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Q. Is it possible to get a custom-made router bit to match an old molding profile? A. Yes, it is! Andrews Toolworks is one company in the business of making one-of-a-kind carbide bits. Prices range from $155 to $300 for a single bit. So if you only have a few feet of molding to run, there are more economical...
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Should I spend more money on cast-iron wings? Q. I can save money by buying stamped steel rather than cast-iron extension wings for my new tablesaw. What do cast-iron wings offer that steel wings don't? A. Over the long haul, you'll find that cast-iron wings have at least four valuable benefits...
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I came across some wonderful oak boards for a small table I wanted to build. The problem was the boards were too wide for my jointer and I didn't want to rip them any narrower. I solved my dilemma with this planer sled that allows me to use my planer as a jointer. The trick is to keep the board from...
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For $250 and half an hour's worth of simple improvements, you can cut precise mortises all day. Mortising machines first answered the prayers of mortise-cutting woodworkers over 120 years ago. Today you can buy a miniaturized descendant of those old-timers. Though they're not the only powered...
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jointer is a must-have for many woodworkers. Few can do without the smooth, straight edges and faces they get from their jointers. We tested twelve 6-in. floor models that sell for under $600. A 6-in. jointer will handle material up to 6-in. wide, the width of the cutter head. A 6-in. jointer serves...
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Laminate trim routers are amazing little machines. Their light weight and compact size make them exceptionally easy to use. Although they are designed primarily for trimming plastic laminate (p-lam), they also work great for light-duty wood routing. Trim router motors range from 3.8 to 7.5 amps and run...
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The vibrafree 5-in. Random Orbit Sander’s design incorporates two counter-acting pads always moving in opposite directions to reduce vibration. This means more removal and less vibration. The vibrafree sander also features the bag-less, filter-less Cyclonic/Dust/Air Separator system, which is designed...
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If you've got a Bosch router hanging in your router table and are tired of reaching under the table to make height adjustments, here's good news. The new RA1165 base, $60, includes above-the-table adjustment. It's compatible with the motors in Bosch 1617, 1617-220V, 1617EVS, 1618 and 1618EVS...
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Fine-tuning dado width for a perfect fit can drive you nuts because plywood thickness is inconsistent. Enter the Dado Wiz, $159. That's a lot of dough for a dado-only jig, but this router-based guide virtually guarantees a perfect fit on the first try. The easy road to success comes from setting...
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Frame-and-panel router bits sets are thickness specific, so the bits you use for a cabinet door may not be the same set you need for a delicate jewelry box made from thinner material. Scaled-down frame-and-panel sets, like this new one from Freud, solve the problem. Various companies make these miniature...
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The Akeda dovetail jig first hit the woodworking world in March 2003. Production problems took this tool off the market for a while, but now it's back and available from more distributors than before. The Akeda DC-16 jig, $330, has a 16-in. capacity and cuts variably spaced through and half-blind...
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A friend of mine spent years trying to teach me to carve. Sorry, it just ain't in these hands. But CMT had me carving—sort of—in minutes. The company's new 3D Router Carver System turns a plunge router into a carving tool. You can get started in the system for around $180. The key...
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For the serious router table user, the benefits of owning a router lift are huge. Strap a 3-1/4-hp variable-speed router into one of these lifts and you have a routing system that can't be beat for convenience, power and accuracy. With a router lift, all your height adjustments can be made from the...
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Q. I'm thinking about starting a side business building custom doors. Should I consider investing in a shaper or use my router table? Shaper cutters are larger and last longer than router bits. The heavy weight large-diameter shaper cutter is designed to remove large amounts of material. A. Get a...
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Raise your hand if you hate swapping bits and drivers in a cordless drill. I sure do. When I'm putting in screws, I'm always going back and forth, tightening and loosening that darn chuck. Hey, I've even gone to the extreme of buying a second drill just to avoid this hassle. There's got...