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Solvent Decanter
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I came up with this 5-ft.-tall decanter to recycle my varnish-contaminated mineral spirits. It’s made from standard plumbing supplies from the local home center (about $50). It holds a gallon of mineral spirits and hangs in a cool, dry place, away...
Router Depth Setter
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
This jig makes it easy to set the bit for routing flutes or dadoes. I simply drop the appropriate depth gauge into the channel, set my router on top and lower the bit until it touches the gauge. The base is an 8-in. square piece of 3/4-in. MDF. Two strips...
Handheld Featherboard
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
This unusual push stick provides fingertip control without risking your fingertips. Its V-notch end wraps around the board’s edge to hold the workpiece against both the table and the fence, and its flexible tines produce a gripping action. The curved...
Switch Safety
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Sliding switches on some of my older power tools make it difficult to tell whether they’re switched on or off. I didn’t think much about it until the time my router started right up when I plugged it in— I had unknowingly switched it...
Super Sandpaper
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Whenever I was sanding by hand, the sandpaper would roll or slide in my hands, eventually tearing and turning into small, useless scraps. I tried folding it every which way until I finally solved the problem with a little spray adhesive. Now I cut a sheet...
Freshness Date for Finish
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I never thought about the risks of using finish from an old, previously opened can until I had to entirely strip a project because the ancient varnish I used didn’t dry properly. Now I play it safe. I date every can when I first open it, so I know...
Hanging Your Cordless Drills
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 15, 2009
While building this little station to organize my cordless-drill paraphernalia, I discovered that bicycle hooks make great drill holders. Mounting the station on the wall saves valuable benchtop space. Now I never have to hunt for my drills, chargers...
Smooth-As-Silk Countersink
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Countersink first, drill the pilot hole second. That may sound backward, but it’s the easiest way to ensure a perfectly smooth countersink. I used to drill the pilot hole first on the drill press, but if that hole was relatively large or the wood...
Tape Simplifies Gluing Miter Joints
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Let’s face it: Gluing mitered frames is a hassle. You need four, five or even six hands—or the time-honored shop staple, masking tape. I like the good, strong blue kind. You’ll need one piece for each corner. Lay the masking tape face...
Minimize Router Burns
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
End grain burns easily on maple and cherry, and those burns are hard to remove. After sanding my fingers to the bone following one particularly unfortunate routing pass, I came up with an easy solution that removes those unsightly burns without requiring...
Glue Squeegee
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
I stack-laminate boards to create turning blanks. Each blank contains numerous laminations, so I have to work fast during assembly. To spread glue quickly and evenly, I use a squeegee designed for silk-screening. You can buy one at an art supply store...
Shallow Cut Eliminates Tear-Out
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
When I crosscut hardwood plywood, I use an old technique to minimize tear-out on the bottom face. I simply make two passes with my general-purpose blade. After setting the rip fence, I cut a shallow groove, no more than 1/32 in. deep. Then I raise the...
Better Winding Sticks
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Winding sticks are very useful for gauging twist in a board, but they’re difficult to read. My improved version of these time-tested helpers makes the twist stand out. I start with a pair of straight, flat 2-in.-wide sticks made from 3/4-in.-thick...
Plastic Stickers Don't Stain
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
I use plastic conduit to make stickers for stacking and drying my wood. These stickers provide consistent spacing and excellent air circulation with minimal contact. I’ve never had problems with insects, mold or staining, which can occur around...
Rollers Ease Plywood Storage
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Before I installed these rollers, sliding plywood in and out of my storage rack used to wear me out. It also damaged the edges of the sheets. Now plywood sheets glide in and out.I cut the 2-1/2-in.-dia. rollers from 3/4-in. hard maple on my drill press...

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