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Q & A: The Right Mortise/Tenon Fit Q: What’s the right fit between a mortise and a tenon? I’m going crazy trying to measure them with a dial caliper! A: You’re not alone. This question has bugged just about every woodworker, but the answer doesn’t lie with precision instruments...
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Q & A: Sawing Aluminum Q: Can I cut aluminum with my chop saw? A: Yes.Most carbide blades work fine for occasionally cutting aluminum, but we recommend using a special, non-ferrous metal-cutting blade (about $70) if you cut a lot of aluminum or brass. It’s safer to use than a standard blade...
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Q & A: Warped Wood Woes Q: I ordered a milled piece of ebony through the mail last winter. It looked great upon arrival, but after a few days it was so warped and twisted that I couldn’t use it.What gives? A: Watching your prized ebony turn into a potato chip must’ve hurt! Chances are...
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Q & A: Why are new chisels so dull? Q: Whenever I buy a blade, like a tablesaw blade or a router bit, it’s always sharp.How come when I buy chisels they’re duller than a math lecture on the last day of school? A: Although it seems reasonable to expect new chisels to come sharp, there...
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Q & A: Rusty Router Collets Q: Returning to my shop after working outside this summer, I noticed a rusty film on my router collets and bits.What’s the best way to remove the rust without damaging the collets and bits? A: Use a synthetic steel wool or 3M Scotch-Brite pad. To clean a 1/2-in....
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Q & A: Truing a Framing Square Q: I just inherited my grandpa’s framing square. It’s big and heavy and I’d like to use it but it isn’t square! How on earth can I fix it? A: Get yourself a hammer and a center punch. Then: 1.Draw a line on a straight-edged board (MDF works great...
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Q & A: Rub-Joint Gluing Q: My panel glue ups drive me nuts because the boards slide around whenever I clamp them together. Then I end up beating them back into position. What’s going on? A: Most likely you’re putting too much glue on the joints and your boards are simply “swimming”...
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Q & A: Final Rubout Q: I always have problems getting a smooth finish. I sand the wood with 220 paper,wipe it with a tack cloth, apply three coats of high-quality varnish, and still get a rough surface! What can I do to get that “professional” look? A: You’ve got dust problems,...
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Q & A: Installing Threaded Inserts Q: I made a jig that needed threaded inserts but I had one heck of a time installing them by hand. They went in cockeyed and I trashed their slots.What am I doing wrong? A: The most common kind of threaded insert is the straight brass barrel with thin outside threads...
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Q & A: Pencil Mark Cleanup Q: How do I get the pencil marks off my oak plywood bookcase? I tried using an eraser, but that didn’t get down into the open grain.When I tried sanding it out I ended up erasing the paper-thin veneer instead! I don’t want to sand anymore and run the risk of...
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Q & A: Cupped Door Panels Q: Recently I glued up some 1⁄4-in. panels for cabinet doors.My other life kept me out of the shop for a week and when I returned the panels had a 5⁄16-in. cup in them. I tried bending them back with clamps and that helped, but they still aren’t true. Is...
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Q & A: Keep the Crook Q: I have some planks with a pronounced crook.The grain is beautiful and I would like to make use of the crook in a desktop design. How can I edge join the boards without loosing the crook? A: Joining curved boards is not as hard as it may seem. You’ll need a router with...
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Q & A: Router Bit Slipping Q: Is there any reason why my router bits are suddenly slipping? I have had this router for years without any trouble. A: Because you haven’t had trouble with bits slipping before, the problem is probably not with your operating technique, but rather with your collet...
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Q & A: Which Glue for Bent Lamination? Q: A chair design I’m working on requires bent laminations for the back spindles. I’m using maple and am having a hard time keeping the glue lines from jumping out. Any suggestions? A: Because bent laminations are under constant stress, they require...
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Q & A: Cock-Beading on Drawer Fronts Q: I have plans for a Queen Anne highboy in which the drawer beads are applied as separate strips to the edges of the drawer front. How is this done without creating a problem with cross grain movement? A: Some techniques common to the 18th century, like cock...