SAVE MONEY WITH RECLAIMED WOOD ... | FLOATING SHELVES MADE SIMPLE ,..» Senses y MUST-HAVE " CLAMPS pt ® Sa ROUTER eT TY BUR) A aN 3 a Baa ag JE-TWO PUNCH p.22 Discover SETA cas Ale.) See aT a me Te eS) + Beautiful Blanket Chest .... BECO 1c ey + Compact Drop-Front Desk ,... + Adjustable Sawhorses ....etc UT LSA ‘ J OAL UO RS MOURA CeO ese CCL 4 Mass MUN Ce aU RO gS New ab eer] Watch it in action on a E & ee ens =< | tn z ere D ae rvs q perce) aay Filter Cleaning fester) cg » EU CALLUS Oy RP MLDA recent reader letter encapsulated sentiment we see regularly-especially in a tough economy. Recently retired, he was expecting to ramp up his shop time only to find that Jumber and plywood prices were prohibitively high for the project he wanted to build. Desa ae eet et et eae ees TT confine myself to projects requiring less material or cheaper species of wood? Do Pree nee ena ‘Are high lumber prices here to stay? Probably. Lumber prices are in constant fhux-like other costs of goods, easily TS eS eeu ec Ee eee ne cS Ponte nner een eet kta era atural and regional forces. So, in addition toa pandemic, an Eastern European ‘war, and interior design trend, prices contend with climate events, nattral disasters, infestations, and regional availability. On page 64, we discuss er ene neem ay pre re ee t ee re ee ee een ete Ease ng ee eee etek nee Eerste Tasked that question of myself when felt my hobby was threatened after it Decame part of my job. Finding joy in woodworking became more difficult Snare ro merit ‘When I thought about the parts of woodworking that gave me joy and the = parts that gave me pause, I realized thatthe only thing threatening my Lesa agen etey nee ree) LORr reer eters roe cn sank Cee Lae Ee gis eer ebeermmenaanennaremenites “ies sania ania __enjoyment-remained largely untouched. In point of fact, they became; amplified. Those are the parts that make up my hobby. None of t 4 Deb ooo ee ear oe eT Ries eta eens t Dotdash of project; or a specific technique, tool, or material, I meredith Pais iver semeninnirennTT rT PT aerate a. Peer een Mae ete tin ue os cae cemrneaieee ey : PR cece vereclte ee ot “cMesston anh aes dear reader: Life imitates woodworking! When: i SereeN te tts annette: g (eh pan Ebates f Po ee joy is inside, those external forces are: 2 nation peneccaaaaaiaatpcom eee PERI DE orn nse nso Bear — ‘See tips on finding pireneatiea rarer coo 2 earn earns (as eeetrs “Se no Litre ae IP ret eet ens Prasad woodmagazine.com rPLANS 22 UPLIFTING BLANKET CHEST 4 4 5 5 6 Grounded by a splayed base, this chest’s upswept ends and figured panel draw the eye. GARDEN OASIS PERGOLA Perfect for hosting or just relaxing, this pergola is also customizable to suit your style. ‘COMPACT FOLDAWAY DESK Working from home? Do it in executive style with this all-in one, drop-front workstation. DOVETAIL SPLINE JIG Dovetail keys strengthen and beautify comers. This slot- routing jig eases installation ADJUSTABLE SAWHORSES Elevate your next project with old-world supports that are its equal in form and function. ‘THE TEACHING TABLE This elegant accent table trains on techniques that you'll put to life-long use. Cast Combining the features ofa fixed anda plunge base, router combo kits promise Versatility at alower price point. We tested nine models to see if they deliver, Issue No. 290 | September 2023 30 32 54 TOOLS & TECHNIQUES FLOATING SHELVES 101 No trick here. Specialized hardware makes shelves appear to magically levitate, DUAL-BASE ROUTER TEST We test mid-size, multi-base router kits to see which one is twice as nice. ALL ABOUT SHELLAC Ease of application is just one ‘of many advantages you'll gain with this traditional finish 64 1 72 RECLAIMED LUMBER PRIMER Whether you seek savings or a salvaged style, our reclaiming tips have you covered. MAKING TAPERED LEGS An ultra-simple jig makes quick work of crafting high- style tapered table legs. MITERED HALF-LAPS ‘Combine the strength and glue surface of half-laps with the beauty of miter joints. WOOD magazine | September 2023DEPARTMENTS 1 TAKING MEASURE 10 YOUR SHOP Hobby under threat?! ‘An engineer's Eden 4 WOOD-WIDE WEB 14 ASK WOOD. Great grain and fine figure Will glue adhere to dyed wood? 6 YouR VOICE 16 SHOP TIPS Shocking dust developments Tuning tool tray and more! 8 YOUR PROJECTS ‘80 WHAT'S AHEAD. A beautiful bridge and more! ‘Assneak peek at your next WOOD E-MAIL woodmailawoodmagazine.com WRITE WOOD magazine, 716 Locust St, LS-237 Des Moines, IA 50309) ‘CALL 800-374-9663, option 2 WO0O magni neve ses oie pares cl sibcigton news The es ‘irertuaytrenenourairapsn suenscndtcasenrew wecameganacanl man tyeufae aetna rena youercced psec ‘Sie sietnes 03 6d aca Warehapy ey. woodmagazine.com 3WEB GREAT GRAIN & FINE FIGURE Often, the difference between a Be5) eae well-crafted project and a breath- GET PICKY taking one is proper grain selection. ABOUT ORAM Want to step up the stunning? Learn GML, pope el about prized figured woods. 4 parts for a project that goes above and beyond, Read our guide to reading grain at \woodmagazine com! granpiciy THE ABCs OF FIGURE mig Ambrosia, and bird's-eye, and i crotch, oh my! Rare figure can enhance any project f & Findgurencyclopedia of wood figure at cwoodmagarne com/wodigure woodmagazine cond woodmsgazine com! Sndbrdseye ambrosiaTRY OUR WOOD FILLER! www.gorillatough.com (©2023 The Gorilla Glue CompanyYour insights on the dichotomy of us shop- types in May 2023's Taking Measure (issue 288) ‘were spot-on: for some, just being in the shop Is good enough. Ironically | (occasionally) njoy cleaning up my shop but | usually don't stick to that, either. now feel much less guilty with your reminder: “I's a hobby!" John B. Herman, M.D. Boston, Massachusetts ter reading your column, Iam suré enough “Team Dirty." have a working shop, not a ‘pretty boy" shop. The shop measures 14x20" and itis. my shop, so if you are looking fer nice, don't bother to stop by! Derryl Nelson. ‘Sweetwater, Texas lam from the dark side. |am still working on a shed workshop but never seem to have enough time. The “honey-do" list, grandkids, great grandkids, houses, two cars, and two boats eat up time. ‘At age 79, | think | am doing good. My shop isn't picture-perfect but | sure enjoy my time there. Your article gives me permission to be OK with myself. Cal Van Meter _ “Clayton, North Carolina WATCH THOSE CURVES! I really enjoyed making this beautiful table featured in issue 172 (October 2006). It challenged my woodworking skills with the shaped legs, elliptical top, and bent-wood curved apron. | ‘made the legs from alder, the apron from birch plywood, and the top from padauk. I finished it with Waterlox Original Formula gloss. As with all my projects, i's not perfect, but I'm getting better at hiding my mistakes. Dennis Johnson via email Cee eee Par my a WOOD magazine | September 2023WORKBENCH UPGRADES | customized my workbench much like you did in the article from issue 287 (March 2023). I started with an inexpensive hardwood bench from Harbor Freight. After adding casters, | reinforced it with heavier screws and plugged all the holes. Cross-bracing and an MDF lower shelf make it even sturdier. For utility, | added T-track into the top, a second vise | picked up at a public sale, a tool tray, and a deadman. | replaced the slides with full-extension versions. To gain the needed clearance for the slides, | ganged pairs of drawers together and joined them with a double-length false front. I splurged on iron pulls instead of reusing the wooden ones that came with the bench. All told, my investment was less than $250, Jim Moyer Reading, Pennsylvania STATIC ELECTRICITY In your “Dust Collector Basics" article in issue 286 (Dec. 2022/ Jan, 2023), | was disappointed to see that static electricity safety and grounding were not addressed Many years ago, | ran metal ductwork across the celling and added a blast gate at the end with a 4" flex hose connected to the planer. While planing a few boards, the shavings that did not get sucked into the hose came ut on the top of the board and rose Up off the board from the static electricity. To correct this, I found a flexible hose with an integrated wire, The wire grounds the planer to the dust collector through the metal ductwork This eliminated the static. Gary Fuess via email Sea a roe warning th fees Reet ete en cy rani aera Taree 7 Pen nar jer, then by all means do so, It certainly can't do any ort A PLANE DEAL {just read your article about shoulder planes in Issue 287 (March 2023). | thought | would share a photo of the Sargent no. 1506 shoulder/rabbet plane that | picked up several years ago for $6 in ‘Habitat for Humanity ReStore. t ort Rear, eat) Pes John Olson lectors call a Beetle’ on Itwas a bit dirty, but had no rust when | picked it Up. Alittle elbow grease and sharpening got it up {and running. I've seen these valued for way more than that, but mine's not for sale. Some tools are just too good not to use. # Paul Welter Pewaukee, Wisconsin EoinPROJECTS PAUL SCHENK of Dunwoody, Georgia, helped his dad build this bridge when the was much younger. His dad hand-cut all the timber from pine. Paul's job was to.cut and install all the cross members and the roughly 1,200 “nuts and bolts" fone at each joint. Overal, the bridge { 30" long and 19° tal, Paul has been ‘modeling HO-scale tain layouts since bis fist Lione! kit as a youngster. Not satisfied with the thought of buying an ordinary gift for his four children, GEORGE SIERACKI of Oconomowoc. Wisconsin, took on the task of designing and building not one, but four chessboards from birch and mahogany. The storage drawers snap closed using rare-earth magnets to keep the pieces from spilling during transport. George says learning ‘When BOB SAMPSON of Lakeland, Florida hhow to use his new router table built this cradle for his expectant granddaughter, Was a bit of a challenge, as was hhe never expected that his great granddaughter applying flocking to the drawers, ‘would be born the next Christmas day. Bob Great job, George! says that atjust under six Ibs this special Christmas gift takes up very tle space inher new cradle and seems perfectly content as she swings gently Purchase plans for this Pendulum Cradle at pendulumeradie FA) SEND US A PHOTO OF YOUR WORK Want to see your work showcased in WOOD* magazine? Send a high-resolution digital photo of your completed project to woodmailawoodmagazine.com. 8 WOOD magazine | September 2023SCOTT VETTER fof Round Rock, Texas, ‘made a shortened version of the “Beefy and Beautiful Bench’ (isue 273, March 2021) using hickory forthe base and mahogany with inlaid hickory for the top, Seot took advantage of technology to assist with the build, using CAD to create templates for the curves and a 3D-printed base for his plunge router to rout the With nothing more than a Purchase plans for photo from a catalog to use as 3 the Beefy and. Feference, EDWARD ZIEVERINK Beautiful Bench: a fof Cleves, Ohio, built this display \woodstorenet/ case from mahogany hardwood, Poumon ‘mahogany plywood, and bending y ] plywood. He made it smaller to fit the space in the room. # woodmagazine.com ° Build with woodworker-tested, top-quality WoodRiver® hand tools. q YO) e ON al ec Sa RelA UCavele > Rio) LaYOUR SHOP ‘The tablesaw with its large auxiliary table ‘occupies the center fof the shop. Plenty of lighting, power receptacles, and 8 spacious layout ‘make shop time more efficient ang enjoyable. Cie eenc ue arias: ea eeu mace ter uke cars eg eRe et eta Cee Rte teu dE tsa Renner fer setting up six home workshops full sheets of plywood and 8' lengths of at previous residences, Dennis lumber. But he soon realized his pro- x Wilson knew what he wanted in his posed floor plan was too small. His en eee new shop after moving to central Ohio, solution was to expand it tothe final ie eee iene eed Asaretired mechanicalengineer,he 30-46 structure things He enoys reveling to designed a shop witha spacious loor plan Hisnew shop featuresa concrete floor rok locaton soured the anda unique blend of tools, ncluding with integrated radiant heating for trond ar much as spending machine- and production-shop tools comfort and has 10’ ceilings. A half bath aseatiemenneene repurposed for his woodworking hobby. offers convenience, while a dedicated ‘Atfrst, Dennis used thesize of his room displays completed pieces and ‘most recent shop asa basis forhis new Souvenirs from his world travels. Book- layout. He madea scale drawing ofthe cases in this room house Dennis's floor plan andut out paper templates extensive library of books and magazines. representing tools, benches, ‘dedicated 200-amp electri panel cabinets, and storage racks to supplies ample power for the shop full of TL “heiphimdeterminea good took, Dennis ereated four specific = workflow for maneuvering lighting zones to supplement the general shop lighting, All lighting is supplied using LED fixtures, & a meee (Oneida 3-hp cyclone dust collectorand PHOTOGRAPHER: DENNIS WILSON: ILLUSTRATORS: ROXANNE.EMOINE, LORNA JOHNSON ‘Send high-resolution digital outfitted it with three remote switches to Dhotos ofyour shop to ‘turn the unit onoroff. Three of his five The inaustal overamn pin routers idea for woodmailawoodmagazine.com shop vacuums are dedicated tomachines, — pattem-routing, Dennis grinds custom bits and wemay showcase tin the magazine! which helps with shop cleanup. from tool stel to create unique edge profiles, 10 ‘Woon masazine | September 2023,Dennis's shop space houses a few tools that might look out of place in a hobbyist, ‘woodworking shop, ineluding a 1948 Bridgeport vertical milling machine, a full-sized South Bend metalworking Jathe, and an Ekstrom Carlson overarm pin router. Typieally found in industrial ‘manufacturing or machine shops. these now serve as woodworking tools. Dennis uses standard router bits and mills in the pin router, and creates bespoke profiles using custom-ground cutters. He uses the vertical mill for making small parts and accurately machining keyhole slots. \woodmagazine-com Hand tools are within easy reachon this ‘pegboard wal panel Dennis groups the todle according to their function so he can quickly ana esi Fetrieve fond put away) the right tool To take his engineer's passion for precision a step further, Dennis owns two large granite plates. Machine shops use these as flat reference surfaces. Dennis uses them for project assembly to ald in squaring or straightening glue-ups. A ro of workbenches has followed Dennis from shop to shop over the years, but not without periodic modifications to improve their functionality. These include an original 2*8' bench and a rolling workbench he built for use in the apartment he occupied when he started his career. A versatile, traditional-style Dennis keeps his collection of clamps.on ‘this mobile rack. It's easy to move to any location inthe shop to be lose by when ‘needed, and rolls out of the way for storage. 0Moisture Meters |’ —.... —..... pinrouter Bandsaw tathe mit Pin Meter Versatility: Measures flat boards, round and oddly shaped work pieces. Everything. woodworking, Order as Dennis relies on the precision of three old metalworking machines #MD-1. anda high-tech CNC router to get accurate repeatable results workbench sports a top made from 2"-thick of laminated oak flooring salvaged from railroad ca : features traditional face vise and a twin: Pin Meter tall vise Versatility: Dennis has accumulated a stockpile of exotic and ‘Addeaples domestic lumber, including boards from Indiana and andiorseet Arkansas where he had lived. He says, “Istill continue to Duy wood oecasionally for specific projects but I don’t think oO aaa Tean ever use upall the wood I Monitor your have in my lifetime” But he kiln from the outside. Fast and easy. will, no doubs,e do just that in the latest and, t hhim, greatestof the many shops he's had. ® Order as #MD-11. The library's tle floor serves as 8 nod to stones Dennis col from around the world and places around his koi pond Shelves on one wall display small . projects he has built as well as jm Eouvenies from his travels, 0 Dennis puta lot of thought. time, andeffor into shop organization. ‘This shelving unit Order Package serves as a home as #MD2-M. for poriable power ‘Add slide-hammer for core measurement in thick wood. batteries and other Ggnomat, Call 800-227-2105 www.Lignomat.com 2 WoOD masazne | september 2023CR Pr Pe Cree) Owed Nee ST Caan Sn) a Starting at 6.995 Stating at'eces: | a ig wen eal PORTABLE SAWMILLS SLAB FLATTENING MILLS. PLANER/MOULDERS ed 866.238.4425 : “ Financing Available! epee fe ce eto chao Pra ay THE REAL PROS KNOW THEIR REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE WITH EVERY PROJECT. Famowood® Wood Filer spreads smoot, fakes soins & pins evenly ‘nd resists cracking. Glaze Coo® isa pouron epory coating were just ‘one coat equals 70 coats of vamishl Fomowood®Lotex Wood Fle is ‘sven ee = low ode and e08) water lean up. ACCEPT. NO. SUBSTITUTES. Ter Woon : eam i“ ‘Wood glue has a scientific superpower: Itbonds molecularly to the cellulose present in all wood. Dye doesn't interfere with that bond, so you can go ahead with your plan to color your parts before assembly. This is possible because a dye is a chemical colorant that dissolves completely in a solvent, usually water or denatured alcohol, forming a solution, Dye penetrates into wood, and the color remains behind after the solvent has evaporated By comparison, wood stain contains finely ground particles of pigment usually minerals of various colors ‘Those particles hang around in suspension within a liguid, commonly oll or water, with binders and other ingredients. Pigment doesn’t dissolve or change state; that's why you'll find that it eventually settles (0 the bottom, ofthe stain can, Unlike dye, stain on wood does interfere with glue adhesion. The IS WOOD GLUE A CAN-DO WITH DYED WOODS? I'm going to build a jewelry box and use dye to add color. Pd like to dye all the small parts, such as the tray dividers, before assembly to make it easier. Will glue adhere to dyed wood? John Long Belle Paine, love pigment, oils, and binderssit on the surface, creating a barrier that keeps the glue from forming a bondon a ‘molecular level with the cellulose, So, feel free to dye your project parts before assembly, but take afew precautions. First, be careful to prevent glue squeeze-out because you ‘won't be able to wipe and sand it away Ifyou're using water-based dye, the squeeze-outt could emulsify it, t00, and change the color. Second, clamp gently to prevent dents or dings. Finally, handle the pleces carefully to avold seratches or damage that would prove difficult to repair. Good luck with the jewelry box. We know you're dye-ing to get started. ® 1 2. question? Drop usane-mat ewoodewoodmagazine com 4 GREAT WAYS TO GIVE DYE A TRY + Give toy projects bold color with vibrant colored dyes. ‘+ Emphasize highly figured wood grains, such as birdseye maple and walnut burl, + Adjust stain color by mixing water-soluble dye with a water- based topcoat to create a toner. + Dye sapwood to even out its tone to match the rest of a board. ‘Woon masszine | September 2025Outdoor Entertaining SUPER PLAN BUNDLE 20 downloadable plans for allof. <7 7 your outdoor entertaining needs. Get your backyard ready for tailgating at woodstore.net/getoutdoors LO E DE Me oneal 3 HN eked ES CHIP& SHRED with power to spare BIGGER ENGINES beat the competition BUILT USA TOUGH for smooth operation Easy to maneuver and EASY ON YOU ‘+ Request your FREE Catalog “+ SHOP the SALE in Progress «+ Get FREE Shipping (ition pp) POM elim idee celle elt elai NOTHING Stops a DR® Field & Brush Mower! \ ve oss) buy) ty eee ee Up to 2X THE POWER of the competition CUT3" THICK BRUSH & SiN tall field grass with ease WIDEST SELECTION of deck sizes and features Toll-Free at 800-529-0112SHOP TIPS Forhis shop tip, Robert wins a Titon Siichp Fxed-base outer worth $350, KEEP TRACK OF TURNING TOOLS When I'm turning a piece on the lathe, | don't want to have to hunt for the right tool. With a few pieces of scrap and a litte effort, | made a simple accessory for keeping them close to the work. The rack starts with a base made from 1u¢ plywood. | sized it for the number of tools I have while allowing it to overhang the front of the lathe stand or benchtop. | used a Forstner bit to drill the holes. A strip of 34° pine fastened to the back ‘edge of the base butts against the lathe bed, preventing the rack from falling out when loaded with tools. The rack easily slides under the bed and out of the way when not needed. On my benchtop ‘model, the tool rack fits nicely on top of the bench and under the lathe bed. If your lathe is freestanding, the rack can easily be modified to fit the lathe stand. Robert Bernhardt North Conway, New Hampshire continued on page 8 eT URS ET PR aoe ae of the issue, it wins Top Shop Tip Poeun PRIZE PACKAGE WORTH PTT EST Se cee peace) BC te ec) CeO ern ee eee aun) ieee ‘Woon masazine | September 2023, ILLUSTRATOR: CHRISTOPHER MILLSThe most comprehensive set of user-friendly epoxies on the market, Every one of our products is formulated with your next successful project in mind. THREE ADE Wey systemthree.com WASHINGTON 96518 Half lap joints boast maximum glue area, resulting in an incredibly strong joint. Introducing the first jig that allows you to cut regular as well as mitered half lap joints on your router table. Use the mitered version for a pleasing appearance on things like picture frames, and the square version for more structural frames —and create with confidence. NEW! Rockler Router ‘Table Hall Lap Jig (67578) $99.99 \ FREE SHIPPING ovens WS" FOR EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS. ign up at rockle-com/email Fora store nar youorfiee catalog: Rocklericom Code 1088SHOP TIPS WHISK AWAY THE DUST The fiter on my air cleaner needs cleaned periodically to maintain its efficiency. But trying to vacuum the caked- Con dust from the cloth fitter wasn't working. Watching ‘my wife whisking eggs in the kitchen, it occurred to me to.use a whisk inserted into the end of the vacuum hose. ‘This way, the filter doesn't get sucked onto the hose and the whisk works great to loosen the sawdust on the filter. Insert the handle end of a dollar-store whisk into the vacuum hose extension. Drill two small, opposing holes inthe extension aligned with the loop on the whisk handle. Thread a copper wire through the holes and whisk handle before twisting the ends tightly together. Gary Janes Charlotte, North Carolina Yer NO WIGGLE IN YOUR JIG(GLE) | oe make a lot of jigs and fixtures that rely ona snug-fiting bar to ride in a miter slot. My inexpensive hardwood miter bars adjust for a perfect sliding fit. ‘Start with 34'-thick maple strips ripped for a loose fitin the %'-wide miter stot. Drill ie" holes to form the ends of expansion slots located %i«" away from one edge—one centered and one on either end of the bar. Use an 14" straight router bit to complete the slots, Drill and tap for 10-24 threads in the side of the miter bar, centered on the length of the slots. Use ¥#"-long setscrews to adjust the fitin the miter slot Mark Rauzi a Gillespie, lines Lu 18 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL STAND The inexpensive roller stands | bought had one ‘major weakness—they collapse with the slightest ‘bump or nudge. This quick and easy fx esults in a rock-solid support. |Imade a locking latch from an aluminum strip 9% tong. After drilling a %se' hole 1" from each fend, I cut anoteh in one end. lused these holes to locate the screws on the stand that secure the latch, then riled and tapped for 8-52 threads. | secured the pivot end of the latch to the stand using a roundhead machine screw. ‘screw in the opposing leg engages the slot on the latch. Itightened the screws as needed to adjust tension. Bob Cooke { Downington, Pennsylvania Ss continued on page20__- WOOD magazine | september 2023,USE A WAGNER MOISTURE METER BECAUSE: These ore Saawily heirlooms 80% of all problems in wood projects are caused by moisture content issues. A quick and simple non-damaging moisture meter reading can save you from angry customer calls, unnecessary repair time, anda bad reputation. Call today and learn why Wagner's industry-leading Orion Meters zy ust be the most important tool for your shop. (800) 795-9916 | WagnerMeters.comSHOP TIPS BONUS BENCHTOP With Benet space aa premium in my Groove extends shop, | made this multipurpose auxiliary tof id Ttrack hop. made tis multipurn y top beyond ac . for my tablesaw, It features T-tracks and dogholes for workholding. Handholds make it easy to install and store out of the way. made the base by laminating two layers of 3 MDF. You can also use plywood. I sized the base 6 wider and deeper than the tablesaw surface, including the fence rails, Next, I cut grooves for the T-track using a handheld router with an edge guide. While installing the captured T-track, | made sure to allow space at each end for the insertion of T-track bolts and other accessories. For the handholds, | drilled out each end, then ccut out the remainder with ajigsaw. Add as many dogholes as you need to allow for additional clamping options. Finally, | glued and pocket- screwed cleats on the bottom to fit snugly over the tablesaw. Larry Lyons Centennial, Colorado 20 W000 magazine | September 2025 CABINET PROJECTS MADE EASY with Kreg® Cabinet Solutions Selah Cree! Bec ne Tai or visit us at De RSS