Worksharp WS3000 Guest Review

March 9, 2008 | Filed Under Blog | 9 Comments 

What follows is a review of the Worksharp WS3000 Tool Sharpener, written by one of our chat room regulars, LordLQQk. I hope you find it helpful.

worksharp1.jpgThe sand paper clogs too quickly, even on the coarser grits (the grits with the lowest numbers). They have to be cleaned constantly with the rubber cleaner to be effective. The coarsest grit provided isn’t coarse enough for even moderate metal removal. It is great for light metal removal, honing, and finishing to a near mirrored surface; but if you are looking to flatten the back of a wide blade that is fresh out of the box, or damaged, you will need to buy a coarser grit (100 grit) to start with.

The sticky backed sand paper is prone to air bubbles which is a leading cause of sand paper blow out. This at least can be corrected by using a needle to open a passage for the air to escape through the paper. This is a huge issue especially for the finer grits. The only positive angle stops are at 20, 25, 30, and 35. This is good for basic sharpening, but you are unable to get that 1 to 2 degree micro-bevel that I have been spoiled into getting with other devices. You can get a very decent 5 degree micro-bevel on the first three angles by setting it up a 5 degree notch though.

The ring that surrounds the spinning disc is made out of aluminum. This means that it is not conductive to magnets. It would be of great help to be about to attach magnets to the ring to attract some of the metal dust that is flung off the disc. The metal dust is an issue. With the WS3000 it is flung everywhere. One of the best and worst things about water stones is the water/slurry that is made during the sharpening process traps the metal “filings” or dust that is made, bonus for them; but the negative side of the coin is that it is sloppy and a wet mess afterwards. Read more

March Wood Whisperer Giveaway

March 8, 2008 | Filed Under Blog | 12 Comments 

Sorry I’m late with this one guys. But here’s what’s up for grabs for the March Wood Whisperer Giveaway:

The third installment in Gary Katz’s Mastering Finish Carpentry series: “Conquering Crown Molding”. This DVD includes Program 5- The Fundamentals and Program 6- Advanced Techniques. I don’t know about you guys, but crown molding is one of those projects that always drives me crazy. Well, you can bet that it’s going to be a whole lot easier now that I watched this DVD. This is a great way to learn trade secrets from a pro with tons of field experience. You can find more information as well as all of Gary’s DVD’s on his site at GaryMKatz.com

We also have some killer products up for grabs from the great folks at Magswitch. With their incredibly strong (easy on/off) magnets, these guys have redefined the humble featherboard. We have a number of products up for grabs including their standard featherboard with the vertical attachment and their universal featherboard.

hendrik.jpgWe are also lucky to have another great DVD as part of this month’s giveaway: Hendrik Varju’s “Jointer and Planer Secrets”. This DVD is the most thorough review of fundamental jointer and planer techniques that I have ever seen. The set also includes bonus footage where Hendrik throughly reviews panel glueups, the hand tools vs. power tools debate, and tips for purchasing tools. Definitely take some time to check out Hendrik’s site: Passion for Wood

Remember, if you’ve already entered one of our Wood Whisperer Giveaways in the past, you do not need to enter again. Now if this is your first time, you can enter by sending us an email at TWWPromo@gmail.com and you will be good to go for this and all future Wood Whisperer Giveaways.

Step Stool - Project of the Week

March 7, 2008 | Filed Under Blog, Project of the Week | 14 Comments 

This week’s project comes from Jason. Here’s his story: “The step stool was a gift for my Father, he has been after me for a long time to make him one. The stool you made on the intro of your old podcasts was my inspiration for the piece. I chose a curly walnut (which doesn’t come through in the pictures) for the sides and a solid 8/4 rock maple top. The sides are mortised into the top, with a walnut inlay to make them look like through mortises. The rail underneath is attached with 2 birch dowels. The finish is a “tung-oil finish” from minwax so it has some urethane in it I think, for protection. Only thing I would do different is curve the top like yours, but at the time I didn’t have a bandsaw, now I’ve got a 14″ Jet, so I am ready for the next one.”

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Wednesday Chat 3/5

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Blog, Wednesday Chat | 3 Comments 

Here’s a little snippet from tonight’s chat. If you haven’t stopped by yet, you really should. It’s a lot of fun!

Be sure to hit the little “Full Screen” button on the player, otherwise you wont be able to read the chat. Thanks to all who participated!

Ceiling Height Installation Concerns- Question of the Week

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Blog, Question of the Week | 10 Comments 

This week’s question comes from Brad. He writes: “I have to build a set of cabinets for an 8ft room. I have to build off site, so how do I determine the proper height of the cabinets so that I can stand them up in the room? Is there a formula or just a guessing game? The depth of the cabinets are 16″ and 24″. Can you help me?”

And here was my reply: “The key is to make sure that the diagonal measurement, from the front of the top, to the back of the bottom, does not exceed 8 feet. This way you can carry the piece into the house on its side, then lay it on its back. Then simply tip it upright. Not sure how much you remember good old algebra and geometry class, but that stuff actually will come in handy here. Remember the Pythagorean Theorem? A(squared)+B(squared)= C(squared). A and B are the cabinet’s height and depth and C is the diagonal. You already have two pieces of the equation since you know the height and the depth. Just make sure you make the cabinet slightly smaller so that it fits within those numbers. Keep in mind this will get you close to the ceiling, but there will still be a gap. A good place for crown molding. Good luck!”

**** I should mention that I am by no means an expert on built-ins and installation. My experience in this area is limited to about a dozen jobs. So I look forward to hearing other perspectives on this topic.

March FesCool Giveaway!

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Blog | 3 Comments 

ETSLGHere we go tool lovers! It’s time for the Fescool Giveaway. For March, we are giving away another ETS125 5″ Random Orbit Sander, which is probably one of the most-used tools in my entire Festool arsenal. Well, except for a CT Dust Extractor. But I digress.
So all you need to do to enter the drawing is answer the Monthly Challenge Question and fill out the short form on the Fescool Giveaway Page. Good luck everyone!

And the February winners are……

March 3, 2008 | Filed Under Blog | 5 Comments 

katz2Winner of the second installment in Gary Katz’s Mastering Finish Carpentry series is……… Wayne Breshears





standard featherboardWinner of the Magswitch Featherboard and Vertical Attachment is…………Chi Shannon





Universal featherboardThe winner of the new Magswitch Universal Featherboard is……… Jeremy Standlee (aka Bama5150)





ETSLGAnd last but certainly not least is the winner of the Festool ETS 125 Random Orbit Sander…………. Todd Bunn


Congratulations to all of our winners and lets give a big thank you to our contest sponsors!

Gary Katz Online
Magswitch
Festool

Episode 42 - End Table (Pt. 6)

March 3, 2008 | Filed Under Blog, Projects, Video | 46 Comments 

Low Resolution Version
High Resolution Version


Well here it is: the big finale!! This video focuses primarily on finishing techniques and the attachment of the top to the table. I will warn you ahead of time that there are a lot of Wood Whisperer musings in this episode. This End Table series proved to be one of the most challenging and thought-provoking sets of videos I have ever produced. So needless to say, I had a few thoughts and conclusions that I felt I needed to share. Thanks for playing along everyone and enjoy! Oh and one more thing, nothing will prepare you for the first 25 seconds!

***If you like what you’ve seen here, please consider donating to the cause. A large part of our survival comes from viewer support and your contributions are very much appreciated.

Who am I to judge?

March 1, 2008 | Filed Under Blog | 19 Comments 

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to judge a woodworking show. Specifically, the Excellence in Woodworking show in Mesa, AZ. It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of the event and I’d like to thank the AZ Association of Fine Woodworkers for including me. The variety of projects on display were incredible. From toys that looked like scale models to a wall-hanging jungle-themed intarsia, it was a sight to see. I’ve included a few pictures with this article for your enjoyment.

dsc01735.JPGI scrutinized each and every piece and tried to decide what might make one thing “better” than another. Not an easy job! So my strategy was to begin by looking at all the positive attributes each creation had to offer. In many cases, there was a clear winner. But sometimes, looking at the positive will only get you so far. Should a “tie” result, you have no choice but to really start to hammer down on the negative aspects. As I began to point out errors in construction, gaps in joints, and the flaws in the finish, I realized there was a valuable lesson in this process. By looking at someone else’s work and identifying every little flaw (something I rarely have the opportunity to do), I started to realize that being able to identify them means I should never allow the same errors to occur in my own work.

dsc01743.JPGNow I’m not talking about errors that result from a lack of skill. I’m referring to the things I do simply out of laziness or impatience. I thought to myself, “Why is it so glaringly obvious in someone else’s work but so hard to see in my own??” The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this might just be part of the human condition. It’s not all that different from a person who is quick to notice dirt on the floor of someone else’s home, but remains blissfully unaware of the dog hair gathering in the corners of his own home, hypothetically speaking of course. ;) But the key here is recognizing that this type of thing happens. And admitting it is the first step in preventing it in the future. Taking the phrase, “good enough” out of my vocabulary is a good start. We all have our own personal standards for our woodwork, but I bet we could all afford to raise them slightly.

dsc01744.JPGI applied this thinking to the current end table project, which is resting happily in my living room right now, and I truly believe it made a difference. You would be hard-pressed to find a gap, a dust nib, a sanding mark, or a glue stain anywhere on this piece. I gave each operation the time it deserved during both the building AND the finishing phases. From my perspective, it was well worth the investment. So I encourage you to look at woodwork with a very critical eye. Then, log away your observations in the back of your mind. And the next time you are building a project, bring that discerning eye to the party. Think about your piece being judged in a competition. Maybe even envision yourself as the judge and your project as an anonymous submission. And when you reach the point where you have nothing to fear and the piece passes your own critical judgment, it is safe to sign your name and let your creation see the light of day.

All this being said, obviously mistakes are going to happen and not every project is going to be perfect. But if we always strive for perfection, falling short of the mark will still yield decent results. My personal goal is to simply eliminate the cause of most of my errors: impatience and laziness.

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