy…
A textured hand-planed finish

August 28, 2017

Scrub planes can do more than just rough work

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