Better Homes and Gardens

THE MAGAZINE FOR HOME WOODWORKERS $3.50August 1985.ISSUE NO. 6Display Until August 20

PROJECTS APLENTYversatile workbenchturned walnut vaseand pedestal table3-in-1 nest of boxeshexagon patio tablebreakfast barstoolstwo terrific kid'stoy boatsBUYING A LATHElatest featurescomparison chartshopping tipsTABLE SAW HELPERS6 great accessoriesyou can buildWHEN TO USEHARDWOOD PLYWOODwhat's availablehow it's gradedwhere to buy it

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The Editor's Angle

Here's one that didn't make it

For the first five years of my career at Better Homesand Cardens0, I was a copy editor in the Book Divi-sion, and most of that time was spent editing cook-books. During that time, [ recall being intrigued byhow carefully the food editors and the test kitchenpersonnel tested each and every recipe ... three times,no less. Until a recipe was thoroughly tested. it didn'tmake it into a cookbook. Some recipes never passedthe test for one reason or another.

When WOOD magazine came to be, 1 finally hadan opportunity to put the "test kitchen" concept towork-in the WOOD woodworking shop. It seemedlike such a logical approach 10 projeer building. Afterall, great woodworking projects are a lot like greatrecipes. You put in a IHtle of this and a dash of that,combine the ingredients in the right way, and you'regoing to be pleased with the results. We try to giveyou the right ingredients via good designs and showyou how to combine them correctly.

Before we offer you any advice on a woodworkingtechnique or present a project for you to build, youcan be certain that we have spent many interestinghours in the shop wrestling with all the unforeseen sit-uations that invariably present themselves. That's notto say we always come up with the "one and only"way to do the job, In fact, if I've learned one thingsince beginning this magazine, it's that usually thereare several "right" ways to solve a given problem.

What happens to projects that don't pass the test?The good looking, traditionally styled roll top com-puter desk shown above (at least that's the way weenvisioned it in the beginning) now sits in an outofthe-way corner in the basement of our building.Other less substantial projects end up in our scrap bin.You only see our very best efforts.

WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985 5

,UNDOUBTEDLY THE BESTTOOL YOU'LL EVER BUY

I'WOODWORKING"

byIAN KIRBY

IA COMPLETE REFERENCE

AND TUTORIAL SERIESOF

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ITHE AUTHOR: IAN KIRBY IS ALIVELY AND AUTHORITATIVETEACHER WITH A STRONG INFLUENCE ON WOODWORKING INTHE UNITED STA TES TODAY.HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT"WOODWORKING":"It has bee;' my ambition to setdown all that I learned from theEnglish woodworking tradition,together with my own experiencewith modern materials, tools andtechniques. So here it is: a broadcompendium of woodworkingknowledge that will enable you tolearn the craft correctly and serveyou well foc a lifetime ofwoodworking."

ISHARE THIS MAN'S VAST

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We welcome comments, criticisms,suggestions ... even an occasionalcompliment from readers. Whilethe volume of mail we receivemakes it impossible to answerevery letter, we publish excerpts inevery issue of the magazine, Sendletters to:

Letters EditorBetter Homes and Gardensll>WOOD Magazine1716 Locust StreetDes Moines, fA 50336

READER NEEDLES WOODABOUT CACTUS COLUMNPerhaps it is the lingering effect ofcertain strong potions made of cac-tus juice which prompted someoneon the staff to agree that Cereusgiganteus is a tree, and a hardwoodat that ("Saguaro:' WOOD. ApriL1985, page 83).-Dick Landis. Issaquah. Wash.

Dick, we referred this pricklyproblem to WOOD consultingwood technologist Paul McClure,who lives and works right in theheart of saguaro country in Tempe,Ariz. Paul says there's no doubtas far as he's concerned-thesaguaro is indeed a tree and ahardwood. Here's a further refer-ence from The Complde Trees ofNorth America by Thomas S. Elias(Van Nostrand Reinhold, NewYork, 1980): "Four native speciesfof the Cereus genus/-theSaguaro, the Deering, and KeyWest cephalocereus, and the organ-pipe cactus-are considered trees."All meet the criteria of a tree as awoody plant that usually grows toat least 16' and has a single trunk.

WOOD WOMANWOOD Editor Larry Claytonasked to hear from a few womenwoodworkers in his April column,

8

so we were tickled when the mail-man brought this note:Love the magazine! I am an "inter-mediate" woodworker who some-times needs reference materials, pic-tures, and ideas to make certainprojects "click:' Some publicationsare too sophisticated ... Not sowith WOOD. It's down to earth.-Mary Wexel1. Cambridge. Ill.

Thanks to Mary and the otherwomen readers who wrote! We'lldo our best to keep you happy.

PLANE TALKWe're not in a position to makeour "Letters" page a buy and sellcolumn, but we'll try to spread theword occasionally in special in-stances such as this one:In your October, 1984 issue onpage 76 is a picture of a Stanleyno. 1 bench plane that now is acollector's item valued at $400 to$650. I've had this plane for thelast 40 years. Ws in excellent condi-tion. If any collectors are interested,let them contact me.-William K. Annetts, 181 Rombout Ave.,

Beacon. NY 12508

WILL THE REAL DISSTONPLEASE STAND UP?(Regarding the handsaw pictured onpage 100 of the February issue ofWOOD and identified as a Diss-ton): I have never seen this saw inthe Disston catalog. As for thebending of the saw and its snappingback "straight as a die:' we do thiswith our Sandvik saws every day toshow the superior steel we areusing.

We have manufactured the steelused in our saws in our own steelmills since 1862. What is equallyimportant in a saw blade is theteeth, of course. We make most ofour saw models with ground teethas compared to filed and stampedteeth ... I will challenge a similarsaw anytime.-Hakan Hellslrand, National Sales Manager.

Sandvik S.nv5 and Tools, Scranton. Pol.

The handsaw in the photo wasindeed al1 Atkins, not a Disston.WOOD apologizes for the mixup.

As for Mr. Hellstrand's challel1ge-any takers?

VACUUM HOSE COUPLINGIn our April issue we featured arouter table project that requirestwo vacuum hose adapters. Severalreaders wrote to request a sourcefor the adapters. If you had anytrouble finding them, send $7 plus$2.50 for postage al1d handling fortwo adapters to: Shopsmith, Inc.,750 Center Dr., VaI1dalia. OH45377. (The folks at Shopsmithrefer to the adapters as ferrules.)

~2V"Vacuum ~hose 11adapte,~A GREAT IDEA!At WOOD, we love to hear fromreaders who have improved on themethods we used in a project. Thismonth we heard from severalsharp readers who had suggestionsabout the three-ring binder jig fea-tured il1 our April issue. Here'swhat one of them suggested:Ten years ago I hit upon a supersimple idea that gives me perfectlyclean holes every time. I created apaper drill. Get a 3 W piece of steeltubing 't,w iIi diameter (available atauto parts stores). Put it in thechuck of your electric drill (hand orpress). Turn on the drill and, as itrotates, file or grind the end toform a knife edge. Remove thetube from the drill and cut a sectionfrom the sidewall of the tube to reomove the paper disks out of themagazine.

To use the paper drill: Put themagazine drill back in the electricdrill chuck. Identify the spot youwant to drill on the magazine bytracing the holes in a piece of looseleaf paper that was laid on top ofthe magazine. Handhold the maga-zine on top of a piece of scrapwhich acts as a backing materialand drill a nice clean hole everytime. The knife edge also can becreated by taking material off theinside wall of the tube with acountersink.-Michael K. Patrick, Manchester. N.H.

WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

..

5 Ifs a 12" Disc sanderwith 113 sq. In. 01sanding surface 10 rEt-duce stock up to 6"thick in a single pass.

41fS a 34" Lathe with16-1 f2H'swing capacitylor turning table andchair legs, or largebowIa

asandS.

3 Ifs a Horizontal BoringMachine that makesdoweling operationsa snap.2Irs a 16-112" VerticalDrill Press with lockingquill feed for accuratedepth control.It's a 10" Table Sawwith 3-114" depth-of-cut and huge SO"ripping capacity.I

The MARK V combines these five majorpower tools in one space-saving,economical unit You can perform change-overs in less than 90 seconds.PluS-lhe MARK V's5-in-l versatUityandbuilt-in accuracy make it easy to achieveprofessional results on all your projects.The MARK V is the tool to start with . thesystem you grow with. You'll lind a lullrange 01 MARK V Accessories 10 helpyoudo the most sophisticated woodworkingoperation with ease.The Shopsmlthtt DifferenceWith Shopsmith you ~el a dedication 10woodworking, education, and buyerprotection. We believe in Ihe virtues 01quality, value, pride and crallsmanshlp,which show In our educalional trainingand products.Your Specla'"BonusnLearn howlhe MARK V can help you domore projects more professionally. Send lor

your FREE MARK V Information KittodaytIncluded In the kit Is How To DetermineYour Best Power Tool Buy.You'll also receive a FREE one-year sub-scription ($12.00 value) to Hands On, TheHome Workshop Magazine packed withproject ideas and helplullips. You are underno obligation. 50 mail your card today!Phone Toll Free: 1-800-821-2105In Nebraska: 1800-642-8788

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SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS ON A

WOODWORKINGVACATION

As the woodworking hobbycatches on, so do the learning op-portunities. Woodworking work-shops-offered by many public andprivate colleges and universities,crafts centers, companies, andindividuals-flourish year-round,especially during the summer. Youstill have time to sign up for a sum-mer course or two, but hurry-theyfill up fast these days.

Costs vary from $20 for a two-hour seminar to $500 or more formuttiweek sessions (extra chargesfor room and board where applicable, of course). Following is a sam-pling of offerings. We suggest thatyou contad sources directly forfees, dates, and complete coursedescriptions. Also check locally forseminars and workshops sponsoredby retail woodworking suppliers. College of the Redwoods, Mendo-cino Coast Education Center, 440Alger St., Fort Bragg, CA 95437(707/964-7056). 4 to 5week workshops covering techniques and joinery,woodworking projects. Late Junethrough August. Oregon School of Arts and Crafts,8245 S.W Barnes Rd., Portland, OR97225 (503/297-5544). Cabinetmaking,(inishing. Japanese woodworking. LateJune through August. Wood turning Workshops, Craft Sup-plies U.S.A .. 1644 S. State St., Provo,UT 84601 (8011373-0917). 5day workshops focused on all aspects of turning.MidJune through September. The University of Akron, Center forWood Design and Craftsmanship.Akron, OH 44326 (216/375-7575).2 to 4-day workshops and seminarscovering power tools, jigs, furnituredesign and construction, boatbuilding.Late June and September. The University of Wisconsin-Stout,Office of Continuing Education,Menomonie, WI 54751 (800-45-STOUT10

out-of-state, 800-22-STOUT in state).Festival of Wood Workshop, from toolsto toys. Late June. Brookfield Craft Center, Inc.,p.o. Box 122, Brookfield, CT 06804(2031775-4526). 2 to 5day workshopsand classes including turning. carving,chair making, various boat-buildingtechniques. Early July through August. Villa Maria Wood Workshops, P.o.Box 37051, Mimleapolis, MN 55437.Up to 6day workshops on carving techniques. Late July to early August. Conover Workshops, 18125 MadisonRd., Parkman, OH 44080(216/548-3481). 5-day workshops onturning, hand tools and joinery. Windsor chair-making. Mid to late June. Arrowmont School of Arts andCrafts, Box 567, Gatlinburg, TN 37738(615/436-5860). 5day workshop classes covering wood construction, laminated lathe work, spindle turning, andfaceplate work. July to mid.August. Primrose Center for fine Wood-working and furniture DeSign, 401 W.Railroad, Missoula, MT 59802(406/728-5911). 7day workshopon traditional h.md tool joinery.MidJuly. Penland School of Crafts, Penland,NC 28765 28765 (7041765"2359). 2 to3-week workshop courses includingtools, design, furniture construction.carving, techniques. June throughSeptember. Shopsmith's Woodworki.,g Academy,2hour lectures to 4day workshopsabout turning, joinery, toy-making,raised panels. other topics. Offeredyear-round. Held in the belowlistedcities; call number given for dates andinformation:Foster City, California (415/572-0800)Tucker, Georgia (404/939-8141)Indianapolis, Indiarla (317/849-0193)Florence, Kentucky (606/371-2232)Richfield, Minnesota (612/866-3526)Colonie, New York (518/459-2201)Coillmbus, Ohio (614/885-7200)Dayton, Ohio (513/898-9325)

Tigard, Oregon (503/684-1428)Richardson, Texas (214/644-2615)San Antonio, Texas (512/655-3093)Virginia Beach, Virginia (804/460-5655)Renton, Washington (206/226-2500) Russ Zimmerman Turner's Work-shop, RFD 3, Box 242, Putney, VT05346. 2day workshop including turning tools, Faceplate and spindle turning.Offered yearround. Davis & Elkins College, AugustaHeritage Arts Works/lOp, Elkins, WV26241 (304/636-1903). 5day andlonger workshop classes on guitar con-struction, folk carving, treenware. whiteoak basketry. Mid-July to mid.August. Boston U.,iversity, The Program inArtisallry, 620 CommonwealthAvenue, 80ston, MA 02215 (617/353-2022). 3week courses on furniture design and construction. July/August. Haystack Mountain School ofCrafts, Box 87, Deer Isle, ME 04627(207/348-6946). 2- to 3week workshops coveri.,g plai., a.,d tapered lamination for furniture, wood sculpting.Late June through midAugust. Norwegian. Craft Workshops atVesterheim, Norwegian-AmericanMuseum, Decorah, lA 52101 (319/382-9681). 2- to Sday workshops on Norwegian Figure, chip, and relief carving;stave construction; bentwood. Late Junethrough August.

ENGLANDJohn Sai.,sbury's Studio for Wood-craft, 1, Lichfield Drive, Brixham,South Devon, England 105 8DL(6204/08045). 2-day workshop courscson faceplate turning, turning betweencenters, thi., wall a.,d wet wood turning, carving, lools, materials. All year.

CANADABert Thompson's Canadian School ofWoodturni.,g, 1069 Soulhdown Road,Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L512Y1(416/823-5937). lessons on turningbetween ce.,ters, tools. and sharpening;architectural turni"g. Year round.

WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

Just Mail Coupon NO OBLIGATION andNO SALESMAN Calls!

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FROM YOUR SHOPlAND OURS)

Easy does itTaking furniture apart for regluingoften requires breaking a sturdyglue bond, Improperly done, toomuch pressure can damage thepieces.TIP: Pop apart glued joints by ap-plying inside pressure with an inex-pensive device you can make athome, Continuous-thread rod,sometimes called allthread, is thekey to this mechanism. Drill a holefor the rod through two blocks ofwood and then line one side ofeach block with carpet or foam asshown. To apply even pressure andbreak the bond without damage,just tigMen the washer and nutinside each block.

-Donald F. Kinnaman,Phoenix, Ariz.

How to outsmart a nailIn a tight spot, it can be impossi-ble to get your fingers around andstart a nail or brad.TIP: A small magnet will hold abrad or nail upright while you tapit into the wood. (Note: This tipalso helps prevent black and bluefingers, sometimes referred to as"hitting the wrong nail:')

Start out deanNozzles on paint sprayers aredifficult to get thoroughly clean.Many times, dried residue clogsthe nozzle and sends paint spittingaround the room,TIP: Clean the nozzle as best youcan after use, then store it sub-merged in fresh thinner in thesprayer's container. Before you startyour next spraying job, pour outthe thinner, dry off alJd attach thenozzle, and enjoy one lessfrustration.

A safe strategy for cuttingsmall piecesCutting small pieces of stock on atable saw or router always is achallenge; safely cutting the endsof pieces can leave you in a bundleof nerves,TIP: Make a right-angle jig blocklike the one shown in the illustra-tion from plywood and clamp thesmall piece to the jig, The jig alsoserves as a chip breaker-an advan-tage over a tenoning jig, whichdoesn't follow behind the workpiecethe way this jig does.

Screw center comesto the rescueYou want to cut wood, not metal,but it's sometimes difficult toavoid dinging your lathe toolsagainst th~ faceplate while turningthe entire profile of a piece. Youalso encounter this frustrationwhen you turn small pieces suchas knobs on your lathe,TIP: Make a wooden screw centeror first screw your workpiece to awooden disc, then attach either tothe faceplate, Now you have awooden buffer plate between theworkpiece and the metal faceplateto eliminate those dings. If yourfaceplate isn't drilled for a centerscrew, mount the plywood washerto the center of the project with awood screw; attach the disc to thefaceplate as usual. If your faceplateis drilled for a center screw, fastendirectly through the faceplate anddisc and into the project.

-Sean ODaniel, Lebanon, Ky.

In woodworking, as in life, no oneknows it all. But through experi-ence, we all discover-or stumbleonto-better, safer, faster, or easierways to do things, When we deviseinteresting tips or techniques, we'llshare them with you in thiscolumn. And when you send usyour favorites, we'll pay you $25for each submission we publish. Noshop tips can be returned. Mailyour tips to:

Shop TipsBeller Homes and Gardensl!!WOOD MagazineLocust at 17thDes MoJnes, IA 50336

12 WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

Slick solutionThread-on faceplates sometimestend to lock to the live spindle ofa lathe and this makes themdifficult to remove.TIP: Before you screw on thefaceplate. slip on a single layer ofwaxed paper and tighten thefaceplate to the live spindle asusual. The waxed paper "washer"will make it easier to loosen thefaceplate.

Surform sharpeningThe Stanley Surfonn and similarfanning tools can remove a lot ofstock, but the blades eventuallydull.TIP: Sharpen the rasplike bladeswith the small stones used forpocket knives. Rows of teeth rundiagonally across the length of theblade. and each row has a "leadside" with cutting edges near thetop. Hold the stone firmly againstthe inside face of the lead sideand run the stone back and forththrough the groove. Repeat foreach row until the entire blade issharpened. Between sharpenings,the blade can be quickly renewedby running a stone along thelength of the blade in the direc-tion the cutting faces are pointing.

-Mary Buteller,Hacienda Heights. Calif.

WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 198.5

Clamp care tipGlue squeeze-out sometimes driesand adheres to the face of hand-screw clamps. Later, projects thathave been clamped turn out withmarred surfaces.TIP: Apply a coat of paste waxto the face of each jaw of yourdamps to prevent glue build-up.It's also a good idea to maintain alight coat of wax on metal damps-this will help you prevent rustfrom forming and discoloringproject surfaces.-Gary Scholl, Mancelona. Mich.

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w~ "",nul.....u'" ,he Conw1" ",he ... ;" our p..lunon. OIl", r""tory to i"'" it< ....p'" high q.....i". hIllS tlnvy COSI ifUlCOIlstNCtion, pcKi'"", Timkm toilet btorings,. 16" 'wing, lIld unlimitod~t dil.I.r'ICoIl ""hoOflum """,II poM>-)'OIlt option!

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Garrett Wade Co.. Depl. 255161 AvenueofrheAmerkasNew York, N.Y. 10013Genrlemen:Send your comple'e 212pagecaral"ll or woodworklnlltools.machinery, and aeceswrles. Endqsed Is 13-o I would Ill: only lhc followlnll5,tlons orlhe

catalog. iUr 50< each:o I1'ijEcrA INCA 0 Carving 0 F1nl$hlnllEnclosed 1$

.........................

Nam~AddressCO.Slale Zlp

..........................................

Our catalog doesn't justsell you things. It teaches

you things. The Garrell WadeQnalog is a new. 212page eolleellon ofwoodworking hand lools, machinery. finishing supplies

and accessories Ihal are simply the lineslavailable. Anywhere.

And beSides offering quality tools from aroundthe world, we also give 1'011 a 101 Or qllallly advice.On woodworking tcchnlques. On picking the

proper (001 (or a particlilar job. On finishing.sharp'enlns. clamping and more:.

The: calalog Is filled with superb photography.honesl spccifiulions and reliable dcscrlptions.ll'sncatly divided Into scvenleen sections, Including

a secllon on our Swiss INJEcrA INCA power lools.And Ihrolighoul Ihe year, our ealalog owners willrece:lve several handy supplemenls-free ofcharge.

JUSt send In Ihe cOllpon be:low with '3.00, andwe'll send OUI )'our copy of the 1986 Garrell WadeQualog.1t jusl mal' prove: to be themost useful tool you own.

Name _Addr~s _

CllylStale/Zill _Telephone I______'=_-=_-=_=-__:c_:c_,,_=-=_-=_-=_-=__:c_:c_,,_,,_c:_-=_-=_-=_-=_-=__:c_,,_,,_'"'__~

, , ,

No.of Packs Bell Si.l:e Gril Price Per Pack Tolal

1 Bell Reslorer fREE1 Full ColO( Tool-Abrasive Catalog fREE

__ enclosed o Charge my: Sublotalo VISA 0 AmEx 0 MasterCard ShOll. & Hodl!!.. $2.00Account" CT Sales TaxExp. Dale TOTAL

GRIT SIZES AVAILABLEFOR EVERY BELT: 50; 60;80; 100; 120; 150; 180;240.Prices are for 1 pack of 10belts in I gril. Sizes 4x36and 6x48 are packed 5.3xl8 10for. $ 9.953x21 IOfor. $10.9S3x24 lOfor $11.954x21Y.. lOfor $13.954x24 10 for $14.954x36 5 for. $ 9.956x48 5 for. $21.95

These belts were manufactured for durability and performance. Their economyshows up in their productivity. There are no beller belts made!

We guaranteeJour complete satisfaction. If these bells are not the best, br far, of anyyou haveevcr hOI ,return them within 90days-used and unused-for a ful andcomplcte refund, including return poslage.

As a free bonus, jusl for giving us a chancc at your business, you will receive, with yOurorder. a belt and dis

dGardensotlOllleSaJ'

rter n-

Better Homes and Gardens.

o SHOP.TESTEDhOW to apPlyflexible WOOdveneer

o TABLE SAWSChOOsing theright one forYour shop

o WOOD CARVINGa SimPle horsefor fJrst-t/mers

LOTS OFPROJECTSShaker CUPboardwaterfall tablemoaularworkbenCheshall table

CHARTEROFFER

6" Dampener SH.OO5" Dampener 22.004" Dampener 20.00

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or for different kinds ofmaterial!

MR. SAWDUST IAll-Purpose for Radial Saws

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MR. SAWDUST IIAll-Purpose for Thble Saws

Again, "Forrest-400" carbide - and anothergreat Jim Forrest design! Every cut is a planer cut- wilh or across the grain, Gives you a sheer CUIin fine plywoods -lop ulldbotlom. And flawlesscuts in thick hardwoods.

WAS NOW ONLY10"4OT. SI~6.00 $109.20

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We're proving evuything we say in OUf ads - in major shows across the country. For COMPLETE information.ask for "The Cut is Everything" (includes Dado sets) - and "Mr. Sawdust Jr' (UltraSmooth Planer Saws).

MR. SAWDUSTMAKES EVERY KIND OF CUT

A LOT BETTER AND A LOT LONGER!

Hone with precisionYou can't beat the accuracy of thisbrass bevel guide, manufactured andsold exclusively by Leichtung. Sim-ply unscrew the three piece-unit andselect the angle you want OS, 20,2S or 30 degrees) to set your toolrest for grinding or honing. Whenyou've finished, use the assembledguide to double-check the cuttingangle of your chisel or plane iron,as shown in photo. Brass BevelGuide. Available for $7.95 post-paid through Leichtung, 4944Commerce Parkway, Dept. I

you in a hurry. Probing pinspushed into the wood indicatemoisture con~en~ between 6 % and20% by LED readout. A positionswitch allows you to compensatefor differing densities of wood.Operating on two 9volt batteries,this 5%'"X 2"%x 1 '" pocketsize meterfeatures rugged. high-impact plasticconstruction. Use it for readings inlumber. veneer. fiberboards. hardboards. and many other materials.Mini-Ligno Moisture Meter. S110,from Lignomat USA Ltd. Dept.VV, P.Q. Box 30145, Portland, OR97230.

Heavy-duty shop apronDesigned for protection as well asconvenience, this full-length shopapron features a split.leg cut that's

comfor~able to wear siHing orstanding. You can s~rap the splitapron to each leg to avoid Aapping.long-wearing. aounce green ducksaves clothes and guards againstsplinters, chips, spills. and sharp ob-jects. Waist-high pockets hold yourhand tools at bench level, and pencils stay put in a small bib pocketof their own. The apron comes ina standard, one-size-fits-all length of36. Full-Length Apron. $15.90.available from Woodworker's Sup-ply of New Mexico. Dept. vv, 5604Alameda. NE, Albuquerque. NM87113.

Carbide-Upped hole sawsNeed a dozen solid oak wheels fora toy project? With Enduro HoleSaws you can whip them out in ajiffy. We used the carbide-tippedwood saw to cut through "'" oakeffortlessly with only minor chip-ping. Available in diameters from1" to 2'k~ this pair takes on woodor metal. The wood saw can cut afull H.'" deep in a single passthrough lumber. Chips are chan-neled out to prevent clogging anddrill bumout. and you remove thesawed-out core by taking off thesaw tube. Both wood and metalsaws. packed together. share thesame mandrel. which must be pur-chased separately. Enduro HoleSaws. At retail stores, for $4.70 to$7.10. depending on size. Mandrel,about $7. Credo Cutting ToolDivision, Omark Industries. 2765National Way. Woodburn. OR97071.

Pocket moisture meterWhether you dry your own woodor just want to know the moisturecontent of a board, Mini-Ligna tells

,

FULL TILTING WORKTABLEIUnlike any other scroll saw, the Wood mas-ler's table ,ilnand locks in any position up to4So right or left. This means you C,1.n producework on the Model 16j)Oimpossiblelodupli-cate on any other parallel or C-arm scrollsaw! Can be ordered complete with motor,sland and dust blower. Easy Terms,

Woodmaaler Power ToolsDept. CW72908 OakKansas CIty, YO 6-4108o YES! Please rush me. Iree and wI\hout

obligation. yOtlr Complele inlOfmation KitollthenewMOOEll600SCROllSAWpluslacts on Woodmasler's l).()ay FREE TRIAlMoney-Back Guarantee!

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USC this high.prel."ision saw 10 makehundreds of profitable. unusual items ...IOYS. name-bars. filagree work. clocks.holders ... the list is nearly endless! Bc1;ausctM Mood 1600 CUll so smoOlhly. sanding isvirtually unnccesSlIry!

BUILT TO LASTIThe sturdy new Wood master Model 1600gives you all the features found in mon:expensive machines including a big, 16-io.throat capacil)'. 2-io. cutting depth. a gener-ous. oversi1.c worktable. ball-bearing drive... and much more!

30-0AY FREE TRIAL!Send For Complete Facts! See how you canuse the Woodmaster Model 1600 in yourown shop for one full month completelywithout risk! MAIL COUPON TODAY or:

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WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

MAILBAG BUSTERSPECIAL OFFER

Prices GuaranteedUnliJ August

31, 1985.

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supply 01.. CClampl Lknil3501ut

for only this low priceAcomplete a-piece sel 01 industrial-quality

C-Clamps...A clamp lor every job, ..gluing...sawing...drilling...welding ."planing...anykind of holding job.Truly heavy-duty. With cast-iron "1" frame ..precision tooleBecauIe youtwork demands tools of eDIcting and delicateprecision, we make X-ACTOlcille blades both shazp andprecise. But because OUI blades can't ll:eep their aCCUlaCJforever, we also mall:e them easUy replaceable_

A Ihazp XACTO blade will maneuver Imoothly alOng thecurvesand comersol this dotted line, making-the k1ndol cleancut you expect In YOUI work U, how-ever, YOUI blade drags, stuedli, slipsor catchelsomewherealongthe line,then It', no longer giving you thepl"ocls1on YOUl worll: demands. Inwhich case, It', time to replace YOUlX-Acto blade with a lrelh one.

When used properly, yow X-Actoll:n11e WW become Indispensl.ble.Butwhen used fIequenUy, remember thatthe blade is dl.sposable.

THE XACTO TEST

FREE CATALOG!Wijh your order we'll send you oor latestcatalog ...lilled wilt1 over 1500 fasteners,Iools and organizers. You'll discover why3 million people have made D.A.1. theHardware Store In Their Mailbox,

100% Gual'llntH 01 Satlstletlon...it not totally slllisfied, retum your order lor

a coniple1e relund. ~::.~.=====:::;;;;;;========FI,ILL LIFETIME '$.RRANTY .............with pwchJCI or write lor advaflClllree copy s""u,",

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III

PEG: a dream come trueUntil the discovery of polyethyl-ene glycol 1000 (PEG) in the mid-1950s, it was nearly impossible toturn green wood, crotch wood,and many challenging pieceswithout fear of splitting andchecking. Now, you can rough apiece out on the lathe, soak thewood about two weeks in a mix-ture of PEG and water, and thendry for six to eight weeks_ Thepiece then can be returned to thelathe, completed, and sealed withyour favorite finish. PEG. Avail-able through various mail-ordercatalogs. We ordered a 10-poundblock for $17.00 postpaid fromGeneral Finishes, Po. Box 14363,Dept. ~ Milwaukee, WI 53214.

Space-age bits keep their pointWe used and. abused these drillbits and they just kept asking formore. A titanium-nitride coatinghas been applied to high-speedsteel to reduce heat build-up andspeed removal of chips. What thismeans to you is drill bits shouldstay sharper longer. The bits arerecommended for wood, plastics,steel. aluminum, and cast iron_Titanium-Nitride Drill Bit Set.Available in nine*piece sets (~~ to

:~) for $36.85 postpaid throughSears tools catalog. Refer to stockno. 9 GT 6824.

'IY'OOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985 19

WOOD'MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

~)'.,. --4-. ,

E "/fmC~ " .,'iveryone's getting into the sawdust! Not since theFifties, say industry observers, has there been such aninterest in woodworking. No wonder, then, thatmembership in the Woodworking AssociaHon ofNorth America (WANA) has spurted from zero toover 2,000 in less than two years.

Formed in 1983, WANA aims to provide its mem-bers from the U.S. and Canada with informationabout woodworking and to advance woodworking asa hobby and industry. WANA sponsors shows, hostshandson seminars, and directly involves the industryand its leaders in the concerns of woodworkers.

Executive Director Peter F. Engel has assembledsome of the foremost names in woodworking to helpdirect the Association: Glen Docherty of Constan-tine's, Jim Forrest of Forrest Manufacturing, BobSchwartz of The Cutting Edge, and Wally (Mr. Saw-dust) Kunkel, to name a few. Master craftsman AllenFitchett serves as WANA's technical consultant.

WANA members receive the quarterly magazineInternational Woodworking and free classified adver-tising privileges; heMoff admission price to WANAsponsored shows and other events; special discountsfrom suppliers and manufacturers; and answers towoodworking questions through the membership andcorporate sponsor network. WANA soon will offergroup health insurance, as well as more woodworkingshows and seminars. Shows are now held in Spring-field, Mass.; Washington, D.C; Toronto; Houston;Philadelphia; and Chicago.

This year, the first handson seminars took place inChicago and Toronto. Covering such topics as table-saw technique, marquetry, chip carving, and dovetailjoinery, these seminars required a full day of work-shop participation. Registration fees ranged from $75to $90 for members ($150 to $180 for non-members).For those who are unable to attend workshops, orsimply want to learn at their own pace, the Association hopes to offer a videotape rental program.

Annual membership is $15 ($20 Canadian). Formore information and membership application, writeThe Woodworking Association of North America,35 Main St., Suite 6, Plymouth, NH 03264.

THE WOODWORKINGASSOCIATIOI\I " ~""OF NORTH r_dJ:.. .~\.,AMERICA ~,

20

'SPECIAL SUMMER $2.00 OFF SALE - SEE BELOWCARBIDE TIPPED ROUTER BITS PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION QUALITY

SPECIAL OFFER _ SAVE 5()%-7S% BELOW COST1000's SOLO TO READERS OF FINE WOODWORKING

BEST CUT ". LARGE CUTTIf.jGBEST PRICE ,.. DESCRIPTION R...DIUS DIAM. lEf.jGT... PRICE

e;J. COVE10' 114" R 1/4" '" 1/2" $13.00'02 3/B" R 3/B" 1y." 9/16" 14.00103 1/2" R 112" 1Y;" SIB" 15.00

~. ROUNOOVER'04 1/4" R 1/4" '" 1/2" 16.00'06 3/S" R 3/B" lYo" 5/B" 16.00'06 1/2" R 1/2" lY;" 314" 19.00~ ROMANOGEE'02 5132" R 6132" lYo" 16/32" 18.00'08 114" R 114" lY;" 3/4" 20.00JJ. III 31S" Dn, 1y." 1/2" 14.00RABBETING 31S"'09 lIB" IKERFl SLOT CUTTER 1Yo" lIS" 14.0011. 114" IKERFl SLOT CUTTER 1y." 1/4" 14.00

~ 112 46 C......MfER 46" 1Y;" 51S" 15.00Angle~ '" RAISED PANEl 20" 1-5/S" 112" 25.00Angle11

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Discover the world'soldest hobby!

Build this beautiful,wooden ship model.\

Special offer for those who havenever built a ship before!

Please send me _ kits of the Swift at $39.95 plus FREE tools,book and cannons. Check or money order enclosed. (Add $4.00for delivery. NJ residents musl add 6% sales tax.)

MODEL EXPO, INC. 23 Just Aoad, Fairfield. NJ 07007IIIfI Name' _I - "6~rull color

d I Address hobby catalogrno e expo, inc. I . w,,~;:'~";l, I23 Just Road, Fairfield, N.J. 07007 I City Stale Zip II If less rhlln delighted, ,I(IU may return ,I(IU'purchllse I

~ ::::.r~~dllyslor~u.!!...re::..~__...:.. ~~~~~.:J

Miniature CannonKit BonusISet of two solid brasscannon on walnut carnagesto be mounted amidship.$4.00 value, sent FREEwith your order.

WJuldn't you love to build this historic ship model? It's a of rare, yellow boxwood. We include eyelets, bracers and be-true-ta-scale, 21" replica of the 2-masted schooner Swift, a laying pins-over 70 parts of solid brass! Even the cabinVirginia pilot boat of 1805. Well, now you can! And you don't door hinges are brass, as are the 250 miniature nails you'llhave to be a skilled craftsman to do so. use to fasten the planking to the hun and deck. And, since

It really isn't hard the original wooden Swift had no plastic parts, our kit doesn'tEven if you've never built a model before, you can experi- either-anywhere!

ence the relaxing pleasure and pride ofaccomplishment that is Creative? And how! Overwhelming? Not a bit! But be pre-offered by this fascinating hobby. You can build the Swift. The pared for hours of the most challenging, engrossing, relaxingsecret's in our kit, designed especially fun you've ever had.for the first time modeler, with pre-cut An "everything you'll need"parts that make assembly easy. Clear, special offer, with free toolslarge scale plflns and instructions that and handbook.virtually take you by the hand and guide We want to introduce you to this

hours of the most relaxing fun you'll ever easy for you to get started. Our specialhave. And when completed-amuseum~=;;- offer includes the Swift kit plus all thequality model you'll display with pride, tools you'll need to build her: pliers,

.hi' EasY'lo-build hull.Wit g earning brass fittings, walnut hammer, knife, file. tweezers, sandpa-planked hull, delicate rigging-lifelike per, glue, wood oil, and more. You'llin every detail. also receive a free copy of "Ship Mod-

Quality you can see and feel els from Kits.:' a 110 page beginner'sThe materials in our kit may be bet- guide. You don't have to buy anything

ter than those used in the original else. The tools normally cost $17; theSwift. The keel section and frames are book retails for $7.95. But they'repre-cut plywood, ready for quick as.' yours, FREE when you buy the Swiftsembly. The Swift's hull is planked - TI kit at its regular price of $39.95 (plustwice; once with thick, flexible lime- EVllrylllingYOYooed1obuOld... llI(;luded $4.00 for delivery).wood for strength, then overlaid with Credit card holders order toll-freeplanks of African walnut for lasting beauty. Call 800-2282028, ext. 68, 24 hours a day. In Nebraska,

Vou won't have to make the fittings-we've done that for call 800-642-8300. Or use coupon below to send check oryou. Our kit contains ready-to-use blocks and deadeyes money order. Order Kit No. AL139TM.

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Cl"!!lzm

"

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Price899.00

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DELTA SPECIALSModel,.-42934-76343~~~~~.~,'-.:.:- ~-'

. -352 pages

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Full of drawings and photos-684 in all-this superbguide covers all facets of wood carving. Tangerman, acarver for more than 50 years, liberally seasons his in-shuctions with personal observations and amusing,pointed anecdotes. He writes in a friendly manner, sohis advice to everyone from rank beginner to veterancarver sounds as if it comes from a friend.

In an easytoread style, Tangerman writes about shar-pening tools, selecting the "right" size for a carving,choosing wood, and finishes to use. He also tells youhow to carve a wide range of subjects-animals, flowers, fabled unicorns and dragons, buildings, people'sfaces and heads, and lettering. How to carve differentmaterials such as ivory, bone, stone, seashells, and nuts,is another topic.

The author's knowledge of carving around the worldshines through in insights such as this one about carv-ing the human figure: "Scandinavian carvers have formany years produced angular. blocky figures that arevery well done. They are almost formulaic: threecreases at elbow and knee, saggy breeches, wrinkledcoats, and slightly battered hats. African carversproduced. lampoons of the white men and women whobought them, as do modern Haitian ones:'

Just for fun, read this book. Who knows? It maylight your fire as a whittIer.

"The most important cutfor the knife is exactlythat used by someonepeeling a potato: theknife caught in the curveof the four fingers, thethumb on the work, andthe cut made by closingthe hand_ That gives thegreatest control becauseit is finger rather thanarm muscle that does thework:'

22 WOOD M"C"ZINE "UCUST 1985

Patented Transitionaland Metallic Planesin Americal1827-1927By Roger .K, Smith, TheNorth Village PublishingCo., Lancaster, MA01523.. 1981.

336 pages$58.00

Clothbound

Our initial reaction to this book was: "Why on earthwould anyone undertake writing a book on old planesand who will read it?" AHer leafing through Smith'sbook, though, we soon understood their fascination.Like thousands of collectors, we're hooked.

The author focuses on planes made and sold in thecentury between 1827 and 1927, which Smith reportsaccount for only about a third of the 600 planes thathave been patented in the U.s. (It seems bettermousetraps and widgets aren't the only things inventorsstrive for ...J

While researching this admittedly narrow field, theauthor gleaned details from old business directories, patent specifications and drawings, catalogs, trade magazines. and other sources. His chapters examine the firstAmerican metallic planes, the search for an efficientmeans of holding and adjusting the cutter, and specificdesigns and their manufacturers.

Beautifully illustrated with 41 full-color and dozensof black-andwhite photographs, the book also includesnostalgic reproductions of early advertising. Many toolsshown are works of hand-tooled art; others are strangecuriosities.

Roger Smith has' been smitten with planes and all the.woodworking Americana they embody. Read thisbook and we suspect that you will be, too.

"Perhaps the epiloguefor this entire volume isthe fact that out ofscores of manufacturersdiscussed, Stanley wasthe lone survivor andcontinues to be the onlymanufacturer of handplanes in America:'

Opllonal nndlng hnd_ria planer 10 pow,,fn6 drum underl

Pro6utes tonoue" TIWnSOUlhl;l-nlul,uIJn..0f00VI with 0lIl HIup, srnooII QlSIOm moldnostwo lIoillls In $lime paa. llIunlillOllUlerpallllml.

SAVES YOU MONEY! Put this versatile power-feed tool to work in your own shop. Seehow fast it pays for itself! Quickly converts low-cosl rough lumber into valuable finished

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MAKES YOU MONEY! Now you can start your own highprofit businessselling all types of millwork to lumberyards, carpenters. contractors. picture framers,

do-it-yourselfers. Use it 10 make grandfather clocks. gun cabinets, furniture, toys, planters,porch swings, benches, paneling, nooring. In fact. lhis one powerfeed tool opens up a lrulyastonishing range of products you can make and sell.

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WOOO PROFILE

25

wood's biggest asset is theorganic compounds in itsheartwood that retarddecay and insect aHack.

The wood works easilywith both hand and pow-er tools and sands and fin-ishes extremely well.

While it does havestructural strength, redwood tends to split easily,so drill pilot holes whenscrewing or nailing nearthe ends. Nuts and boltsare often used to assembleredwood projects, sincethe soft wood easily tears.It does glue well, though.

Uses in woodworkingIt belongs anywhereoutdoors-in patio furni-ture, fences, decks, andsiding. Heartwood caneven be used in watercontainers, such as vatsand hot tubs.

Because it doesn't abosorb odor and has noneof its own, redwood oftenis chosen for barbecuecarts and picnic tables.

Cost and availabilityRedwood's best gradesmay approach the boardfoot cost of walnut, except nearer the WestCoast supply. All heart-wood, even in lessergrades, will be pricedhigher than lumber includ-ing sapwood.

Unlike hardwoods. red-wood lumber comes innominal sizes, such as2X4, IX6, etc., and inlengths up to 20 feet.

Sources of supplyIn its California/Oregoncoastal habitat, commer-cial redwood usually isharvested in the upperelevations, which accountfor only 10 percent of thetotal growth area. The re-maining redwood grovesare protected.Illustration: Sieve SchindlerCoastal redwood

Clear flat grainwith sapwood

Clear all-heartvertical grain

dards include these beHer-quality categories: Clear all-heart, containsall heartwood with onlyminor surface defects; Clear, the same qualitybut with sapwood; B grade, mixes heart.sapwood, with knots.

Veneers, in burl figure.are extremely costly andnormally for architecturalpurposes only.

Working propertiesSeasoned redwood, especially when it has beenkiln-dried, remains stableeven in high humidity. Itis comparatively 'Strongwhile light in weight, andits lack of pitch or naturalresins makes it highly fireresistant. Perhaps red-

REDWOODnature'sfOgboundgiant

"W;here the fogflows, the redwoodgrows;' a line from apopular West Coast log-ging country folk song,definitely applies to thecoastal, or California,redwood.

The giant of all nature'splants, the coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervi-rens) towers to heights ofnearly 400 feet within anarrow SODmile shdchof coastline from southernOregon to California's BigSur. This mountainoushabitat feeds necessarymoisture to its redwoodsthrough frequent rains andblankets of fog.

While the redwoodsoars in stature, it's notlacking in girth. A speci-men logged in 1914measured 26' in diameterat 7' above the groundand yielded 344,000board feet of lumberl

Capable of living 2,000years or more, this coniferranks among nature'seldest statesmen as well.

Wood identificationWhile there are two red-wood species, coastal andsierra, only the quick-sprouting, fast-growingcoastal variety is commer-cially harvested.

Redwood has a warm,reddish-brown color whensawn from the heart ofthe tree. Boards with sap-wood have contrastingcreamcolored accents. Leftto weather, all redwoodeventually turns gray.

The redwood lumberindustry labels the avail-able grain features aseither flat (which actuallylooks wavy) when woodis cut at an angle togrowth rings, or vertical(which appears straight)sawn across the rings.

Redwood grading stanINOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

CRAFTSMAN CLOSE-UP

Richard Rothbard followed awinding road to his woodwork-ing ca~er. And at each turn heacquired valuable experiencethat later helped him succeed. Inhis hometown of New YorkCity, Richard admits to tlothaving been very good in highschool woodworking class. Atcollege, he focused on finance.but preferred campus theatricalproductions. After graduation.the stage led him to Broadway,where he achieved recognitionfor his singing, and acting.

Woodworking, though, wasto capture his lasting attention-first as a partner in a customfurniture shop and gallery, thenas an independent craftsmatl.Today, Richard is based atSugar Loaf. N.Y., a rural craftsvillage cuddled by the hillswithin commuting distance ofthe Big Apple. From his Beauti-ful Woods shop, Richard, 45,distributes his products acrossthe nation. His wife, Joanna,shares his boundless enthusiasmfor wood.

Its shape suggests a huge Monterey pine or perhaps an ancientoak. Whichever it was intended tobe seems of little concern to poten-tial buyers who admire the zebra-wood piece Richard Rothbard hasdesigned. Even from a distance, thecraftsmanship is apparent-fine, intricate saw kerfs divide and defineits branches while the wood glowswith a satin sheen. Like a sculpture,the tree fascinates from every angle.

There's more, however, to thistree than first meets the eye. Atouch from Richard nudges a tinydrawer into view. Then another.And another. The intriguing treecamouflages dozens of tiny drawersand compartments within itsbranches.

The customers in his shop giggle,then stare and stammer as the treecomes apart before them. Richardlaughs and explains their reaction.

"We call this and our other intricate ones 'Oh! Oh! Oh!' boxes,because when they're opened, that'sexactly what people say.

"Next, they ask how it wasdone-how did I cut into the woodto make the compartments? I tellthem 'with a band saw: but theystill want to know more becausethey don't grasp the technique. So Itell them We have a home studycourse-buy one, take it home, andstudy it!'"

This banter with customers, cou-pled with the uniqueness of the intricately sawn "surprise" boxes anda businesslike approach to market

26

Richard Rothbard calls this zebrawood tree an NOh! Oh! Oh!" box because of itssurprising number of compartments. The most expensive In his line, it retails forSL600.

~ MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

How RichardRothbard succeedswith craftsmanshipand selling savvy

ing, has made woodworking prom-able for this ambitious and creativecraHsman. He sums up his successful philosophy this way: "I believethat marketing is every bit as muchof an art as woodworking:'

Products that sell:woodworking's business aideIf you've ever dreamed of making aliving from your woodworking, payheed to Richard's advice: He'samong the fortunate few who havemanaged to make their craH theirlivelihood.

According to Richard, fine craHs-manship alone won't guarantee any-one a living from woodworking.Making it in the marketplacerequires the right product at theright price.

"If I had wanted to be a pure artist;' Richard says, "I'd only havedone what my artistic desire toldme to do. I'd not have consideredthe marketplace. But then I wouldhave had to settle for the relativelymeager opportunities for selling thatexist out there for artists."

That's not how Richard wentabout it. He had always found fascination in Chinese interlockingpuzzles and boxes, the kind sold in

Man:unila root, from California,offers spectacular color and fascinat-Ing twists. Bandsawing the wood intoa jewelry box breaks many a blade, soit's not for amateurs.

WCXJD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

import and souvenir stores. But heknew they were too time consum-ing to be profitable. He chose instead simple shapes and techniquesand developed ways to turn theminto puzzles.

"I wasn't really thinking in termsof mass production;' Richard relates,"only of making a product thatwould retail in a price range thatpeople would want and could afford. I played around in the woodshop until I realized 1 had somegreat items-my desktop zoo Icalled them. They were stamp dis-pensers, change holders, and letterorganizers in animal shapes-alldone with a band saw. AHer calculating the time for all the s.teps-from picking out the wood to finalfinishing-I suddenly discoveredthat I could produce them at a pricewhere they could actually bewholesaled:'

Desktop zoo puzzles pioneeredthe way. The fascinating boxescame next. "I designed around animage, tried to create a space insideit, then took a section of that imageand worked it into a sliding or lock-ing feature;' Richard recalls. "Butone thing leads to another, and 1started getting involved with hiddencompartments and drawers insidedrawers. People liked the conceptand they bought:'

People still like Richard's work.His zebrawood pieces last yearalone accounted for 5,000 boardfeet of 10/4 thickness stock. De-mand for the rest of his "BeautifulWood" line, which incorporatespieces fashioned from cocobolo,imbuya, walnut, cherry, aromaticred cedar, manzanita, mahogany, aswell as zebrawood, keeps a handfulof employees busy in the workshop,reta.i1 store, and shipping.

Techniques for marketing"Beautiful Wood"Creating a niche in the crafts world,

one that paid off, wasn't easy. ButRichard knew what was needed tosell his product-and himself.

Richard believes that most craftspeople aren't salespeople becausethey reject what's involved with be-ing commerciaL such as sizing up acustomer.

When someone stops by hisbooth at a major craHs fair, for in-stance, and inquires about his work,Richard wants to k.now immediatelyif they're sincerely interested inbuying or simply want to hear himtalk about his work. He introducesprice right away, showing thelowest priced item, a high-priced

1a RICHARD ROTHBARD'STIPS FOR SALES SUCCESS1. Make what the public willaccept, in design and price.2. Most people buy simplerthings. Design t"em that wayto keep the price down.3. Find the cost of what you'remaking, then price accordingly.4. The trick in succeeding withlower-priced items is to makethem quickly.5. Be sure you can reach yourbuyers. You can't make expen-sive furniture way out in theboonies unless you have areputation.6, Educate customers. If theydon't understanding something,tlley won't feel comfortable buy~ing it.7. Leam to sell. You can'tautomatically reject what ittakes to be commercial.8. Don't be afraid to talkmoney right up front. Usrealistic.9. Work hard at presentation-new pieces, new slides, a sharpbooth, nice-looking signs.10. If you're not selling whatyou make, look around and seewhy not.

Continued27

CRAFTSMAN CLOSE-UP

as fine restaurants, an amphitheaterfor concerts, and country con-dominiums for those who want tolive the rural life and commute thehour to work in New York City.

While Richard's energy is dirededtoward greater undertakings, he isn't

Third cui removescompartment core

Made of solid black walnut, this onion-shaped jewelry box is one of BeautifulWood's best sellers. Read about how ii's made on the opposite page and see thesequence of band-saw cuts in the sketch below.point out that it's often rare, growsin exotic lands, and is expensive:'

Looking to the futureRichard's success with his BeautifulWood products sparked a desire forchallenges. One is the staging andpromotion of a series of crafts fairs.Under the banner "CraftmarketAmerica;' Richard. showcases qualityartists and craftspeople at showsopen to both wholesale and retailcustomers. From New York andMassachusetts, Richard has expand-ed to major cities on both coasts.

Another deals with the village ofSugar Loaf. On the rolling, partiallywooded acreage he owns across theroad from his shop and retail store,Richard envisions a complete craftscomplex. His plans include shopswhere craftspeople work, demon-strate, and sell their wares, as well

one, and then one in between, com-menting favorably about them all.That gives potential customersseveral comfortable buying niches."If they don't feel comfortable;'Richard emphasizes, "they won'tspend:'

Richard lhinks ifs also importantto have something in a price rangelow enough to satisfy those whoonly have a few dollars to spare. "Itgives you a great feeling to offersomething that everyone can afford,something that those with littlemoney can still buy and walk awayhappy. You're satisfying someone'sneed to have something of yours;'Richard says.

The continually expanding Beau-tiful Wood line covers a broad pricerange. The top of the line is themulticompartmented zebrawood treesculpture. with a $1,600 price tag.At the bottom end, at 50 cents, areanimal-shaped trinkets no largerthan a key ring fob, which hemakes from thin scraps of exoticwood. In between are cigarettecases, jewelry boxes, pen and pencilcases, and puzzle boxes in myriadshapes retailing from just $12 to asubstantial $400.

Wholesaling to gift shops anddepartment stores in volume is a re-cent and successful expansion fol""Richard. To make it work, he devel-oped a relatively expensive four-color, 12-page catalog displaying anassortment of his Beautiful Woodproducts.

Richard attributes part of thecatalog's success to the story it tellsabout the nature and origin of thewoods he uses_ Educating the customer has to be part of the sellingtechnique, he believes. This holdstrue whether you're talking topotential retail customers at a fair,in the store, or to long-distancebuyers who order by phone.

"Few people really know any-thing about wood and what can bedone with it;' Richard says. "Evenfewer can tell good work from lessthan good work.

"You have to tell customers thatsome woods-the cocobolo, im-buya, ebony, and zebrawood-are acommodity more like preciousstones than soybeans. You have to

28 'A'OOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

neglecting the bandsaw productsthat make his other efforts possible.He wants to design even larger andmore complex boxes and sculptures,and to add new shapes to themedium-priced range of his offer-ings. And, when all those dreamsbecome reality, Richard plans toreturn to making custom furniture.

BAND SAW BOXES:THE TECHNIQUERichard's band saw boxes requirepracticed skill at the blade as wellas careful advance planning for theseries of cuts. If you were to in-spect the finished onion box beingcreated below, only the sharpest eyecould detect the minute, practicallyinvisible, glue lines that trace itsmanufacture. In such a shape,there's little opportunity to back outor use escape routes-the thin YaMblade driven by a powerful 5-hp.motor must sweep efficientlythrough the hardwood.

The unique onion-shaped jewelry

box starts with the selection of atemplate from the dozens of stockpatterns hanging on the shop wall.After laying the template atop anappropriately sized, precut piece ofblack walnut, Richard defines thecutting outline with flat black spraylacquer. This spray stenciling saveshandwork and sharply outlines theband saw's path. .

At the band saw, Richard skill-fully guides the work into theblade, following the graceful lineswhich eventually trace the shapeand the compartments within.Working from the inside of thepiece outward, the blade cuts outthe onion's core pieces-which willcomprise the box's two maincompartments.

The pieces have to be hollow, soRichard takes thin slices off thefront and back, then makes acontour-following CUt which reomoves the center of the stock.When the front and back slices arereattached later, the hollow compartment will be ready to store

items. If he chooses, additionalsmaller compartments are made byrepeating this sequence with theleftover "centers:'

Band-sawing completed, Richardnow sands each piece (except gluingsurfaces) on a special spindletypesander he's devised that works perfectly on small rounded shapes.Spindles of different diameterscovered with progressively finersandpaper grits allow him tosmooth even the tightest curves.

Yellow glue beaded on the joints,followed by a tight multipleclamping, ensures that the box willstay together.

To finish the onion box, Richardsprays on a coat of oil-based ure-thane, lets it dry completely, thenadds clear lacquer. The result is arich, deeplooking finish that reoquires no maintenance. Inside, thebox receives the ultimate touch-avelourlike, spray-applied flockingIhat pampers future contents.Produced by Peter J. StephanoPhotographs: Jim Elder; Hopkins Associates

Selecting a template. Dozens ofshapes, covered with coats of blackspray lacquer, represent variations.

Contour-sanding. Sandpaper-eoveredspindles of varying sizes were shop-built to conform to different shapes.WOOD MAGAZiNE AUGUST 1985

Band sawing the box. A %. bladefollows the outline contours as thebox is cut from the stock.

Gluing and assembly. With yellowglue, Richard readies a compartmentfor its front and back pieces.

Making the compartments. Slicingoff the core's front and back, thensawing out its center, creates a box.

Unraveling the onion. Relativelyquick to make, the jewelry box featurescompartments within compartments.

29

HOMEMAOE TOOL

$50 and one weekendWORKBENCH

"

END SECTION

2 Measure and mark the half-lapjoint locations on the ends of thelegs and rails. Using a dado bladeon a radial arm saw or table saw,test-cut half-lap joints on two piecesof scrap of the same thickness asthe dimensioned pine stock_ Checkthe fit and adjust the depth of cutif necessary. Clamp a stop to thesaw fence to ensure an equal 3 ~half lap on all parts. Cut the jointson the ends of A and B.

4 Glue and damp the leg/railassemblies (A. B) together, checkingfor square with a framing square.

3 At the same depth of cut usedfor the half-lap joints. cut a dado inthe center of the bottom rails B tohouse cross member D.

Building the base1 Rip Y." from each edge of all the2 X 4 stock for a Y finished width.(This removes factory-rounded edgesand lets you make tighter-fitting,betterlooking joints.) Crosscut thelegs (A), end rails (B), and crossmembers (C, D) to size. Cut thestrut (E) to size plus 2" in lengthand cut the vise bar guide (F) tosize.

~~~r3 'A" 't.~ 25"- 'j."" 3t S"t-F;~"und-over

3" ...J ~

5 cd!

34'h" 26'At ,

,

l;---0 0

~B3" 63f.'~:-: I 6lt." 3"1%" 20%"

an ingenious end vise, a tooltray, and lots of other con-veniences that are guaran-teed to please. Best of all,this little wonder is designedto last through years ofpleasurable project-building.

What more could a homewoodworker want? Thisworkbench is inexpensive(we spenl less than $50 formaterials), sturdy, and youcan tackle it in just oneweekend. It's equipped with

30 WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

,'-j8)(2 F.H.wooo screw

3/.' steel rod-24" long

Bench dogIf.''' nolch 1f2. deep

,

A = 11f2"

Bill 01 MlIlorloloF1n1lhtcl SlIt

... T W L-

Qty

A lib'" 3" 34~'" .... C

'Ib" 3" 2011" .... CI c ''n" 3" "II" .... 3

0 ,~'" 3" .." .... ,E" 'W 3" 54%" .... ,F "i\" 3" 101,)" .... ,G II" 23%" .." ...- 2H 'I?

231

""

.."

-

,

I ",," 1'h!" 20"'''' ....,

I J 1'h!" 1'fa" .." p;". 2K' II" 3Y? 25" p;". ,L' II" 3'1? 48%" .... 2

"1'h!" C" 25" .... ,

....N 3" C' lB"

-

,

" 0 II" '\I" S" .... ,p .,.. 40,;" 5%'"

-2

0 II" 5" .." .... ,R %" 4'40" .." ..- 2'Some PIflI are c:ul Iarget irIbIIy, thintrin'In'l8d -.lIniIIled.. Please reed inIInJc.lions beIore CUftIng.

~ ~"i8Inul dowel 8IoCk, 1-150Jorgensen damp fixture, ," pipe cap.l-f,"'1I2O'" bIICIt pipe threadedal both ende,2-,"'x24" aetI bait, '1?1I4 Ilg 8Cf8W&,laxlY,'" f\elhead 'MXld iClfI'I4, 18111%" flit.held 'MXld 8Cf8WS, 18x2'" fIalhe8d wood8Cf8WS, 18x2~'" fI8IhHd WOod """"daubll 'aced .. ," 0Ik daMIIllodt. v.."pine dCM8IlltDCk. 'n" bnIds, vamiIh, and 01

-

Hall-lapjoint

3"')(3"'x%deep

:>~,-Benchtopdoghole locations

II

r!II." )(4"lag screw

41f2* """~ ""'5%'" %... walnu... Tail-stop dowel

I 3" long

HOMEMADE TOOL

5 Drill %" holes centered on eachof the bottom halflap joints only.You will drill the top dowel holeslater when joining the cross memobers to the leg/rail assemblies. (Toprevent splintering, we drilled witha spade bit unHI just the tip of thebit poked through the opposite sideof the board. Then we turned theassembly over and, using the holeas a guide. finished drilling throughthe joint.)

Cutting Diagram

o 6 pieces 2x4x96- Pine

-

J

II

6 Cui four '%" walnut dowels 1'.4"long and glue them into the holesin the bottom halflap joints. Afterthe glue dries, belt-sand the dowelsflush. Mark and cut a I'k" radiuson the four bottom corners. thenbelt-sand them smooth.

..------------ -------------,, ,

, . 'L ~

V."x48-x48" Hardboard

7 Glue and clamp the cross memobers (C, D) between the leg/rail assemblies. Bore ,%" dowel holesthrough the upper lap joints and1%.. into the ends of the cross mem-bers. Cut ~f" walnut dowels Ylong, then glue and insert thedowels through the halflap jointsand into the ends of the cross memobers. After the glue dries, removethe damps and sand the dowel endsflush.

8 Cut the angled ends of the strut(El, then glue, damp, and dowel Einto position. After the glue dries,sand the entire base assemblysmooth.

Pf.tx5Y,"x72" Pine

Q)e 'I

I

; ':;'"))

SECTION VIEW OF VISE

...,.::.. walnut dowela \ \>" long'Sx1Y." FH."""" saew

N6" --'

,ax2%" FH. wood screwPh" 1%"1%"

i H r~I!~~I~,/ \~ /1,,Pipe cap

2 Glue and damp the two pieces ofplywood together, being careful tokeep all four edges flush. After theglue dries, mark the location of thetool tray where shown in theexploded-view drawing. Drill a holelarge enough for a jigsaw blade andcut the opening to size. [The tooltray fits snugly between two crossmembers (C).]

Constructing the workbench top

1 Rip the plywood pieces (G) andhardboard (H) to size. (We useddouble-faced tape to bond the twopieces of plywood and one piece ofhardboard, then cut all three piecesat once for uniformity.)

32 INOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

v.... hole :y.... hole

------, -

----'

@

Release lever

H8xl'!2" F.H.wood screw

1,4" dowel 2V:" long

Groove formed whendrilling allows lever

to rock.

Tail-stop

H8x'" F.H. WOOd screN

1,4~ hole for H8xl1!.nwood screw

%~ hole

VISE HOLE ALIGNMENT

l:yj," hole

%~ hole

1 '...... hole1+=f---++__-+~_-.L-i--l"_+- ...J

f-- 4%.'_+--_4"'"'-1---%" hOlel~:- :- ""

--.Lj 1%"

'-=12',/"I 0'1:Y".. hole,:y. ..

'3 4%"CLAMP RELEASE LEVER

QUICKRELEASE DETAIL

Top View

@

Each square = 1 inch

3 Rip and crosscut support pieces Iand J to size. Glue and damp themto the bottom of the plywood flushwith the outside edges. Removeany glue squeezeout from the out-side edges.

4 Position the plywood top (G) onthe base assembly. Drill pilot holes,then glue and screw the top to thebase using 18 X2'tz" wood screws.

ContinuedSide VieN

HOMEMADE TOOL

5 Rip and crosscut trim piece~ Kand L to size plus 1 ~ in length. CutM to size then set it aside for now.Miter-cut one end of each Landboth ends of K to finished length.

6 Position the hardboard (Hl on topof the plywood. Drill I/.," holes '%'"deep for plugs along the outsideedges of pieces K and L. Drill apilot hole through the center ofeach plug hole for the #8 X 1 'h."wood screws used to attach the trimpieces to the bench top. Glue andscrew the trim pieces to the bench,flush with the top of the hardboard.

7 Cut YI " pine plugs 'h." long, thenglue and insert them over the woodscrews. Belt-sand the plugs flushwith the trim pieces.

Building and installing the vise

Note: This quick.damp end vise,first featured on page 88 of the Febru-ary, 1985 issue, made a real hit withWOOD readers. It's a simple, inexpensive device that does the job ofvises costing several times more.

1 Laminate two pieces of lj,~thickpine to form the vise jaw (N). Boretwo :y,~ holes for the guide rods andone a~ hole.for the black pipethrough end trim piece M as dir;nensioned in the Vise Hole AlignmentDrawing.

2 Clamp M to N and, using theholes you already drilled in M as apositioning guide, drill like-sizedholes through N. Glue and fastenM to the workbench top using#8 X 2 ~ wood screws covered withplugs. Drill corresponding holesthrough top rail B, again using M asa guide.

3 Cut two .y.~ steel rods to 24 ~ andone :Y," black pipe (outside dimension ] 'A.~) to 20".

4 Cut two :Y." walnut dowels '% ..long and glue them into the holesin the vise jaw (N) to cover the barends as shown in the Section ViewDrawing.

34

5 Bore holes in F as dimensioned inthe Vise Hole Alignment Drawing.Position F under the workbench topand install the pipe and bars toalign F with M. Drill two pilotholes through F and 'fasten it to thebottom of the workbench top with'4 X4" lag screws.

6 Install the guide bars through viseparts N, M, B, and the pipe clamptail-stop, then on through F. Fastenthe pipe clamp tail-stop to rail' Bwith a #8 X] .. wood screw, asshown in the Quick Release Detail.Attach the pipe cap to the end ofthe pipe under the workbench topand the crank mechanism to theother end of the pipe.

7 Using a ~ .. metal-cutting bit, drilla hole] '4 ~ deep through the bottom of N and through the center ofeach guide bar as shown in the ViseHole Alignment and Section ViewDrawings. Now, install #8 XIII."screws to hold the guide bars inplace.

8 Cut the lever 0 to size as indicat-ed in the Clamp Release LeverDrawing, then drill the 14 ~ holewhere indicated. Now, wiggle thebit from side to side to form agroove so that the lever can rockback and forth on the mountingscrew (again, SE:e drawing).

9 Fasten the release lever (0) sothat it rocks on the inside of toprail B. The end of the lever is positioned to release the spring-loadedtailstop as shown in the QuickRelease Detail. Now drill a Yo ~ hole:Y," deep below the handle of thelever, then glue and install a '4"dowel 2 Y:", long to keep the leverhorizontal.

Note: To use the vise, pull the releaselever toward top rail B. This releasesthe tailstop, allowing you to pull thevise outward. When you reach thedesired clamping distance, release thelever and give the clamp a quick jerkto set the tailstop on the black pipe.Insert the project to be clamped andtighten the screw handle.

10 Clamp N tightly against M.Using a 'h.~ roundover bit, rout thetop outside edge of the bench top,being sure not to rout where M andN meet. Sand the round-over andpine pieces smooth.

Making the tool tray

1 Rip and crosscut the tool traypieces (P, Q, R) to size. Glue andnail the hardboard sides (R) to thepine bottom (Q), then nail the ends(P) to the pine bottom.

2 Insert the tool tray into the holecut in the plywood top and nailthrough the sides and ends to attachit to the bench top.

Final assembly

1 Apply double-.faced tape to theplywood top' (G) and set the hard-board in place, noting the locationof the tool tray cavity. (While car-pet tape worked fine for us, youmay want to flush-mount a fewscrews to hold down the hard-board.) Don't glue it in position-you may want to replace the boardin the future. Drill a hole throughthe hardboard and into the cavitylarge enough for a flush-cuttingrouter bit. Fit your router with aflush.cutting bit and, using the tooltray sides as a guide, rout the hard-board opening to size.

2 Bore 1 ~ bench dogholes 1 Y. ~deep through the bench top (G, H)as spaced in the exploded viewdrawing. Bore corresponding .holesin vise part N. Centerbore a 74~hole through the rest of the plywood bottom (G) to allow sawdustto fall through the doghole. Cut 1 ~oak dowels 2V," long for the benchdogholes, then cut a :Y. ~ notch 104"deep in one end of each. (Weclamped each dowel in our newlyconstructed bench vise and cut thenotch with a handsaw.)

3 Finishsand the entire assembly,then oil or varnish the pine, and oilthe hardboard top.Design: Kim DowningPholographs: Bob CalmerIllustrations: Bill Zaun

WOOD MAGAZINE AUGUST 19as

Update!Building and installing the vise: Step 1 "Laminate two pieces of 1 1/2"-thick pine to form the vise jaw (N)."

turningbetWeencentersDo woodturners really havemore fun? From everything wecan tell, they certainly do. Andwe think we know why! It's thealmost instant gratification theyget as the gouge or the skewor the parting tool puts thefinishing touches on what justa short time ago was an undis-tinguished-looking chunk ofwood, but now is an object ofrare beauty. It's that simple-wood turning is fast and fun.Maybe it's time you step up tothe lathe and take your tum.You'D never regret it!

v..ooo MAGAZINE AUGUST 1985

here's a lot to know about woodturning, a lot of territory to cover.After all, some people spend yearsmastering this truly artistic form ofwoodworking. We've decided todelve into turning between centersthis time, and in an upcoming issue,we'll talk faceplate turning.

Here's what you'll needWhat's a woodturner without alathe, right? If you don't have onealready, our lathe buymanship arti-cle on page 68 will help you decidewhich of the many options availabletoday is right for you.

The lathe plus five turningchisels will enable you to make allthe cuts necessary to tum anybetween-centers project. A %~gouge and a Yo. version of the samechisel serve double duty. They do

the rough cutting necessary torounddown the tuming square to acylindrical shape. And they alsocome in handy when you want tomake a cove, or concave, cut. Weuse a skew that's anywhere from 'k.to 1 wide to smooth the ridgesleft from rounding-down the stockwith the gouge. And for makingbeads (the convex portion of turnings), we rely on a %~ diamondpoint parting tool. This same toolalso cuts grooves. (See page 79 formore information about these chisels.)

You'll also need the other toolsand materials shown in the photoabove. Note especially the faceshield, which safeguards you againstflying wood chips while you'reoperating the lathe. Wearing it isan absolute must. We11 talk aboutthe uses of the other items later.

Continued35

SKETCH 1

SHOPTESTED TECHNIOUES

LAYING OUT YOURTURNING PROJECTAs a woodturner. you need to de-velop the skill of making templates.Why? Because the template servesas a valuable referencing aid. It al-lows you to check visually on theprogress of your turning. Templatesalso allow you to reproduce severalidentical pieces of a given shape.

To fashion a template, start bycutting a ~. piece of plywood orhardboard to the length of the turn-ing. (We use Baltic birch plywoodfor our templates because of its sta-bility and light color.) Then. drawa line lengthwise down its cenler.

After doing this, if you don'thave a scaled drawing to workfrom, draw the profile of the lum-ing as best you can. Then continueto refine the shape until you havean attractive profile. If you do havea scaled drawing. transfer the out-line of the turning to graph paper

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MOUNTING THE STOCK ON THE LATHE

Photo 0Clamp the stock in a vise, and-using the blade of a square-drawdiagonal lines from corner to corneron both ends of the stock. An accurate centerpoint is important espe-cially if you're doing a partiallyturned project. It ensures that theturned portion will be the same dis-tance from each edge of the unturned portion. It also lessens theamount of vibration during theroundingdown process.

Photo ABegin by aligning the centerpoint ofthe stock with that of the drivecenter. Then, tap the stock with amallei until the drive center spursengage the stock. Don't beat onthe stock; that's not necessary, andit's hard on the headstock bearings.If you'd rather, you can also removethe drive center, saw shallow di-agonal cuts from corner to cornerwith a handsaw, and tap the centerinto the stock.

Photo CAfter tigMening the tailstock andthe center, move back up to theheadstock. Wrap a piece of mask-ing tape around the drive center,and mark one of the spurs and itscorresponding location on the endof the turning. This is insurance-just in case you have to remove theturning from the lathe before it'sfinished and have to remount itlater. (If you wish, you can alsopermanently notch one spur with afile.)

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Photo EMake a starter hole at the center-point of each end with an awl orcenter punch. Want to make therounding-down process a little lessbumpy and easier on your turningtools1 If so, mark the turning'sgreatest diameter with a compassand mark a line just beyond theoutside of the circumference line ateach corner as shown. (Experiencedturners don't bother with this step,but it's worth knowing about.)

Photo BMove the taiiSlock to just shy ofIhe point at which the tailstockcenter and the stock meel, tightenthe tailstock, and use your lathe'stailstock handwheel 10 move thecenter into the stock. Here again,don't exert undue pressure; it's notnecessary. If you don't have a ball-bearing center (a good investment ifyou don't already own one of thesenifty accessories), apply someparaffin wax to the stock where itmeets the center to reduce frictionand possible burning.

Photo 0We've included this photo to showyou the importance of having the1001 resl parallel and close 10 thelurning at all times. The rest shouldalso be about halfway between thetop of the turning and the center-point. Note: Make sure that youalways shut off the lathe beforemoving the tool rest. Also rotatethe stock to make sure it and thetool rest won't make contact.

Photo FWith the turning square held secure-ly in a bench vise, remove thewaste material with a bench planeas shown in the photo above. (Notethat we're planing the stock at anangle rather than straight on.) Or,set your saw blade at a 45 angle,adjust the rip fence as needed, andrun the stock through the table saw.If you're doing a partially turnedproject, you'll want to stop the cutsshort of the shoulder.

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SHOP-TESTEO TECHNIOUES

ROUNDING DOWN AND TURNING THE STOCKPhoto AWith the lathe set on a low speed(around 800 rpm), use a sharpgouge to begin the rounding-downprocess. Work slowly from theheadstock end" down, and don't tryto remove too much material atonce. Notice the angle at whichthe gouge is being held. At thisangle, you're cutting the stockrather than scraping it. See thephoto at the top of the next pagefor an example of how the scrapingaction differs from the cuttingaction.Photo BYou11 have to move the tool restseveral times while you're roundingdown. Be sure to keep it close tbthe stock; this gives you greatercontrol of the tool. If you want toput a mirrorlike sheen on thecylinder, hold the skew as shown,

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with the bevel rubbing the cylinderand the heel of the blade doing thecutting. Done correctly, this proce-dure all but eliminates sanding.Photo CNow lay your template up againstthe turning. and transfer the markson the template to the turning.Make sure when you do so that theend of the template aligns with theend of the stock. In the exampleshown, we marked the end of theshoulder using a combinationsquare, then started the lathe andmarked the other lines.Photo DPosition the template as shown inthis photo, then begin shaping theprojed. By sighting across the turn-ing onto the template occasionally,you can tell when you're approaching the corred shape. This technique also keeps you from making

incorrect cuts-a common occur-rence, especially if you're a begin.ning turner.Photo EAs you approach the finished di-ameter of the various segments ofthe turning. check your progressoften with an outside calipers.Simply adjust the calipers to matchthe marks on the template, andkeep turning until the calipers slipsaround the portion of the turningyou're checking.Photo FYou can make any betweencentersproject once you learn to makebeads and coves. Be advised,though, you'll have to pradice a lotto become good at making either.To make a bead, first lay your part-ing tool flat on the tool rest andscore both lines that define thewidth of the bead.

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Photo GThen, make a mark at the center ofthe bead. Position the parting toolat a slight angle to the tool rest anda bit on edge as shown, then rollthe tool toward the score mark. Thetool will be almost as shbwn in theprevious photograph at the end ofthe roll. Make another, deeperscore line and then another roll-action cut. Repeat this process untilthe bead is formed.Photo HTo make a cove, position the gougeas shown. Don't go so deeply thatthe gouge's edges catch the stock.Photo ITo smooth the edges of the cove,hold the gouge at the angle shown.Work from the side in toward thecenter of the cove.

FINISHING YOUR TURNINGPROJECTPhoto AWith most woodworking projects,preparing the surface for a finish isa drag. Not so with wood.turningprojects. The lathe does the workfor you-and in a big hurry. Justlay in a supply of 80-, 100-, andlSO-grit sandpaper and begin sanding. By having the sandpaperbeneath the turning. you can monitor your progress. Keep the papermoving.Photo BOnce you've removed all the imperfections from the surface, stop thelathe and lightly handsand theturning in the direction of the grainwith lSOgrit. Holding yourthumbs as shown allows the paperto conform to the object's shape.This light sanding removes thosebarely visible sanding marks leftfrom acrossthegrain sanding.Photo CMost turners like to finish theirprojects right on the lathe becauseit's so quick and easy. To protectyour clothes and surroundings fromsplatters, set up some kind of a simplified finishing booth such as theone shown here. We usually usescrap cardboard. When applyingthe finish, be sure you hold the ragwith both hands so you don't ac-cidentally tangle it up in the lathe.

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Should you scrape or cui?Much has been written aboutwhether or not novice woodturnerscan learn to use their chisels proper-ly as cutters rather than scrapers.Professional and experiencedamateur woodturners us