Baby Cradle - Project of the Week
This week’s project comes from Alin. He write:
This project is both the most dear to my heart — I made it for my new-born daughter — and my most technically challenging project to date. I designed the crib to fit the basket my wife bought and part of the design considerations were to fit the style of the furniture in my son’s room (the crib will stay there once my daughter is out of it) — the curves on the crib are partly the curves on my son’s bunk bed and bookshelf. This is the first time I designed a piece with curves, a somewhat ambitious project. A personal design consideration was to be able to make extensive use of hand joinery. It features hand joinery throughout: the sides and bottom stretchers are attached with hand-cut dovetails and the piece holding the legs together joins the legs with through mortise with floating wedges. The crib rides on ball bearings (extremely smooth) which are hidden by the maple applique. To get the uniform color for the top, I used a single board (10″ wide) that was resawn to 5/16. Hand dovetails are one of the few ways to securely join boards so thin. The crib looks fragile but I swung myself in it without problems.
Free Electronic Issue of Woodworker’s Journal
I just received an email newsletter from Woodworker’s Journal. It looks like they are now offering a subscription to their magazine in digital format. And lucky for us, the first issue is free and you can view it right in your brower. August 2008 Woodworker’s Journal
If you haven’t tried reading a magazine on your computer, I highly recommend giving it a shot. Its better for the environment and you can save money on the subscription. Its also nice if you are visually impaired, since you can zoom in. Not to mention, the digital version is full of active links and can feature other multimedia content for your enjoyment. If you are interested in subscribing to the new digital version of Woodworker’s Journal, you can do so here.
End Grain Cutting Boards - Project of the Week
This weeks project, or more accurately projects, come from four young skilled craftsmen: (from left to right) Jordon, Joe, Sheldon, and Stephen. The picture was submitted by their shop teacher, Jarred. Now I get quite a few emails from shop teachers who use our videos in their classes, and each and every story warms my heart. But this is the first time someone actually sent a picture. I thought it was so cool and that these guys did such a great job, that I would post it as our Project of the Week. I know I may have presented the end grain cutting board as a “great beginners project”, but those of you who have made one will agree with me that it is by no means easy. Its a testament to Jarred’s teaching ability and the personal skill of each one of the guys that their boards look as good as they do!
Here’s what Jarred had to say:
I teach a shop class in rural Wisconsin, and took the initiative to introduce the boys to The Wood Whisperer (someone younger and cooler than me). I walked them through the cutting board project, but showing them your videos. Every time I fired up the laptop they would in unison say, “Let’s get ready to make a cutting board!” Anyway, here’s a picture of a few of them and their cutting boards: combinations of walnut, maple, and purpleheart. The boys had fun with the project and gave the cutting boards as gifts for Mother’s Day.
Router Bits and Table For a New Shop? - Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Craig, who writes:
My question is basically about a router table – I am just starting out in the woodworking arena as a hobby– I have a Dewalt Miter saw, a Bosch Table Saw, Bosch router (fixed and plunge kit) and am looking to start some woodworking – I have carved a section of the basement out for my shop – 16×10 - and have been reading and researching for a few months– so much so I haven’t even turned on the saw or router yet – and I must say I am glad. Based on your site alone I have learned so much from you on safety and doing things “right” that I shudder at what I might have been like if I jumped right in.
Since the router did not come with a bit I am also looking to get some router bits and was looking at a good intro set if you have any suggestions but more importantly, I felt a router table would be my next purchase and a good way to round out my starter shop. Was wondering if you had a suggestion for a good router table. I see the tops for sale at Rockler and they seem good – I know you need to have a nice wide surface and a level surface and a good fence and I wanted to know your thoughts. I would prefer to get something self standing but I see you can buy the top and some legs separate. I guess I could always make some legs but might be easier to start with something made and then maybe one day strive to something better with storage etc. I know a router table can be made out of any flat surface to serve its purpose but I feel that it is important to get something halfway decent to learn on and grow with. Any thoughts you could lend to this would be greatly appreciated and keep up the good work. Thanks
And here was my response:
As for the router bits, there are a few things you can do. And it depends on the type of woodworking you plan to do and how much money you want to spend. What I usually recommend to beginners is that they pick up an inexpensive starter set. Something like this: Price Cutter Bit Set. Although these are inexpensive bits that probably won’t last very long, their real value is the fact that you can use them until they are ready to throw away. And by that point, you will be in a much better position to make a judgment call on which bits you use the most. Then you can simply replace those bits with their higher quality cousins. And what do you do with all the inexpensive bits you never used? Just hold on to them. One day you will find a use for them and you’ll be glad you kept them around.
Now if you are one of those “buy your last tool first” folks, I would recommend a set like this: Eagle America 12-Piece Set. A solid investment!
Now for a stand and table, the Rockler setups are a pretty darn good bargain and they are hard to beat. Can you find a better table? Sure you can. But you will pay quite a bit more for it too. So I would say that most of the Rockler setups are going to treat you right. If you want to buy a higher quality table that you are much less likely to replace in the near future, I would take a look at some of the models offered by WoodPeckers or Jessem. Hope that helps. Thanks Craig and take care.
56 - Tablesaw Setup/Tuneup (Pt. 2)
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In the second and final part of our tablesaw setup series, we continue our quest for fine tuning. Topics include setting the blade bevel angle, adjusting fence alignment with the blade, adjust fence so that it is square to the table, setting up the insert, and lining up the splitter.
And at the end, you will get a nice full view of the new saw. For those who are curious, it is a PM Custom from the folks at Wood Werks Supply.
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