Shop Tips

When attaching solid tops to traditional casework, the common approach is to elongate the screw holes in the back of the cabinet to send any expansion or contraction to the back edge. But when the back edges of the top and the cabinet are flush, do the opposite.

A simple benchtop, customized for carving, rests upon an affordable miter-saw stand.

A three-way water valve from a pool supply store keeps a shop vacuum hooked up to a sander and drill press at all times.

If you have rectangular dog holes in your bench, you can make your own dogs by installing a bullet catch in a piece of hardwood.

This 4-in-1 clamping caul that allows one clamp to spread pressure over a long area.

With its large adjustable fence and push block that presses the frame against the fence, this sled works for mitered frames as well as boxes.

Spacer blocks make easy work of spacing flutes evenly.

Turn an extra platen for a 5-in. random-orbit sander into a sanding block.

A simple clamping aid guarantees straight cuts.

Just trim off the little wings with a block plane.