ShopNotes Magazine

Two mindsets vie for a woodworker’s attention. Well, this woodworker anyway. On the one hand, I want to make smart decisions with my shop budget when it comes to tools, materials, hardware, accessories, and supplies. This is a big reason why I find delight in making my own stuff. The downside to thriftiness is that it leads to a do-without minimalism that feels bland. The other mindset draws me toward high-performance, good-looking tools and gear. A shop filled with tools that work well and look nice makes me enjoy the space more. And I feel more inspired. This path often costs more money. Several of the projects in this issue highlight the push and pull of these desires. Sure you can store your tools in a plain pine box, but…

If there is one tool that can radically change the scope of what comes out of your shop, it’s a CNC router. CNC routers can cut parts that require great precision, like gears, or create endless numbers of multiples for a craft business. These amazing tools can carve ornate door panels, mill chair legs, or cut plastic templates. It’s a “have more” machine that gives you the opportunity to be more creative, more productive, and have more fun in your shop. Here at Woodsmith we have embraced CNC routers to give us a helping hand with project building. One recent example is the decorative grid for the Cocktail Bar in Woodsmith issue 277. To save time and keep our production schedule on track we flowed our design files into the…

One of the easiest ways to create a piece that curves across its face is kerf bending. As the name implies and the photo above shows, this is a method of bending wood that utilizes the reliefs created by a series of kerfs on one face. Unlike more complex processes of creating curved workpieces, such as steam bending or constructing laminated panels, kerf bending takes little time or effort. The only tools you need are your table saw and a miter gauge, along with a bit of planning beforehand to properly incorporate the curved workpiece. RIBS & WEBS. The idea behind kerf bending is that the workpiece will bend across the thin, connective pieces (the webs) while still benefitting from the support of the thicker parts between the kerfs (the…

Storage, in any shop, is almost always at a premium. However, it’s not all created equal, nor should it be. Some of the most valuable storage in your shop is dedicated to some of your most precious (and most-used) tools. When deciding upon and building your tool storage, there are several factors to keep in mind. The tool chest shown here hits a lot of the necessary items on the head. First, this tool box has several compartments in the form of drawers. A pair of shallow drawers up top hold clamps, small hand tools, and fasteners. The deeper drawers at the bottom are great for storing some of your larger tools, such as circular saws, drills, and routers. The clamshell top offers access to lay out the tools you’re…

With age comes wisdom, and I’m finally old enough to realize that the band saw is the real shop MVP. Sure, the table saw is flashy, and hand tools have their place, but the band saw is the workhorse that gets used in every project these days. I’ve also learned your standard band saw isn’t without flaws though. The main weak spots are the table and fence that most saws have. For many types of cuts it works well enough, but if you’re looking for accuracy and repeatability, you’re a bit out of luck. Thankfully, we have a solution for the band saw blues. This custom auxiliary table allows you to add some bells and whistles that you can’t get from a cast iron top and extruded aluminum fence. First…

So much success in woodworking boils down to workholding. Not only do you need a secure grip on a workpiece, you also need to have access to shape, smooth, rout, carve, or whatever. Most workbenches feature some sort of face or tail vise. These are great for boards and larger parts, yet they limit the positions you can hold onto an object. The large jaw and benchtop may interfere in providing adequate access to the piece held inside. I’ve determined that most woodworkers (and workbenches) would benefit from an auxiliary vise of some sort. And I’m not referring to a machinist’s bench vise. The solution here is a shop-made version (usually your best bet). Creative Director Chris Fitch came up with one that swivels and rotates all while keeping a…