#204–Mar/Apr 2009

Articles

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  Illustrated Guide to Doors

  How to design frame-and-panel doors that will swing sweetly for years to come
• 
  Thin-Kerf Blades Are for Everyone

  Today's blades make cleaner cuts while saving motor life
• 
  Plane Like a Pro

  After milling with machines, nothing beats a handplane for smoothing wood and fitting furniture parts.
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  Build a Bow-Front Hall Table

  Full-size plan and easy jigs simplify curved parts.
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  Finish Recipe: Bow-Front Hall Table

  Give your project an antique finish in three easy steps
• 
  When Clamps Fall Short

  Standard clamps are blunt instruments. For precise glue-ups, they need help.
• 
  Flatten Wide Boards on a Narrow Jointer

  Simple plywood spacer increases the capacity of your 6-in. or 8-in. jointer.
• 
  Dry Your Own Lumber

  Save money and get a year’s worth of beautiful boards
• 
  New Spin on Fan Inlays

  Add pop to tops and other surfaces with handsome fans
• 
  Handplaning 101

  Expert advice on setting up and using a handplane.
• 
  Invisible Patch for Lumber Defects

  Q: Occasionally, I find small knots and blemishes in the wood I use to build furniture. What's the best repair for them? Jay Riley, New Orleans, LA A: The best…
• 
  Why the Sharp Change in Color Between Heartwood and Sapwood?

  Q: Why is there such an abrupt change in color between heartwood and sapwood in species like black cherry, walnut, and hickory? David Brumsickle, Silverdale, WA A: The dramatic change…
• 
  Do Wood Glues Have a Shelf Life?

  Q: How long does bottled glue retain its strength? Is there any way to know if glue has gone bad by looking at it? Clark Johns, Billings, MT A: I…
• 
  Removing Sticky Boiled Linseed Oil

  Q: I finished some cabinets with an oil-based stain and two coats of thinned boiled linseed oil. The second coat of oil hasn't dried. Scrubbing with steel wool and thinner…
• 
  How to Sharpen a Twist Bit

  QUESTION: My father gave me several old twist bits. They're dull, but otherwise in good shape. How can I sharpen them? Warren Foley, Reno, NV ANSWER: You can sharpen a…
• 
  Gilding Is Easier than You Think

  Peter Gedrys gives a step-by-step tutorial on oil, or mordant, gilding.
• 
  How They Did It: Tale of a Tea Table Top

  A scalloped, molded table top crafted from a single piece of mahogany

Online Extras

• 
  Segmented Stringing Dazzles and Unifies

  How a veteran woodworker uses thin strips of holly and ebony to accent his furniture
• 
  Intro: Matt's Monster Workbench

  An overview of how Kenney constructs this heavy-duty workbench
• 
  A Clear Finish for Maple

  A pro's method for preserving maple's pale, natural look with a water-based finish.
• 
  How to Crown a Plane Iron

  Adding camber on a plane blade can prevent unsightly ripples in a workpiece.