Tabla de contenidos para Issue 145 en ShopNotes Magazine

As part of my work with the Woodsmith Shop TV show, I was in Bellingham, WA at Grizzly Tools’ headquarters. While getting the tour of the founder’s shop, I noticed a couple setups: Shiraz Balolia uses a vertical mill and a metal lathe frequently in his woodworking projects. Each tool was like its own universe: the necessary bits, accessories, and jigs were organized and at arm’s reach. It was clear a lot of creative work can (and does) happen within the splendid confines of each machine. That workstation idea comes up in two projects in this issue: the drill press center (page 20) and the Anvil stand on page 36. So there must be something in the air. I spend a lot of time in my shop crisscrossing the space…

One important woodworking lesson is that sometimes numbers can get in the way of accurate work. The better choice is a direct transfer of dimension, size, or location. The tool for this kind of work is called a story stick. A long rule can stand in for a story stick. Most of the time, I mark right on the rule with my pencil. Just make the pencil mark distinct from the hash marks. If your rule is made from anodized aluminum, marking with a pencil is out of the question. Blue tape to the rescue. A strategically placed strip of masking tape creates a distraction-free marking surface.…

When it comes to tools, I generally prescribe to the “bigger is better” mentality. However, I’ve always considered a benchtop drill press to be the perfect size. In fact, I think that in some ways, a benchtop drill press would actually be more useful. Most of the height of a full-sized drill press is wasted on unused column space. In this spirit, when Grizzly Industrial chose to become a sponsor of our TV show, we asked for a bench-top drill press instead of a full-sized version. DRILLING STATION. The real benefit of this station is that there’s a bunch of storage under the drill press for all of the bits and accessories you’ll use with the tool. As you can see in the photo above, this station mounts to the…

Tell me if this tracks with your experience. My first projects featured straight lines — and only straight lines. Next I discovered sections of circles: think roundovers and uniform Shaker curves. From there, I felt more confident to try irregular profiles. The challenge lies in drawing a complex curve either directly on a workpiece or in shop drawings. After struggling with freehand attempts, a set of French curves (such as the ones shown on page 14) saved the day. While they seem random, French curves are made up of segments of a whole lexicon of geometry vocabulary: ellipse, parabola, hyperbola, involute, and logarithmic spirals. The ways they get plotted, mixed, and matched results in the various forms you find. And there are way more forms of these than the typical…

There’s a strange relationship between our tools and work habits. The methods of work you follow over the course of a project influence the kinds of tools you use. Likewise, a new tool can change your routines leading to different patterns and better results. Allow me to illustrate with a personal example. I had a contractors-style table saw in my shop. As much as I liked its capabilities, the rip fence locking mechanism didn’t keep it parallel with the blade. I had to double-check the setup with a rule measuring from both the front and back of the blade. Back in the shop at Woodsmith, the rip fence scales couldn’t be trusted since either standard or thin-kerf blades might be in the saw at any given time. You never knew…

A common expression for woodworking is “working with your hands,” which is a bit of a misnomer as woodworking is actually a full-body exercise. That’s not always a top-of-mind consideration when designing our workbenches and workshops though. If we view woodworking through that lens, then the decisions made on ergonomics in our shop come into sharper focus. WHY IT MATTERS. There are two main reasons to concern yourself with ergonomics in your work: efficiency and longevity. Both are equally important. The more immediately appealing consideration for woodworkers is efficiency. Working at the correct height on a stable surface allows you to put your full body into the work and spend more time in the shop. Then completing detail work up close will yield a nicer final result. Long term there…

At the center of most shops is the workbench — and as a woodworker’s journey shifts over time, so does the requirements of their bench. Regardless of where you’re at in the timeline of your shop, this bench will serve as good starting bench, or a strong secondary bench as your workflow evolves. MATERIAL SELECTION. Beech is the hardwood used here; it has a classic look that will warm over time. MDF adds weight and stability to the bench and is kind on the budget. There’s always a need for storage in the shop, so it made sense to top off the stretchers with a shelf that can store large items. But don’t be deceived by the heftiness of this bench. Due to the use of lag screws and knock-down…

For the most part, a plain, straight ruler offers more versatility than feature-studded layout systems. There’s a case to be made for an exception: the T-square ruler. A lot of woodworking depends on square joinery and assembly. WOODPECKERS T-SQUARE. The head on the Woodpeckers version features a ledge that rests on the workpiece (inset photo). This keeps the rule from tipping in use. Beveled edges bring the marking close to the surface. A series of indexed holes allow you to mark lines parallel to the reference edge. SHOP-MADE. Another option is designed by our very own Chris Fitch. It uses a 36" wood rule as the base. He designed an adjustable head that can be clamped anywhere along the length. Check out sources on page 46 for details.…

A well-built project begins with a wellmade layout. And to create a quality layout, you’ll need quality tools. For many projects, you’ll be able to get by with squares and rules, but as you continue on your woodworking journey you’ll eventually find more organic designs that call for something unique. French curves have been a part of the woodworking arsenal in some form or another for centuries. They began as simple, curved splines used by boatwrights, but they evolved throughout the years into the three shapes above. Curiously, these curves aren’t actually French. Though they were inspired by a larger selection of 28 curves commonly used in France, these three shapes were invented by the German mathematician Ludwig Burmester. These forms saw mass appeal and spread to shops across the…

I find that, as a woodworker, the work I do often expands beyond just the craft of woodworking. Nonferrous metals are an easy pivot, as are acrylics and plastics, and working with steel can be done simply enough with a few additions. It’s in this vein of thought that the anvil stand you see above came about. Our photographer, Chris Hennessey, is a woodworker as well as a metalworker — knives in particular. What you see above is his creation for his own shop. This anvil stand is made of sturdy Douglas fir, and custom fit for his 66-pound, knifemaking anvil. Thick aprons add stability to the bottom, while flip-down casters make the stand easy to move as needed. The result is a portable, strong stand that — thanks to…