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From the Editor’s Desk - March 2011 When it comes to tools and machines, woodworking is still a very traditional craft as practiced by most small shop woodworkers. The types of tools on the “I own, I want” check list haven’t changed much in the past 100 years—or thousands of years if only hand tools are considered. Whether
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The buzz is growing around computer numerically controlled (CNC) routers--particularly around benchtop CNCs for the small and home shop. Why? I believe there are four reasons. First, an increasing number of small shop and home shop woodworkers are discovering the creative possibilities these machines offer. Second is the cost, which ranges from about
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Spring Joint Box Self-locking design requires no glue. By Randy Johnson Squeeze and snap! That’s all it takes to assemble this CNC-routed box. Th e joint’s flexibility comes from a series of slots that allow the hooked tenons to be compressed, so they slide into the mortises. When released, the tenons spring back into position, locking the
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Linker Logs Project Have fun while learning to fabricate with plywood. By Randy Johnson Although linker logs are made with the aid of a computer— once complete, they’re a great way to get kids (and parents) off the computer for an afternoon of old-fashioned fort building and pretend. The techniques shown here— including pre-finishing
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Linker Logs Project Have fun while learning to fabricate with plywood. By Randy Johnson Although linker logs are made with the aid of a computer— once complete, they’re a great way to get kids (and parents) off the computer for an afternoon of old-fashioned fort building and pretend. The techniques shown here— including pre-finishing
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CNC Two-Sided Machining Two carefully placed index pins ensures accuracy. By Randy Johnson Skilled woodturners can easily match a bowl’s inside and outside surfaces by eye and touch. Creating two-sided shapes on the CNC, however, requires a different strategy: To ensure that both sides align, the top and bottom shapes must be positioned carefully
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CNC Wooden Chain Lessons in small parts jigging. By Randy Johnson My inspiration for this project came from a wooden chain I made years ago using a handheld plunge router and plans from Patrick Spielman’s New Router Handbook (1993). Since making the chain involved routing a bunch of the same parts, it seemed like a good project for a CNC. Patrick
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Creating CNC Textures By Randy Johnson CNC routers are opening up lots of new ways to create textures in wood. Here are my three favorite ways of creating textures using a CNC. Th e fi rst method uses the repetition of shapes to create a design that is routed using one or more bits. If you enjoy doodling patterns, this is a technique that you will enjoy
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CNC "Woodturning" By Randy Johnson A rotary indexing head allows a CNC machine to create 3-dimensional shapes in the round. It’s an accessory that can be added to most CNC machines. Some companies even make it as a stand alone machine. A rotary indexing head looks similar to a standard woodturning lathe, but its approach to shaping wood
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CNC Project Gallery By Randy Johnson As CNCS become increasingly common in small woodshops, an amazing variety of work is emerging. Although this confirms the technical versatility of CNCs, it’s an even greater testimony to the creativity and ingenuity of woodworkers, designers and artists alike. The following projects are but a sampling. To see