#185–July/Aug 2006

Articles

• 
  A Woodworker's Kitchen

  Save money and show off your craftsmanship
• 
  Random-Orbit Palm Sanders

  The best are both smooth and aggressive
• 
  Master the Mortiser

  Simple tips for sharpening, setup, and cutting sequence
• 
  Build a Chippendale Mirror

  A wide range of skills in a small project
• 
  Getting Past the Judges

  The criteria for publication in Readers Gallery are less subjective than you might think
• 
  Choosing and Using Spokeshaves

  For shaping and smoothing curved parts, nothing beats this time-honored tool.
• 
  Square Peg in a Round Hole

  A streamlined approach to making decorative plugs by the dozens
• 
  Finishing Boxes Inside and Out

  Easy ways to protect the wood and line the interior
• 
  Five Overlooked Hardwoods

  Discover these woods and make your projects stand out from the crowd
• 
  Self-Taught Hobbyist Wins Cartouche Award

  From a small shop and years of effort, a houseful of historically accurate early American furniture
• 
  Book Review: Lathe Fundamentals

  Popular Mechanics Workshop: Lathe Fundamentals, The Complete Guide
• 
  Beach-Combing Yields Furniture Detail

  Caribbean fan-coral adds interest to projects
• 
  D.C. Program Redeems Kids with Woodworking

  Students in the Artisans Woodshop program learn personal discipline through woodworking.
• 
  Innovative Plunge Router from Down Under

  Triton MOF001KC gets high marks for ergonomics and safety
• 
  Cordless Screwdrivers Do One Thing Very Well

  Bosch PS20 and Ridgid R81030 both perform well in a head-to-head test
• 
  Bevel-Gauge Basics

  The bevel gauge, or sliding bevel, is a simple tool that copies angles exactly without measuring them.
• 
  Shopmade Fence for a Miter Gauge

  Q: I often see a long wood fence attached to the miter gauges featured in your articles about tablesaw techniques. Why bother? Wallace Wells, Des Moines, IA A: A long,…
• Stacking Wood on End

  Q: My basement workshop has an uninsulated concrete-slab floor. If I store wood on end, will it draw in moisture from the floor? Correy Smith, Bar Harbor, Maine A: Even…
• 
  How Much Curve to Put on Curved Cauls

  Q: Your article "Surviving Glue-Ups" explained how curved cauls can be used to apply pressure where clamps can’t reach. But you didn’t say much about how to make the cauls. Is…
• 
  Oil Finish Can Go Wrong on Walnut

  Q: I wanted to give some European walnut a very fine, soft finish. I tried tung oil, but the surface looks muddy and the sapwood has a yellowish tinge. Am…
• 
  Which Plane to Buy: No. 4 or No. 4-1/2?

  Q: I want to purchase a smoothing plane, and I’m trying to choose between a No. 4 and No. 4-1/2. What’s the difference between these two planes? David Christy, Carmichael,…
• 
  How to Cut Clean Miters in Small Pieces of Molding

  Q: I am installing crown molding that has to fit around pilasters that are 2 in. thick. What’s the best way to cut such small pieces? John Troth Jr., Coatesville,…
• 
  Sculpt Flowing Joinery with an Angle Grinder

  Ideal tool lends precision to curves with little practice required
• 
  Creative Bleaching Techniques

  Stain-removing tool is key to unlocking new and old looks
• 
  Fresh Federal

  Gerald Curry's original designs highlight traditional joinery with shapes and proportions of the past

Online Extras

• 
  Plan Download: Chippendale Mirror

  Download the full-size or tiled version of this 24-in. by 36-in. measured plan for free
• 
  Random-Orbit Showdown

  Bosch wins top spot for dust collection and aggressiveness in our review of nine sanders
• 
  Touring a Woodworker's Kitchen

  Discover the design and construction considerations that go into building custom kitchen cabinetry
• 
  How to Sharpen a Mortiser Bit

  Most hollow chisels simply don’t work out of the box. Here's how to tune them up and keep them sharp.
• 
  Color Matching Woods

  A finish of dye, shellac, and wax brings a rich, consistent color to three different woods in a Chippendale mirror