American Woodworker

World's Best Routing Guide

by American Woodworker Editors Thursday, November 19, 2009

This simple guide guarantees success whenever you need to make a straight routing pass. It’s perfect for jointing a long edge or routing dadoes and grooves. You’ll get smooth, chatter-free results, thanks to the guide’s firm support...

9 Ways To Untangle The Mess

by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Electric spaghetti. That’s what most of us have lurking behind our computer desks and entertainment centers. Every time you want to add or take out a component, unsnarling that mess can be a real nightmare. There’s a term for the solution...

Capture Tablesaw Dust

by American Woodworker Editors Monday, November 9, 2009

My contractor-style tablesaw spewed sawdust everywhere until I enclosed the base by covering all the openings with 1/4-in. MDF panels. First, I added two aluminum angle rails so the collection box slopes toward the dust port in the back panel. Then I...

Ladder Lumber Rack

by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, October 20, 2009

I organized all my short boards by turning an inexpensive 6-ft. stepladder (about $30 at a home center) into a lumber rack. Now every board is easy to see and reach. My ladder didn’t have treads on the back legs, so I screwed on wooden cleats that...

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...

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...

Faster Sharpening

by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 8, 2009

One of my favorite sharpening tools is a diamond paddle. I use it for router bits, knives and, most importantly, scrapers. The problem is that it cuts so fast the tiny spaces between the diamonds quickly fill with metal particles, called swarf, which...

Scratch-Free Flush Cuts

by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 8, 2009

No matter how carefully I cut with my economy-model flush-cutting saw, it always left scratch marks on the wood’s surface. To solve the problem, I attached a playing card with double-faced tape. Now I don’t have to worry about scratches, because...

Rip Fence for Plastic Laminate

by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, September 8, 2009

I used to work in a cabinet shop that churned out countertops by the truckload. We used this simple jig to keep plastic laminate from lifting during the cut or from slipping under the saw’s rip fence, since most fences rest slightly above the saw’s...