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8 WoodWorking Hacks to Make Your Life a Little Easier

By on March 28, 2016 in Woodworking Hacks

If you’ve been woodworking for any amount of time, then you probably have faced these frequent problems every now and then. In the video that we’ve shared today, Mark shows 8 amazing hacks and tricks that you can use to make it a little bit easier to complete your projects on time and without errors.

Here’s the first Hack.

Hack #1 : Don’t have the right drill bits size

Cut the head off of a nail, put it on the drill and use the nail as the drill bit to drill in the piece of wood. It works great even with hardwood workpieces.

 

What did you think?

Pretty neat huh! Btw, if you don’t already have a planer then you can see some good options at planerreviews.net. You’ll need one to use these hacks.

Let us know how you liked the video in the comment section below and if even 1 hack saved your day today then share it with your friends on Facebook!

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Large wooden squares that have letters on them

By on December 22, 2015 in Personal

no numbers-1

Just in time for Christmas, my custom made wall hangings made of large wooden squares that happen to have letters on them and arranged in such a way that words, family names, and other things you can think of criss cross in a clever fashion.

Note that the sample picture does not have any numbers associated with the letters. Those numbers are completely optional (but highly recommended). Be sure to insist on the addition of numbers when you order.

NOTE: Each wall hanging is custom made and requires two weeks for construction.

For one price of $225, you’ll get your choice of letters with a total letter count of between 17 and 24. Any more than 24 or any less than 17, I’ll create a custom listing for you.

Price includes UPS Ground shipping to any US mainland location. Orders must be completed by Cyber Monday, 11/28/15 to ensure shipping on 12/15/15. With UPS Ground max ship time of 5 days, this should arrive by 12/21/15 and in time for Christmas.

Actual dimensions of each square:
Width: 3 1/2 inches
Height: 4 inches
Thickness: 3/4 inches

Hardware is included on the rear that pre-connects the whole thing. It then can be hung on your wall with only two screw attachment points.

Email me at craigwoodworks at gmail dot com if you’d like to order.

If your intention is to give this as a Christmas gift, you must order by Cyber Monday, 11/28/11.

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Better Learn Balance

By on November 22, 2015 in Maple Woods

balance scale-1

Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good.

Customer wanted a solid wood balance scale for her child. Sturdy, bullet proof, no plastic. Okay.

Maple construction. Through tenon into the base. Friction fit dowel fulcrum. Mineral oil/beeswax finish.

Note the green painted Stanley 5 1/2 in the lower right. Original owner painted the whole thing a minty fresh green. I still haven’t stripped it and cleaned it, but I’m certain there’s goodly sweetheart era 5 1/2 under there with perfectly preserved rosewood handle and tote.

Yes, that’s a Microplane cheesegrater/zester in the back. I wondered one day if a cheesegrater microplane is the same as a wood rasp microplane. The answer is yes. Perfect for hogging off a lot of wood quickly. On sale. Williams Sonoma outlet. Nevada/California border stores on the way to Vegas.

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Top 5 Accessories That You Get With Your Router Table

By on June 24, 2015 in Personal

So, you just got a router table and it’s awesome. But, I can bet you that you forgot at least 3 of the top 5 accessories that can help you get better cuts and make the most out of your router table.

If you still haven’t got a router table then you can read about the best router tables at routertablereviews.net.

If you’re not sure what they are then here I have compiled a list of the top 5 router table accessories that are an all time favorite of mine and will help you take your woodworking projects to the next level.

 

1. INSERT PLATE

If you’re planning on using multiple bits, often then you need to have an insert plate integrated into your router table.

The best part about having an insert plate is that instead of having to work beneath the table to change bits, you can simply pop the plate to your level and work at a convenient view and working space.

Most insert plates are priced from $25-$100 and it is recommended to get it from the same brand that you bought the router table from.

2. T-TRACK AND MITER TRACK

These are basically metal channels that you install in your table so that you can easily mount the feather boards and gives you more control over how you work with your stock.

These are priced from $10 and it really doesn’t matter from where you get them as they’re basically the same thing. The only thing that varies is the length.

3. SPEED CONTROL / ON-OFF SWITCH

If your router doesn’t have the speed control feature, then you can get it as an add-on to your router table. Once installed, all you need to do is turn the dial and you can control the speed of the router at your will.

If your router does come with a speed control feature, then you might want to add the on/off switch to your router table. This will enable you to quickly switch power to your router without having to go all the way to the plug.

While the other accessories are good-to-have, I would strongly recommend you to get one of these as a safety measure. You need to be able to quickly shut down power in case things go wrong.

You can easily get your hands on these kind of control panels for $25-$40.

4. FEATHERBOARDS

When working with small pieces of lumber, maintaining control with a 20,000-rpm router can be a tough job.

A featherboard allows you to do just that. Its job is to apply pressure to the workpiece and keep it sturdy while the router is doing its job. You definitely don’t want the piece of wood to jump around and jump out of position while you’re at work.

5. GUARD AGAINST THE BIT

This one is another key add-on that I strongly recommend, keeping safety in mind.

You need to safeguard your fingers and other vital organs from the bit and any cutting we want should be done on the workpiece.

This small add-on makes sure that you’re safe when working on your next big project.

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6 Things To Consider Before Buying Your Next Router Table

By on June 24, 2015 in Personal

If you’re a serious woodworker, then you cannot work without a good router table. A router table allows you to turn your woodworking projects into art.

By using different router bits, you can create a wide range of shapes, grooves and designs.

However, there are a few things that you need to consider before you buy your first router table.

1. Compatibility:

You need to make sure that the router you have is compatible with the router table that you’re interested in. It’s not something you need to worry about if you haven’t bought the router yet, or you’re going to buy them together.

2. A Sturdy Top:

It’s really important to have the top as sturdy and as flat as possible. This ensures that the cuts are clean and even throughout the work piece. A good top plate is at least 1” thick and the material used should be naturally rigid and tough.

3. A Good Base Plate:

Just like the top, the base plate too, should be rigid, flat and carry a sturdy build. The quality and the design of the base plate makes a huge impact on the quality of your work. A commonly preferred material that makes for a sturdy base plate is Machined Aluminum.

And again, the base plate needs to be compatible with the router that you’re planning to work with.

4. Miter and T Slots

You need to have these slots in place. Even if you’re not planning to buy any accessories now, you will need them to support your feather boards and accessories in the future.

5. A Good Fence

The fence should be easy to position and accurate to make sure that you can get clean, high quality cuts, just the way you want them to be. There’s a wide range of features and designs that you can get when choosing fences. They vary from the very basic blocks of wood clamped to the table surface to complex fences with various adjustment features.

Commonly, there are two categories of fences i.e. one piece and two-piece.

The key benefit of a one-piece fence is that you do not have to worry about alignment issues. It’s a single piece and remains steady.

Now with a two-piece fence, you’ll have to take care of alignment but it gives you the flexibility to work with bits of larger diameter.

6. A Strong Base

With router tables, it’s all about keeping the work-piece steady and locked in at the location you want them to be and that’s why all the key components need to be strong and sturdy in build and design and the base is no different.

Getting clean cuts with a wobbly base is hard, frustrating and actually beat the purpose of getting a router table.

These are the 5 key aspects that you need to consider while buying your next router table.

You can read some recent Router table reviews here.

If you’re still confused then you can have a look at the Best router tables from Kreg.

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The Ultimate Guide to Chisels and Gouges

By on April 28, 2015 in Tool Guides
Ever wondered what’s the difference between Chisels and Gouges?Well,  here’s an amazing infographic that covers everything you need to know about Chisels and Gouges. What they are, how to use them, different variations they come in, etc.

If you’re a woodworking geek then you’re in for a treat.

Basically, both tools consist of a blade and a wooden handle and are used to shape and carve details into wood.

When it comes to Chisels, the edges are either outcannel or incannel, while gouges come in two variations : Firmer and Paring.
There are 10 different variations of Chisels:
1. Back Bent Chisel
2. Bent or Cabinet Chisel
3. Firmer Chisel
4. Corner Chisel
5. Mortise Chisel
6. Paring Chisel
7. Slick Chisel
8. Fishtail Chisel
9. Dogleg Chisel
10. Butt Chisel
There are 10 different variations of Gouges:
1. Back Bent Gouge
2. Bowl Gouge
3. Bench and Cabinet Gouge
4. Fishtail Gouge
5. Firmer Gouge
6. Paring Gouge
7. Spoon Gouge
Chisels and Gouges 101: An Introduction to Basic Woodworking Tools

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