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American Woodworker Magazine: December 1991

magIssue — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:29:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

Happy Holidays from the Staff of American Woodworker!

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American Woodworker Magazine: October 1991

magIssue — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:27:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

A few months ago, Time magazine ran a cover story entitled, "The Simple Life: Americans Get Back to Basics." Monitoring the pulse of the people as they do, the pundits at TIme were the first to note a trend in the making. Fast-track baby boomers, who pushed it flat-out through the high-rolling '80s, are hitting the brakes in a panic as the S curves of midlife loom dead ahead. Burnt out from their high-paying, high-stress careers, these one-time workaholics are rejecting the rat-race and rediscovering the basic values of family, home and hearth.

If the trend-spotters at TIme are correct, these baby boomers should be showing up in the ranks of AW readers. After all, if it's basic values you're looking for, you can't find a more down-to-earth pastime than woodworking—a venerable craft that's just steeped in tradition. . .

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American Woodworker Magazine: August 1991

magIssue — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

In this issue, we've devoted a lot of space to wood: ways to find it, saw it and dry it yourself. We think it's important reading for all woodworkers, even if you never plan to touch a log in your life. We all work with wood, but it's surprising how few of us really understand the stuff. Sure, we've heard that wood moves, but we don't know quite how or just what to do about it. We've all seen boards warp, twist, split, check and cup, but we aren't sure just why or how to avoid it. We've heard furniture wood should be "dry" before building with it, but we don't know how to tell if it is. . .

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American Woodworker Magazine: May/June 1991

magIssue — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:06:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

It's a tradition. The Great American Summer Vacation. Pack the kids into the family bus and hit the road. While your annual summer jaunt is still in the planning stages, plan to schedule a woodworking side trip or two.
America's full of museums where you can see furniture, old tools or woodworking demonstrations. . .

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American Woodworker Magazine: April 1991

magIssue — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:59:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

We got a letter recently from a frustrated reader who criticized us for publishing furniture projects that called for tools and machinery he didn't own and couldn't afford to buy. "I don't have a machine shop full of specialty tools," was the way he put it. I know how he feels.
I remember a time when my workshop consisted of a box full of hand tools and a door thrown across a couple of oil drums in the roach-infested basement of a New York City brownstone. Urban woodworkers develop a keen eye for scrounging, and I was always on the lookout for choice bits of wood that someone had put out with the trash. One day, I hit the jackpot—a broken chest of drawers with curly maple drawer fronts. I loaded up all the pieces I could carry.
A friend was about to be married that week, and a the eleventh hour, I decided to make her a dovetailed candlebox with a sliding lid. The maple drawer fronts beckoned. The problem was that the 1/2-in. thick candlebox sides were somewhere in the middle of those 3/4-in. thick drawer fronts, and all I had were hand tools. I had to get that box built fast, so I grabbed a marking gauge and a plane and went to work. . .

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American Woodworker Magazine: January/February 1991

magIssue — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:55:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

Most of us make New Year's resolutions this time of year. We at AW made on we intend to keep: We pledge to satisfy our readers.
To keep our part of the bargain, we need feedback from you. What are your woodworking interests? What turns you on most? What kinds of articles do you want to see more of in the year to come?
We learn about some of you by mailing out surveys. Unfortunately, each survey can reach only a fraction of our 200,000 subscribers. We think it only fair that you all have a chance to vote—a chance to let us know if we're on the right track.
So take a moment to tell us your thoughts!

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American Woodworker Magazine: December/January 1989

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:31:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

Happy holidays from the staff at American Woodworker!

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American Woodworker Magazine: September/October 1989

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:28:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

There are two types of woodworkers in the world: Those who design their own furniture and those who don't. Those who don't think those who do practice some sort of arcane magic, like mysterious, modern-day alchemists.

There's no great mystery to designing a piece of furniture. It's a trial and error process even for the best of designers, and everybody has a different approach.

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American Woodworker Magazine: July/August 1989

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:22:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

In Eastern Pennsylvania, where I live and work, you don't have to dig deep to strike a vein that's rich in history. The frugal, hard-working German and English settlers who cleared the land have left us a legacy in stone barns, iron tools, woven coverlets, and wooden furniture. The barns now are stooped and bowed, but the artifacts are well cared for in museums and private collections.

But what of the skills that built these objects? Who's keeping that part of the legacy alive?

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American Woodworker Magazine: May/June 1989

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:15:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

I can't pick up a newspaper or magazine these days without reading about air pollution, rain forests and the "Greenhouse effect."

In case you've been hibernating, the "greenhouse effect" refers to the gradual warming of the earth as a result of air pollution—chiefly carbon dioxide—caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and wood. Like the glass walls of a greenhouse, this mantle of pollution works to let in the sun but keeps the heat from escaping into space. As a result, the temperature of the earth is slowly but steadily rising. An increase in global temperature means higher ocean levels and drastic climate changes that will affect every living thing on earth.

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American Woodworker Magazine: March/April 1989

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:08:00 GMT

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From the Letter from the Editor:

A couple of weeks ago one of our editors used the expression "pushing the envelope." I thought I was pretty much up on things language wise, but that one had me stumped. I didn't have the slightest idea what it meant. The fellow who used the phrase filled me in. When test pilots push a plane's performance to its absolute limits, they call it "pushing the envelope." The "envelope" being the speed, altitude, or maneuverability limits imposed by the plane's design. The editor in question (a pilot, I should add) thought the phrase filled a gap in the language and used it in a non-aeronautical context. That's how language grows and evolves.

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American Woodworker Magazine: January/February 1989

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:59:00 GMT

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It's hard to believe, but the calendar says it's true. It's been a whole year since Founding Editor Jim Jennings handed over the reins of AMERICAN WOODWORKER and said, "Here, kid. It's your turn to drive." We've put together a winning team in the last twelve months—new editors, art directors, ad sales and circulation staff—the best folks we could find.

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American Woodworker Magazine: June/July 2009

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:32:00 GMT

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A large part of what makes woodworking such a rewarding activity is the wide variety of materials, techniques and tools that are available to work with. As the builder, you get to choose your challenges. Projects can be small or large, simple or sophisticated. Sometimes woodworking isn't even about the project; it's about the process. You may simply want to get better at a certain technique, or learn an entirely new one. Developing your skills is like adding a new tool to your shop—it's a great way to expand the kinds of projects you can tackle.

Providing information that helps you build your woodworking skills is what American Woodworker is all about. Page through this issue and you'll find a rich mixture of projects, tips, techniques and tool information.

Do you need something for your home? Check out the "12 Drawer Dresser" on page 44. Even if you don't need the dresser, you'll find a great technique for installing drawers that guarantees smooth, easy operation.

Want to hone your joinery skills? Then turn to the Build Your Studio section (page 35) for complete step-by-step directions on building frame and panel doors, using traditional mortise and tenon joinery.

Maybe you're searching for new jigs to use with your router. You'll find just such a handy jig on page 62 in "Routing for Oval Inlays." Once you learn about this technique, you'll be able to apply it to other types of inlays and projects.

If your shop time is limited, check out "Wooden Burr Puzzles" on page 57 and "Pizza Paddle" on page 66. Either project can easily be made in a weekend, using wood you probably have in your scrap pile. Yet both offer unique challenges and a chance to practice your jig-building and joint-cutting skills. The end products are useful too. The puzzles will keep your friends (or enemies) busy, and the pizza paddle will serve up your movie night pizzas in style.

In addition to these great projects and techniques, you'll also find the usual collection of wonderful Workshop Tips and Well-Equipped Shop tools. And of course, there's this issue's Great American Woodworker, Tim Coleman (page 24). For Tim, it's all about the details. And for American Woodworker, it's all about helping you build your skills. In this issue, like every issue, there's a lot to choose from. So take your pick and tell us what you think. We'd like to hear how we can make American Woodworker even better and more useful to you. Send your comments to AWEditor@AmericanWoodworker.com.

In closing, I wish you a great summer working in your shop. Stay cool and keep the chips flying.

Randy Johnson

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American Woodworker Magazine: December/January 2009

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:30:00 GMT

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American Woodworker Magazine: February/March 2009

magIssue — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:20:00 GMT

A router's ability to cut, shape, carve and drill makes it one of woodworking's most versatile tools. Its usefulness continues to expand, as evidenced by the large number of new accessories, bits and jigs that come to market every year. And its popularity is underscored by manufacturers' ongoing efforts to improve the machine itself.
This issue of American Woodworker is our 10th annual Router Special. There's never been a shortage of "new and improved" router items to write about, and this year is no exception. We've included several of our favorites in "Well Equipped Shop" (see page 14), such as Freud's expanded line of Quadra-Cut bits, with patented up and down shear cutters that help eliminate tearout and fuzz on even the toughest woods. We also cover Festool's new MFK 700 EQ trim router, Infinity's professional router table coping sled, CMT's bowl and tray bit set, and many more.

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