#260–Mar/Apr 2017

Features

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  Handwork: Cutting the mitered bridle joint

  Synopsis: This joint combines the beauty of a miter with the strength of a bridle joint. Chris Gochnour demonstrates how to lay out and cut the mitered bridle joint, which…
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  Designer’s Notebook: Better Built-ins

  Synopsis: A room full of built-ins doesn’t have to be symmetrical and standardized. The space can have plenty of shapes, tones, and textures to please the eye and attract the…
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  Arts & Crafts Bed

  White-oak bed is loaded with Stickley style and topped off with traditional inlay
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  Easy Angled Tenons

  Router jig simplifies complex chair joinery.
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  Stop Those Drawers

  6 techniques to keep drawers flush year-round
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  Get to Know Japanese Handplanes

  A how-to guide for setting up and using these rewarding hand tools.
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  Handy Crosscut Sled Stop Blocks

  Increase the precision of crosscuts and tablesawn joinery.
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  Sleek and Shapely Coffee Table

  Hand-shaping brings out the beauty in this elemental piece.
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  Master Class: Classic Arts & Crafts inlay

  Synopsis: Tackle the inlaid head- and footboard of Kevin Rodel’s Arts and Crafts bed. The design is based on Glasgow-style motifs and requires several templates for the curved channels and…
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  Carving Class

  David Fisher carves bowls from green wood in a snug, unplugged shop in Pennsylvania. The hand tools Fisher wields are instrumental in creating the clean lines and flowing forms that are a signature of his work.

Workshop Tips

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  Jig trims knobs and slots them for wedges

  I recently built a small Shaker side table. Inspired by Christian Becksvoort’s article “Authentic Shaker Knobs”, I made my own knobs for the drawers. I adapted his bandsaw jig for…
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  Cut perfect cope-and-stick joints at the router table

  I make a lot of doors with cope-and-stick joints. You have to have the fence aligned with the bearing on the bit for all of the operations, and when you…
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  Shopmade Drawing Bow Dials in Precise Curves

  Use this shop tip to fine-tune the arch of a drawing bow for perfect curves.

Tools & Materials

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  Makita CX200RB Drill and impact driver kit

  Compact drills have lots of muscle
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  Matchfit dovetail clamps by Micro Jig

  Ideal clamps for jigs and sacrificial fences
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  Plunge base for rotary tools by Veritas

  A plunge base for rotary tools
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  MiterSet Angle-setting jigs

  Setting a miter gauge to a precise angle can be difficult, but a pair of jigs from MiterSet take the hassle out of the job, allowing you to quickly set the gauge accurately.

Online Extras

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  How to 'Tap Out' a Japanese Plane Blade

  Through repeated sharpening of the bevel, the front flat on the back of a Japanese plane blade will begin to disappear. The solution is to tap the layer of soft steel above the cutting edge to press the hard steel downward slightly.
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  Dream Machines: Kevin Rodel's Ulmia 1710 sliding table saw

  Kevin Rodel has come to rely on his Ulmia tablesaw, which cleverly combines a tablesaw and a slot mortiser. Watch as he shows off the features of one of his all-time favorite tools.
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  Shopmade Drawing Bow

  Tim Coleman keeps a healthy supply of drawing bows in his shop. In this video Tim shows off his favorites and how he uses them.
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  MotC: The Bowl Carver

  In the world of green woodworking, Dave Fisher is a rock star. As a bowl carver, Dave has taken what many think of as a rustic form and added a refinement that few thought was possible.