Reader's Response

Of Cutting...Boards?

Work Sharp

"Cinder block was manufactured as a lightweight block. The modern replacement is a lightweight block using haydite aggregate. They are still made today and are used in non-load-bearing applications where weight is an issue." – Fred Kalvelage

"When it comes to cutting boards, I have succumbed to the Dark Side and strictly use the plastic variety. That's because we can put the plastic ones in the dishwasher and get them really clean. I have made several wooden ones, but my lovely wife leaves them on display in the kitchen." – Greg Smith

"A plastic cutting board can go into the dishwasher. This makes it perfect for using to cut up raw meat and poultry. I use wood cutting boards for fruits and veggies." – Roberta Moreton

"I really like wood, but plastic can be routinely run through the dishwasher to be sanitized, or treated with bleach, something I wouldn't want to happen to a nice wooden one." – Patrick Greenlee

Others had different reasons for their preferences. – Editor

"I use both. I have a few wooden boards and one plastic board. I use the wood boards for practically everything except three items: garlic, hot peppers and fish. I use one side of the plastic cutting board for fish, and the other for garlic and peppers." - Michael Gaule

"I have both. I use both. I tend to use the plastic one for meats and the wooden ones for veggies, but it really depends on what I'm cutting, what I'm cutting it with, and how much working area I need. My largest happens to be plastic." – Joe Kesselman

"I use a plastic cutting board because it came with my wife when we got married, and I haven't gotten around to making a wood board." – Barry Saltsberg

"I work in wood, but I confess that I use plastic cutting boards in the
kitchen. As for wooden cutting boards, I would use wood cutting boards if my family wouldn't leave them in the sink to warp. If you publish this, please don't sign my real name. I don't like sleeping with the dogs. Sign me..." – Banjoguy

Fair enough, Banjoguy. You were honorable enough to include your real name, so we will be honorable enough not to put you in hot water (along with your cutting boards.) Of course, there are some wood loyalists, though fewer than we expected. – Editor

"I'm very loyal to my wooden cutting board. It was made by my cabinetmaker grandfather out of a piece of 5/4 beech at least 60 years ago. My grandmother put it to work, and I've had it for the past 25 years. It's now about an inch thick, and I suspect it'll be useless about a hundred years from now." – Ed Kern

"I don't think that there is one of us old meat cutters out there that wouldn't be elated to go back to wood cutting blocks. The main reason: our knives lasted longer, and we didn't have to take them to the stone nearly as often. We cleaned them with soapy water and a bristle brush, then rinsed with bleach-laden water. From time to time, we'd wet them and leave a coat of salt overnight to really whiten them up. Also, meat didn't slide around as much." Ken Browning

This sad tale came from a well-meaning woodworker who made cutting boards only to have them revered instead of used. – Editor

"I made my first laminated cutting board for my mom in 1971. It has been used virtually every day since and it is still going strong, so I thought it would make a nice and simple gift for all my cousins one Christmas. They all loved them, but not a one will use it as a cutting board. They all feel they are too beautiful to use every day and only put them out as centerpieces at parties and family gatherings." – Mark Huey

Our favorite response, though, came from this waggish wood fancier. – Editor

Bill, you are obviously thinking of a different word.

niggardly: (adjective) 1. Grudging and petty in giving or spending. 2. Meanly small; scanty or meager: left the waiter a niggardly tip.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000

Even the origins of the two words are entirely different, as is explained by Anu Garg, word maven of A Word A Day. "Niggard, of which niggardly is the adverb form, is of Scandinavian origin and has an entirely different etymology. The only thing the two words have in common is a few letters." – Editor

"I would not have posted the comment due to the use of the word niggardly. I understand that it is not a slang word, but it is commonly taken to be one." – Sam Brooks

If we were to abandon any word that someone misunderstands or is not familiar with, our language would devolve into a pale imitation of its present colorful pastiche. One could also argue that perhaps the best way to prevent a word from becoming misunderstood is to use it regularly and correctly. – Editor

Don't Forget to Floss "In Issue 175, a question was asked how to separate two pieces of wood that were held together by means of two-sided tape. Mineral spirits helps, but dental floss, worked back and forth between the two pieces of wood just as you would if flossing teeth acts as a cutting or slicing mechanism that will separate the adhesive." – Andy Conner

Typo Corner

Here's where we chuckle over our ability to quickly hit the wrong keys when typing. It's easy to see how that happened in this example, which boasts not only two different incorrect spellings of odor, but also a substitution for the word "neutralize." – Editor

"The cupboards have an awful order like dirty feet. How can we naturalize this ordor?"

Luthiers and Language

A Bellwether of Summer
It must be summertime. Our mailbox had more commentary about language than woodworking, a sure sign that beaches and mountains are distracting us from our shops. First up was a comment about our explanation of the word bellwether. – Editor

"Thanks a lot, guys. I always feel that I get an education from this site. Sometimes it is in woodworking, and sometimes it is in other areas totally unrelated. I really enjoy the woodworking related education, but actually read the eZine for the enjoyment of the other." – John Holman

Next at bat was the word luthier. – Editor

"While I would certainly agree that guitar makers are luthiers, Mr. Stanecki's comment and your reply imply luthiery equals guitar making. As those who make ukulele, violins, cellos and, yes, even lutes would quickly point out, the term is much broader than that." – Jeff Combs

We assure you, Jeff, that we in no way were implying that luthiery is restricted to guitarmaking as we have great respect for the other arms of the craft as well. Meanwhile, another writer took umbrage at the suggestion by Tony Oliver that we avoid arcane words. – Editor

"Tony Oliver made the comment 'You can screw up a perfectly delightful piece when you pepper it with obscure words we don't know and won't take the time to look up in the dictionary.' Exactly when did Americans start defending ignorance?" – David Goen

As if to wrap it up, this writer went the other direction and complained about a word that she feels society is using too often. – Editor
 
"It seems 'do' is now the all-purpose verb. We do lunch or do a meeting. I've heard allegedly college-educated people in a restaurant saying 'I think I'll do a chicken sandwich.'" – Rebekah d'Avignon

An article about Lithium-Ion battery tools in the July/August 2007 issue of our print Woodworker's Journal magazine elicited this comment and praise from a reader. – Editor

We offered a set of free plans in the last issue that we had run previously, and at least one reader was quick to comment, with just a hint of sarcasm for good measure. – Editor

"The finish smelt really strong."

CompuCarve

CompuCarve 
Our tool preview in issue 176 was about the Sears CompuCarve, and it generated a good bit of comment, starting with complaints about what we did not do. – Editor

"I read the review of the Craftsman CompuCarve System and found it added no value over reading the Sears web site. Every woodworker I know is talking about it. I was hoping your review would shed some light onto the value of an almost $2,000 tool that has created a new category. I hope in the future you devote some pages in your magazine or eZine to really reviewing the tool." – Paul M Cohen

"I believe you should have tried one of these in your shop to get a real test." – George Sarver

As we have explained before, we do not do tool reviews in the eZine. What you read was a preview, and in the interest of honesty we call the segment "Tool Preview." We do tool reviews in the print version of Woodworker's Journal, but not here. However, do read on, because some of your fellow readers who bought the machine shared their opinions. While not a review from a magazine, these should certainly help. – Editor

"I teach at Clinton Prairie High School, and we purchased one for the students to use in the woodworking class. It is remarkable how simple it is to use. It is slow, and you will have areas that will need to be scraped and lightly sanded, but for the price, I don't think you can beat it. If you have a design that you want to mirror, it will place it exactly on both places. It is a point and click operation when you are designing your work on the computer. You then download your design to the memory card and put this into the machine. You can import images from the Internet or other sources, as long as they are in JPG format." – Al Hintzman

"I went to the Alowood site, which referred me to Edensaw Woods Ltd. All other distributors were flooring or plywood suppliers. Where can I get some or see some in person?" – Bill Hook

"When I went to their web site, they showed three places where you can purchase Alowood. However, I went to all three on the web and could not find Alowood in any of their web sites. Can you help with pricing and order possibilities? Thanks." – Robert B. Langston

We passed these letters on to Karen New, Alowood's director of marketing, and she was happy to help. – Editor

Our thread on whether or not woodworkers label the drawers of their cabinets petered out, but we can't resist sharing the creative impulses of just one more woodworker. – Editor

A WoodCentral message board entry that we repeated in the eZine correctly used the term niggardly. We defended its use after a couple of letter writers mistook it for a totally unrelated word, and we even shared the etymology of the word. That linguistic tussle is still generating commentary. – Editor

"It was pretty refreshing to hear a reasonable and thoughtful defense of a perfectly good word - niggardly - in an online woodworking magazine. As a writer by profession with a college degree in English, I have maintained for years that ours is a large, colorful and ever-expanding language, and we should strive to use it as fully as possible. Sadly, most English-speaking Americans are limited to a working vocabulary of something like 500-700 words out of over 400,000. Now it's time to get down off of my soapbox and head for the basement to go manufacture some more sawdust. Thanks, and keep up the good work." – K. C. Jensen, Jr.

If it is true that "most English-speaking Americans are limited to a working vocabulary of something like 500-700 words," then we suspect woodworkers as a group, and our readers in particular, are way above average. Here's further evidence. – Editor

"Young people today and in the future will be sadly handicapped and poorer if the richness of our language is eroded, and if we let our children move through an education system with lowered expectations while speaking in truncated, distorted street talk." – Gordon P. Patnude

"Hurrah for you! Standing up for what is right is the honorable thing to do, yet not always done. I agree that a devolution would follow the abandonment of perfectly good words, à la Orwell's 1984." – Gordon Loucks

We were thinking more along the lines of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, a novel set in a future in which books are banned and burned, but thanks for the support. – Editor

"So, is a frugal woodworker niggardly in her use of wood? Great explanation of the word and the goal of using a word often in order to reduce misunderstandings." – Debbie Roswell

"My compliments on your response to those who were upset about the use of the word niggardly. It's sad to see the number of people whose vocabulary is so limited." – Bob Spalding

"Thank you for explaining the term 'niggardly.' I had not heard the word in a while, but knew instantly what it meant and saw the potential for offense. Thank you for using the word properly. It is much appreciated." – Rob Radcliff

"I compliment you for not cowering to false assumptions. It's not about wood, I know, but your comments on the actual meaning of the word were informative and refreshing. I commend you." – Bob Leathers

Thanks, but sadly, not everyone felt that way. This writer insisted on speaking not only for himself but for his fellow readers when advising us to dumb down our "obscure" and "pretentious" prose. Personally, we feel he is underestimating our readers. – Editor

"Come on. You're writing to woodworkers. How much less pretentious an audience could you have? Write to your audience. You can screw up a perfectly delightful piece when you pepper it with obscure words we don't know and won't take the time to look up in the dictionary." – Tony Oliver

Because we feel a need to do woodworking, we fill our shops with tools and hone the skills to use them. Because we feel the need to communicate with one another, we fill our minds with words and hone the skills to use them. Who among us ever has enough tools? – Editor

Speaking of language, Rob mentioned a past engaged in luthiery, which generated this correction. But is the correction correct?  – Editor

This spot is respectfully dedicated to the gentle chuckles that result from a slip of the fingers on the keyboard such as the following one. – Editor

"The chairs we varnished last year are now pealing."

That's no doubt a bellwether of what's to come. – Editor

Is this really a Typo?

Is This Really a Typo?
"Rob wrote 'What do you see in your crystal (or maybe mahogany) balls?' Any self-respecting gypsy only uses one crystal ball." – Andy Mylniczenko

We suspect he was speaking to woodworkers collectively, hence the plural. On the other hand, perhaps Rob owns a pair of mahogany balls that he gazes at from time to time. We can't say we blame him. We would do the same if we owned a pair of mahogany balls. – Editor. 

"I thought it was gypsies that had crystal balls. There must have been a lot of laughs about this line. Not a typo per se, but still funny." – Jim Rimmer

What woodworkers want

What Woodworkers Want
 In issue 170, Rob asked you want you want from your favorite woodworking magazine. Here is one of your responses. – Editor

"What I would like to see is more information on where I can find good quality, reasonably priced wood online. Maybe a list of sites that sell lumber and wood online would be helpful to a lot of us city dwellers who are serious about woodworking." – Pete DeFrancisco

Clair Bossum

Clair Boussum
"Great article about Clair Boussum. His fretwork is amazing. Any chance of seeing his 'floating table' for his saw? Sounds a great idea, as do the cam locks." – Ray Small

We agree that would have been interesting, but sadly, Clair did not submit a photo of his saw table. – Editor

"It is heartwarming to read this article and to see such beautiful work. Clair sounds like a person who would be a good neighbor. Thanks for sharing his work." – Bob Miller

"This is a great article. Talk about service to humanity. This stands out of the pack. Keep up the good works on articles like this one." – Bill Fahy

"Why not create a video of Clair Boussum doing some work such as he does with the kids and put it online so the rest of us can benefit from his skills?" – W. Shaw Reid

Tool Review or Not Tool Review, That is the Question

Tool Review or Not Tool Review, That is the Question
"I just recently read a review of ChestMate's Dovetail Jig in the eZine but did not find it very helpful. It gave a brief description of the jig and quoted a couple of claims from the marketing material. Did you actually use the jig?" – Brian Greenberg

No, but that is because it was not a tool review. It was a tool preview, which is only meant to introduce new tools to our readers. Our tool reviews and testing appear in the print edition of Woodworker's Journal magazine, but not in the online eZine. – Editor

Spalted Wood

Spalted Wood
 "The word 'spalted' appears in issue 170, and I was unable to find it in any dictionary. Could you please let me know where I can find woodworking -pecific definitions?" – Dale Chabino

The dictionary definition we found for spalt was "liable to break or split; brittle; as, spalt timber." Among woodworkers, though, spalting refers to discoloration in wood that is caused by white rot fungi. The distinctive lines are actually territory barriers formed by incompatible colonies of fungi. Some find it very attractive, while others think it looks like rotten wood, which is more or less what it is. Here's a particularly good article on it from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. – Editor

A Fool's Errand

A Fool's Errand
On April first ,we came out with our third annual April Fool's Day edition. As usual, it generated more reader response than any other issue, so we can only share a scant few representative responses with you. First, a couple who hated it. – Editor

"What a waste of my time." – Walt Ulrich

"If I want to read a comic book, I would have subscription to Mad Magazine." – Wayne Neville

Many were genuinely fooled. – Editor

"There is no download link on the plans page." – Jacques Hara

"The link for Mock III Tools does not work. Please advise as I may order the plane." – Dave Norris

"The Wooden Shoe link goes nowhere." –  Forrest Shields

"The information is usually most informative, but these are undoubtedly the two worst plans that have ever been sent on this site." – Thomas Smith

"I used to enjoy your articles, and now it's just a bunch of junk. You have turned this site into a joke." – Dan Morrell

Exactly, but take heart:; we only do it once a year. Far and away, the greatest number of responses were from those who love our annual spoof. – Editor

"Your best yet; over the top. You've taken the eZine to a new plane at Mock III." – C. Michael Clayton

"I always enjoy this one." – Walt Grabowski

"Carved paper bags? Lasers on a hammer? Mock III? I have never enjoyed an issue of your eZine so much." – Luke Jones

"Now that started my day with a smile!" – Roger McIntosh

"Right on; made my morning." – Don Squire

"You guys crack me up! The Mock III is hilarious." – Jeff Smith

"I pulled a muscle in my chest from laughing so hard." – Rod Burrow Jr.

"The one way to get me to read every sentence of WJ is to send out the April 1 issue. It arrived on my desktop like a Gustav Wynde." – Gerald Kornelsen

"Thanks for starting my day off with some good humor. Now it is time to grab my crash helmet and head for the shop." –  Rick Webb

"Thanks for the great April Fool's Issue. It only took me about 30 minutes to realize what you were up to." – Mike Ward

"Loved the names in the Q&A section. Simply awesome!" – Steve Kargman

"Thanks for making my day!" – Jim Killeen

"I needed this. It not only made me laugh but gave me an idea for a new product: a table saw that folds up and fits into a kitchen drawer." – George A. Ulrick, Jr.

"I've waited all year for this issue and was not disappointed." – Coleen Rourke

"I especially enjoy the 'letters' written before this edition came out." – Bob Hoyle

"Once again I laughed till my sides ached. Looking forward to next year already." – Cyril Griesbach

"Thanks for reminding us that, as serious as many of us take this hobby, we should also remember that we should have fun with it." – Bruce Backman

"Isn't it a shame that there is only one April 1 in every year?" – Ron Dvorsky

"Really great spoof!" – Rick Davis

"Absolutely great. You totally caught me off guard. Touché." – Stan Davies

"The annual April 1st edition is the only one where I read the whole thing." – Craig Austin

"I look forward to your April 1st issue every year." – Gene Nurse

Typo Corner

Typo Corner

To err is human, but clearly some errors are divine. – Editor

"The surface was in god shape"

SMALL HOOKS, SMALL HANDS AND SMALL CHANGES IN MEASUREMENT AND LANGUAGE

Hooked on Tapes
"In the Q&A section, the question was asked about the correct name for the hook end of a measuring tape. Where I'm from we always called it the dummy end of the tape. I know well, because I always got to hold that end." – Chris Lohman

"I have always called the hook zero or zero end." – Rich Flynn


Small Hands
"Regarding the Q&A concerning any cordless drills on the market with comfortable handles, especially with smaller grips, I believe Milwaukee has won acclaim for its higher end drills and their smaller, more comfortable grips. I certainly respect the economy view of the tool world, but also wish the higher end tools were better represented and mentioned more often than they are. Thank you for your fine efforts to help out woodworkers online." – Ron Garren


Maybe Metric?
"Thanks for the nice new eZine format. I don't know how many subscribers you have from Europe, but would it be possible to add the measurements in metric to the free plans?" – Andreas Kaufmann

Sorry, but that is not something we can do at present. It looks as if you will have to continue converting them on your own, but look on the bright side. All that math will help keep your mind sharp. – Editor


A Question, a Comment and a Suggestion
"Where do the submissions for the Q&A section come from? By the way, the new look is great, but tell the guy with the problem cutting off box lids to use a cross-cut sled with a stop block, it works like a charm." – John Hanlon

The questions are sent directly to the eZine by our readers, and thanks for both the nice comments and the good suggestion. – Editor


Watch Your Language!
"In your Feedback section, you provided an excellent answer to Frank Johnson's irritation with language usage. As I am now 63 years of age, I, too, see many differences in usage and have accepted the wonderful fact that our language is the only thing that is entirely controlled by the people. The worst thing that could happen would be a government dictating our language. Those who produce dictionaries are merely archivists of how people use the language." – Wayne M. Hope


Typo Corner
It's amazing how just a couple of letters typed in error can give a whole new meaning to your discourse. – Editor

"I am planing to sand the flowers in my home."

When he's done that, he'll water the floors. – Editor

ShopBot, Riving Knives and the Metric Morass

ShopBot
"Love the new look. I am writing because I own a ShopBot, It is one of the older models, but I love it. I bought mine used about a year ago, and it runs great. Being a member of the online forum is great. You can talk to them about problems, questions, ideas or just show off your work. The ShopBot staff read and post, too." – Gerald Wilson

"I like the typo page and think that you have a very interesting eZine. I started to read the article on the ShopBot but quit when I saw the huge price. Even though the Shopsmith is also as expensive, I would buy it as it is about a thousand less than the ShopBot." – Richard Boll


Riving Knife
"I was disappointed to note that the responses leaned towards the pronunciation, rather than its purpose. Only Richard noted, 'Its purpose is to reduce the chance of kickback,' but didn't give the important reason of
how and why. Given that most American tables don't come with a riving knife as standard, I would hope you'll offer up this additional information, so that woodworkers can make an informed decision as to whether to fit one or not." – Robert Atkinson

It does the same job as the splitter which comes on most American saws and reduces kickback in the same way. A riving knife is a unique type of splitter that goes no higher than the blade but rides with it as the blade is raised and lowered or tilted. Both keep the kerf open during the cut to prevent wood pressing against the back side of the spinning blade, which could throw it toward the operator. As for fitting a riving knife to an existing saw, you rarely have that choice. Either the saw is designed to accept one or it is not, and most American saws are not. – Editor


Keep it Simple
"I am 65 years and enjoy the eZine and want to thank you for the free wall shelf plans. Until a short time ago, I was never interested in making anything but what was necessary. You might say that I am a beginner. The point I want to make is I have no idea how I would build most of the plans you give away, so don't just cater to the folks that can build anything. We beginners like to be out in our sheds or shops as well." – Robert W. Reed

Duly noted. We will certainly try to keep some variety in the complexity of our plans so that we can keep all our readers happy as much as possible. – Editor


Good Advice
A reader complained that he got notches in the corners when he tried to cut the lid off a box on a table saw, and a reader named John Hanlon offered the suggestion to use a crosscut sled, much to this reader's delight. – Editor

"I had the same problem removing the lid part from boxes with my table saw. The suggestion by one of your readers to use a crosscut sled worked." – Gene Nurse


Metric Morass
After we told a reader could not print future plans with metric measurements at the present, a few metric fans responded. – Editor
 
"It really isn't that hard: one inch (2.54cm), one foot (0.3048 meters), one kilometer (0.62 miles), one mile (1,609 meters or 1.6 kilometers). In fact, the "official" definition of the inch has been exactly 25.4 mm for many years now. There are also lots of free unit conversion tools out there." – J Dougherty

See? Easy as pie. So, eleven and thirteen sixteenths in metric would be… Um, on second thought, maybe we do need those conversion tools. Fortunately, the next writer suggested two. – Editor

"There are several great free online conversion sites. The one I use most is  World Wide Metric that converts just about every measurement known to man. My other suggestion is buy a combination tape measure. I have one with both standard and metric on the same tape. It sure simplified my life." – William Grider


Typo Corner
Here's where we celebrate the humor that emerges from our complex language and our propensity to garble it via the keyboard. – Editor

"It's a dark expresso colored wood."

We assume that's the color of Italian instant coffee. – Editor

Sharing Memories, Making Plans, and Clarifying a Quiz

 
Mike McGlynn
It was with great sadness that we wrote about the passing of a fine editor, an outstanding woodworker and a dear colleague, Mike McGlynn, and it came as no surprise that others outside our circle admired him deeply as well. – Editor

"Sorry to hear of Mike McGlynn's passing but I thought you might like to hear what those in the climbing community thought of him. These posts are on a mountain climbing site forum." – Bob Messier

"I meant to send this email several weeks ago when I first learned of Mike's passing in Woodworker's Journal [the print magazine]. I read your article on him in the eZine today, and just wanted to write a brief email. Mike's articles were inspirational, entertaining, and very well written. In fact, his articles are on my short list of why I subscribed to Woodworker's Journal. I called him several years ago while he was in the Twin Cities when I had a couple questions and had a nice conversation with him. He was extremely helpful. I always looked forward to his next article, particularly when it involved Greene & Greene influenced design. I'm not sure where I heard or read this, but I thought at one time he was working on an article for some dining room chairs to match the table in your magazine. Is there any chance this is correct? It would be wonderful if there was another article or two of his that could be included in a future issue. My favorite articles in the eZine are the ones that focus on woodworkers and their stories and lives; how they got into the craft, what influenced them, their design interests. Keep those coming please! Again, thanks for publishing the article on Mike. I will miss his presence in Woodworker's Journal." – George Huston

As will we, George.  Unfortunately, Mike's last article that was planned to appear in the magazine, the bedside table to complete the bedroom set whose bed and dresser appeared in the January/February 2007 and January/February 2006 issues, respectively, passed away with him.– Editor


Metric Morass
"You told a reader 'we could not print future plans with metric measurements at the present' and I am curious just how does one print future plans in the present?" – Bill Hammond

Exactly the point, Bill. You hit the nail right on the head. It's impossible, but thanks for explaining why to our readers. We could not have done it better ourselves. – Editor


Fall Boards
Rob asked what projects are in store for you this fall, and several readers responded. – Editor

"A couple of us in the church choir are going to build risers. We have plans and material and soon we will have risers. Also I can't wait for the first hard freeze. Then it is outside without mosquitoes!" – William Larsen
 
"I agree with you; fall is my favorite time of the year too. I just finished a big desk for my daughter. The desk was huge with full-length drawers about 29 inches long. It turned out great so now my wife wants one this fall. Thanks for a great magazine and a great web woodworking journal." – David Kuehl

"I'm another who likes fall if not for anything other than the color, but I know it's time to tune up my scroll saw and to start making mini clocks and Christmas presents." – Jim Milam

"I am in the early stages of making a corner curio cabinet for my wife. It is something I have promised her for a few years now and I think my skill level is up to the task." – Tom Delia

"I intend to start fulfilling my wife's wish list by outfitting all of our bedroom and entrance closets with organizers. After that I'm going to build a set of Mission inspired nightstands for our bedroom. I'm looking forward to trying my hand at cutting some through and half-blind dovetails for the drawers. Sounds like an awesome fall in my shop!" – Jason L. Young

It certainly does. – Editor

"I plan to finish a bookcase for my son, a crib for my seventh grandchild, work to complete the dinning room in process for two years, and redo the shop so I can spend more time working on the project than looking for the proper equipment." – Paul Sutton

"As October hits, I hit the shop to build for Christmas, the honey-do list, and finally for myself. Unfortunately, the honey-do list keeps growing, and I never seem to get to my wish list. But, this year is different. (I say that every year.) On the list are step stools for my three kids, an entertainment stand, a chest of drawers, and a nightstand, and finally a new miter saw stand for me." – Roy R. Pietras

Not everyone sees fall as a time of change, though. – Editor

"What's this returning to woodworking time stuff? I work in my shop almost every day. I am retired and live in Colima, Mexico, the land of eternal spring. My shop is on the roof of my house." – Al Klob


Premium Quiz
Those of you who read the premium edition of this eZine know that one regular feature is the quiz, but one question in the most recent issue left this reader more confused than informed. – Editor

"I have been receiving the Woodworker's Journal for a number of years now and had no second thoughts on subscribing to the Premium Edition, but one question on the quiz about table saw tooth grind abbreviations left me wishing for an explanation. I have no idea what ATB, TCG, FT, or CCR stand for." – Tony Turner

ATB stands for Alternate Top Bevel. It's the tooth style used on most dedicated crosscut blades, such as you'd put on a miter saw or radial arm saw. As the name implies, the tips of the teeth pitch either left or right in a regular pattern.

TCG stands for Triple Chip Grind. Here, the corners of every other tooth are nipped off and that tooth is a tad higher than the alternate flat topped teeth. The high tooth pre-cuts the material, reducing chipping when cutting plastics and laminates.

FT means Flat Top. Dedicated ripping blades usually have flat-topped teeth rather than beveled teeth. They cut rapidly and cleanly along the grain but make coarser cuts across grain.

CCR is the fake answer. That one, according to quiz author, Woodworker's Journal Field Editor Chris Marshall, stands for Creedance Clearwater Revival, a '70s rock band. – Editor


Typo Corner
This time around, our lighthearted homage to garbled typing highlights a common homophone. – Editor

"I hope you can give me some direction on what my next coarse of action should be."

We're sure we can offer some fine advice. – Editor

Irons, Plans and Some Very Puzzling Letters

Figure Eight

After we sent a reader to Rockler to find the figure eight fasteners he was seeking, this reader from Down Under told us where to find them in his neck of the woods. – Editor

"Having just built a dining table, I can reliably inform your reader that in Australia those fasteners are available at Bunnings Warehouse. Great magazine; keep up the good work." – Jerry Everard, Canberra, Australia
 
"Perhaps the reader would have had more luck finding them if he knew their proper name. According to the book Making Authentic Craftsman Furniture, they are called table irons." – Rann Fox

We doubt it. A search for "table irons" online yielded several sites that sold a special rectangular iron used for smoothing the cloth on snooker tables, but not one figure eight shaped fastener. – Editor


The Best Laid Plans
"There used to be two free plans in the eZine each time. Why is there now only one?" – Johnny Swafford

There are still two free plans. In issue 183, they were a stool and a rocking horse. They were divided by an ad, so you had to keep scrolling down below the ad to find the second one, but it was there. Incidentally, there is also a third, more complex plan offered in the Premium edition of the eZine. – Editor


New Format

"I have been an eager and avid reader of the eZine for a couple of years now, and I applaud your effort to update the format to be more contemporary. However, the dark gray background has made it very hard to read, especially the blue and light gray lettering. Even the regular text is somewhat of a strain. Please lighten up the background or even revert back to white." – Bob Korpi

We're a bit puzzled. The eZine pages show up on our computer as white with black printing, while the headings show up as white printing on either green or orange backgrounds. This sounds like an issue with an individual's computer settings.– Editor


More Puzzling Than the Story Itself

Our story about the rise and fall of Puzzlecraft, the business created and then folded by Steve Strickland, drew some very unusual comments. – Editor
 
"If you want to let that guy pretend Iraq affected his business, you need to give equal time to the reverse political opinion." – Ken Sternberg

We doubt Steve was pretending. It is not in his nature, and he certainly had nothing to gain by it. Nor did he, or we, espouse any particular political opinion. The curious thing is that even those who saw a political message were not in agreement about which side was being presented, leaving us wondering just exactly what the reverse political opinion would be. – Editor

"I'm not sure if you were just trying to be politically correct, but I think the lesson to be learned is if a country decides to be a bully, no matter what the justification, the rest of the world will see the behavior for what it is: bullying." – Mark Evan Slafkes

Others, for no apparent reason, simply refused to believe what Steve said. – Editor

"Strickland's assertion that Iraq is to blame for the decline of his business is not supported by the facts he presents." – Dale Nichols

We thought it was, and were certainly willing to believe him when he told us it was. After all, he was there; we weren't. – Editor

"I read Woodworker's Journal to learn about woodworking, not to be preached to about U.S. policy. The U.S. economy is and has been thriving in all market areas." – Bob Morrison

We agree that the Journal is about woodworking, and saw nothing but a woodworking business story in Steve's tale. And while the economy may be thriving, that does not mean this one business was not affected. In fact, this sort of thing happens more than we might think. Read on, and you will see what we mean. – Editor

"I read with interest your story about your puzzle business. Just to let you know how strange this phenomenon can be, I'll relate my story. For years. I have operated a publishing business creating and selling teaching manuals used at the technical and university levels. Though operating from Canada, I sold books to about 50 universities in the U.S .and had been doing this for about seven years. Then 9/11 happened, and all the orders from the U.S. just stopped cold with the exception of just one university in Arizona, which still continues to order regularly. I often wonder at how many other stories there are like this one. I know of several other Canadian business that lost all of their U.S. sales overnight after 9/11. By the way, your puzzles are marvelous." – Wayne M. Hope

Just to make sure we were not missing something, we checked with Steve to get his take on this.  We'll give him the last word. – Editor

"My interview with Michael Dresdner concerned the loss of my small woodworking business due to an unexpected event, exactly like a fire, tornado or flood. It shows how events in far-off places can cost you your job. I fail to see how reporting this story meant supporting or opposing any political stance." - Steve Strickland


Typo Corner

Our lighthearted homage to keyboard foibles sometimes leaves us wondering if what we see as a typing error is actually a commentary on our wisdom, or lack thereof. – Editor

"I hope that you could help us with more of your sagged advice."

While many of our parts are indeed starting to sag, we were hoping our advice was still holding up. Apparently not. – Editor

An Error, an Approval, a Gray Screen and a Dustup

Great Story, But…

Jeff Lohr was pleased with the story we wrote about him, but it seems we managed to garble a key fact in a most embarrassing way. - Editor

"Thanks for a story that was very well crafted with a title that expressed the exact scenario. I have only one correction. Ralph Kovel is not one of two brothers. Ralph is one of a husband and wife team of Ralph and Terry Kovel. They are very well-known in the collector world, do appraisals for Sotheby's, have their own Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles newsletter, and most antique dealers and collectors use their annual hardback publications as their bible for pricing and research. Anyway, save for the error about the Kovels, your article is just wonderful exactly as written. You did me proud." - Jeff Lohr

Oops! Our deepest apologies to both you and the Kovels, Jeff, and our thanks for calling our attention to it in such a kind and gentle manner. It was an honor being invited to share the story of your life and craft. Thank you. - Editor

"Thanks for the story about Jeffrey Lohr. A friend of mine has a gorgeous table that also is made out of a '300-year-old oak burl from the estate of some duke.' Pretty cool to see how folks have used unique pieces of wood." - Randy Hermann

"I just read the article on Jeff Lohr and wanted to share my experience. I took his Practical Woodworking class in the summer of 2006. It is a great course, and he and his apprentices are great people. The course is intense and fun at the same time. I learned more in that week than I had expected and also became aware of how little I really know about woodworking. His house is filled with his work. It is like visiting a museum, only it is lived in." - A. J. Johnson


Fireplace Finish

Our experts suggested an oil-based polyurethane finish for a fireplace mantel in our Q&A section. One reader gave his nod of approval, but it was not just any reader. - Editor

"Great comment for the fireplace finish in the Woodworker's Journal." - Peter Beck

Peter Beck knows a whole lot more about finishes than we mere mortal woodworkers. He is a fourth generation owner and CEO of Lawrence MacFadden, one of the most venerable and respected finish manufacturers in the country. If anyone can validate a finishing answer, it is him. Thanks for the nod, Peter. - Editor


Gray Background

In our last issue, we printed a letter from a reader who complained that the new eZine format was hard to read because of the gray background. We were confused, as it is not sent out that way. The mystery is now happily solved by the reader in question, whose sense of humor is obviously more finely tuned than his computer monitor. - Editor

"Yup, I have sawdust on my face. I read my letter in the feedback section about the new magazine format having a gray background. Shortly after I sent the original letter, you sent me a new link with the same gray background results. That got me to thinking, and that can be quite dangerous. I finally figured out that somebody had messed with my computer, and it took me an hour to reset everything back to normal. It's a good thing that I know more about woodworking than I do about computers. Incidentally, you asked your readership to share their biggest woodworking goof-ups. Sorry, I don't have one. All of my projects have turned out perfectly." - Bob Korpi
 

Steel City Dust Collector

In the last issue, we highlighted the Steel City Mini Dust collector, which inspired one reader to insist that it looks like a colostomy bag. Another had a somewhat more specific complaint about the bag itself. - Editor

"That 30-micron bag is a little scary. It's the fine particles that stay around longest and do the most damage, so 0.5 micron and below is what is now becoming the standard for dust collectors. The Steel City version will send particles all over the shop." - Steve Forcucci

Perhaps, but as this reader pointed out, there is another option. - Editor

"Since they have a 1-micron bag as an accessory, it would have been nice to have included the price of that as well." - Chuck Molnar

You're right. Sorry about that. The one micron bag is available for a list price of $27. - Editor


Typo Corner

It's curious how just one missing letter can change an image. - Editor

"Is there any way of removing it without refinishing the hole room."

We assume "the hole room" is the place where bakers make those tasty donut holes. - Editor 

Pilot Holes, Good Caulk and Bad Grammar

Pilot Holes

A comment in Web Surfer's Review about drilling pilot holes for brass screws elicited a comment and a question. – Editor

"My favorite tool for this purpose is the Japanese gimlet, or mitsume-kiri. It is a very sharp-pointed triangular metal drill bit in a round wooden handle that is spun between the user's palms. The sharp pointed tip makes it very easy to start it exactly where you want it and, because it is tapered, its hole is a good fit for wood screws. The edges are very sharp, so it only takes a few spins to make the required hole." – Milford Brown

"Do you know where a person could get a decimal chart for all the drill bits available standard and metric?" – Gary Belich

Will this one do? If you prefer one in a slightly different format, try this one.– Editor 

bobmay.astronomy.net/misc/drillchart.htm
http://www.saw-online.com/Tips/drill.htm


Caulk it Up to Experience

One of our experts suggested caulk for filling gaps when fitting crown molding. From his answer, it seemed to us that he was talking about molding that was already finished, but this reader raised a valuable warning about painting caulk. – Editor

"Make sure the caulk you use is 100 percent pure latex, as any latex paint will peel off if the caulk has any silicone in it at all. Been there; done that." – Carmine Ferrari

There are some paintable non-latex caulks, but Carmine makes a good point about making sure you choose paintable caulk if you plan to paint it. – Editor


Grammar Police Make Local Arrest. Film at 11

"In the feedback section, your grammar checker must be on the fritz. The sentence, 'If anyone can validate a finishing answer, it is him.' should have read 'If anyone can validate a finishing answer, it is he.' Keep up the good work." – Dave Rukavina

Dave is right, of course, but now we wonder what he meant by "keep up the good work" after pointing out our bad grammar. – Editor


The Pressure is On

"I just read about the Wagner sprayer in your eZine. It said it can vary pressure between 1,000 and 2,800 psi. At that pressure, wouldn't you push the paint right through the wood?" – Don Dziubakowski

That's the pressure at the tip. Once the drops of finish emerge from the tip, that energy is quickly dissipated and the pressure drops dramatically. By the time the finish hits the wood, it is nowhere near that. However, you most certainly do not want to press that gun tip against flesh and pull the trigger, as that will force finish through your skin. – Editor


Quiz Questions

"I just took the current woodworking quiz and now I am wondering what the distribution looks like. Specifically, what are the mean and standard deviation of the number of correctly answered questions by those of us who have subscribed? Also, how many have subscribed?" – Gene A. Tagliarini

We will have more comparative data for the quiz takers available in the future, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, enjoy taking the quiz. – Editor

"The quiz portion of the Premium eZine is a lot of fun. Do you have enough time to present a short explanation of each correct answer? I would find such a feature even more educational than the quiz as it is today." – John Yane

That's a good suggestion and yes, it is something we will be incorporating in the future. – Editor


Typo Corner

Sometimes typos can be downright puzzling. – Editor

"The solid oak door was stained and schaled." 

It's just a guess, but we suspect he meant "sealed," though we are open to other suggestions. – Editor

On Moving, Clamps and Punctuation

A Moving Tribute

Rob's impending shop move inspired both sympathy and horror. - Editor

"I look at my workshop and do not envy your move." - Gary Froemsdorf

"I just moved my shop also. However, I swear, I will never do it again. My next move: pine box." - Dave Dye


Clamps

Clamps? We don't need no stinking clamps! Or do we? - Editor

"Clamps are like books: you can't have too many. When you run out of room in the bookcases, the solution is not to sell some books ,but to make another bookcase. With some projects, you can make do with what you have, but it is not possible to have too many clamps." - Carl Klinge

"If you conclude that you have too many, please put my address on one or more boxes." - J Brooke Althouse

"I have gone through the years picking up clamps that are cheap, clamps that seem to fit the particular thing I want to do at that time and clamps that have been given to me. If I were starting out again, I would pick up some quality clamps." - Mike Nesbit

It's never too late, Mike. - Editor

"A clamp is like an extra hand, and I don't care if my extra hands are extruded Swedish aluminum with padded jaws or chewing gum and baling wire, as long as they help me get it and keep it together." - Phil Gilstrap

"I feel you should use whatever clamp does the job, regardless of what it looks like. It would be nice to see more clamp articles, including how to make them. I am a blind woodworker and therefore cannot see pictures, so I depend solely on eZines like this one for my information." -  Stephen Schmucker

It certainly makes sense that a blind woodworker would "see" the wisdom in ignoring what clamps look like. - Editor

"I have a menagerie of clamps that have come from all over. There are pipe clamps, spring clamps, hand screws, parallel jaw clamps, band clamps and clamps I made myself. I've also used clothespins, rubber bands, masking tape, inner tube strips, shrinkwrap, and a few jigs I made for specific projects." - Michael McCall

"By the way, a paperclip is a clamp also." - Jim Severson

"I am not a clamp purist, but I do have some that must date back to prehistoric times. There are times when I wish I had more large clamps, but somehow I muddle through and then think I didn't really need them after all." - Bob Hoyle

For the most part, it seems that no matter how many we have, we can't resist buying more. - Editor

"Like you, I must have hundreds of clamps, but just the other day I bought two more. Don't know why. It just came over me that I just had to have two more of those clamps. Must be a mental thing." - Tom Harris

"I'm continually buying clamps and still don't have enough. I have a wall full and use them all." - Stu Hamblin

"I am glad to know that I am not alone as a clamp enthusiast. Even though I have more tools than I need, I still cannot resist the urge to purchase that rusty clamp for 25 cents at a garage sale." - Percy V. Kooshian

"I buy any clamp that catches my eye. I have all kinds and they do all come in handy one way or the other. Power to the impulse buyer!" - Vicki Gordon

"I don't think I've seen a clamp I didn't like. Do you know where I can find more? Never mind, they'll turn up on their own." - Dan Bartlett

Will they? Does this imply that clamps do, as Rob suggested, actually breed in captivity? - Editor

"I'm a sucker for clamps, but I'm sure they don't reproduce. Either that or all
my K-Bodies are of the same gender." - Scott Chapman

"Would it were that they crossbred. Think of the possibilities for special jobs. By the way, there is no such thing as a weird clamp, unless you have some that are self-propelled and can levitate." - James Johnson

And finally, this gent assured Rob that he was not abnormal, but did have one request. - Editor

"I don't think that your fascination with and hoarding of clamps is unusual. Just leave enough for the rest of us." - Rob Bell


A Sign of Annoyance

A project sign that said 'The Smith's' raised a few hackles among our readers. - Editor

"One of the most common mistakes when making something plural is to put an apostrophe in it. If your family name is Smith, the appropriate way to make it plural is simply to add an s at the end, e.g. The Smiths. Smith's, with an apostrophe, implies ownership by a single Smith. I know it seems to be a petty thing to complain about, but I see this a lot in handcrafted signs, and I think it reflects poorly on the craftsman." - Chris Talbott

"I was appalled at the sign that showcased 'The Smith's.' The Smith's what? Their dog? Their cat? This is a painful and all too common error of grammar." - Bob Lane

Of course it is possible that it was a grammatical error on the part of the sign designer, but we prefer to assume it was a sign for the local smith's shop, and guessed he or she did not need to add the word shop as that was obvious. We were clearly extending the benefit of the doubt a tad more than a few of our readers. - Editor


Typo Corner

Speaking of errors, you don't need punctuation to create an accidental language anomaly. You can do it by adding a single letter.  - Editor

"I'm making a mosaic tiled table with a two inch boarder."

That must be like having Tom Thumb as your live-in helper. - Editor

And, in the eZine special offer that went out last week from our sister company, the folks at Rockler learned that publishing is harder than we make it look. - Editor

That is the first SANDSAW  I have ever seen. Tell me more. -Nelson Burnett

He could have waited for this comment from another reader.-Editor

I'm assuming this Sandsaw leaves an incredibly smooth cut!!- Del Belnap

Inspiration, Retrofits and a New Use for Your RAS

 Holiday Project

"I have a comment about the eZine Holiday Project. I made a similar project more than 15 years ago but used a different type of mallet. I used bouncy balls; the sort you can buy from gumball type machines for a quarter. I especially like them because they let you hear the sound of the bars and not so much the wood on metal sound from the wood balls. Their quietness helped to keep sanity in our house." – Jim Gerrety

Inspiration

When Rob asked you to share what inspired some of your projects, a wealth of stories emerged. – Editor

"I have always been inspired by Sam Maloof's beautiful furniture, especially his rockers and the joinery he uses. Everything flows together: the seat, legs, rockers and headrest. I bought some plans from Hal Taylor and built a couple of them." – Dave Havercamp

"My inspiration usually comes from wanting things to look neat and tidy, so I invent a new unit for a corner that will store what needs storing. My husband is very disorganized, and I am the one thinking of ways to tidy up!" – Regine Maligne-Lynch

What a surprise. Family influence was, in fact, the most common source cited for both inspiration and inducement. – Editor

"One of my inspirations for projects is the addition of grandkids. There are all sorts of scaled- down items that can be built especially for them. I was recently walking through a local mall and spied some kid size rocking chairs but was amazed at the poor quality of the product for the price. I drew up some plans and proceeded to build a couple for my two grandsons. While in the process of building them, I had several people that came by, saw the finished product and had to have some for their family. Right now I am up to having to build 12 chairs for family and friends." – James Head

"My father, when he was alive, built and gave to me and my brothers a thing he called a bean box. It is hard to describe. Anyway, my brother called and had ruined his by trying to refinish it and wanted me to try to make him one. I did, and this inspired me to make one for each of my two boys." – Scott Trevathan

"At the moment, I am making small treasure chests because my daughter asked me if I could make her one." – John Payne

"Currently, we are building a 26- by 15-foot dining room off the back of the house because my wife would not let me buy a thin screen TV, but I do not think you would believe the details behind that story." – Paul Sutton

You'd be surprised. We editors hear some pretty strange tales, and some lovely compliments, like this one. – Editor

"I have found your magazine has been a big influence on what my next projects will be. I will be reading an article or looking at some of your free plans and my wife will come in and want whatever I am looking at. My latest is to try and make the wind chimes you sent out. Thanks a lot; you are costing me a fortune. If you weren't so good and made things so easy to learn I probably would have a lot more free time." – Mike Urton

JET Retrofit

"Did JET say if their helical head was available as a retrofit for their existing jointers?" – John Hanlon

Yes, they are, for six- and eight-inch jointers and for 15- and 20-inch planers. However, you'd be wise to check with JET if your model is one of the older ones. In case you are ready to make the plunge, here are the relevant part numbers. JET 6" Jointer – JJ6HH-CA; JET  8" Jointer – JJ8HH-CA JET 15" Planer – 1791223; JET 20" Planer – 1791224 – Editor

RAS

A rather long online discussion of the merits of radial arm saws, or the lack thereof, inspired this reader to share his solution for making sure his RAS continued to be useful. – Editor

"I found another use for my trusty but no longer useful RAS. After a halfhearted attempt at selling it, I happily came up with this solution, which fits my idea of recycling. It's still for sale, by the way, and could include the similarly trusty nine-year-old system it now supports." – Joe Scott

We can't wait to start bidding on this prize. – Editor


















Typo Corner

This time, we make it into our own typo corner with something more "strange" than funny. – Editor

"May I please ask which is the correct spelling of the name – Strangeland or Stangeland?" – Alison Ince

It's Stangeland, without the 'r' though both spellings, correct and incorrect, managed to show up in our piece about Tom. Incidentally, in spite of the 'e' on the end, Tom pronounces his name 'stang…' with a hard 'g' as opposed to 'stainj…' with a 'j' sound. – Editor

On Beans, Scrolling, Ship's Knees and Sidelined Birds

Java Jive


Rob's admission of a serious coffee habit drew comments from some fellow bean buyers, and from just plain fans. – Editor

"As a fellow bean grinding, crema sipping coffee drinker and bean pusher, I found your latest editorial quite amusing. My wife accuses me of pushing coffee on people, specifically my source of freshly roasted, fair trade, organic, and dare I say, Kosher beans." – Douglas Simpson

"I too, used to have a hot cup of black coffee  in front of me all day long. I know now that I was addicted for sure. Coffee has a way of catching up with you in ways you never imagined. After I retired I stopped 'cold turkey' with the usual side effects. I must admit that I do feel better, but I am back enjoying my morning and occasional during the day cup." – Lionel Gladu


"I just had to tell you how much I enjoy reading your commentaries. You do have pop in your prose and whether it's coffee induced or not, I enjoy it every time. Thanks." – Adriana Seuffert

Bean Box

Speaking of beans, we ran a reader's comment about a bean box, which left some wondering just what that is. – Editor

"OK, I've got to ask. What is a bean box and what's it used for?" – Chris Gawarecki

"My interest was piqued by Scott Trevathan's 'hard to describe' bean box.
Scott, if you're out there please tell us what a bean box is." – Phil Gilstrap

If anyone else out there knows, don't be afraid to pipe up. We're all curious. – Editor

Just Scrolling Along
 
Our Web Surfer's Review contained a thread about whether a table saw or band saw was the best first purchase. That inspired this comment. – Editor

"I feel that one of the most relaxing saws to use was overlooked. I have been scroll sawing for a number of years, and I would choose this saw over all of my others if I had to make a choice. I'm not saying that I disagree with much of what was said. I just wish we scrollers were represented a bit more frequently." – Jim Horton

He's not the only one feeling underrepresented. – Editor

"I have been getting your journal for a while now and really don't see anything but woodworking for people who are equipped with a lot of expensive tools and big shops. I would like to see some articles on the backyard woodworker who doesn't have a lot of tools, money or space to have a shop, and perhaps works with free recycled wood." – William S. Pearson

Though they are a bit harder to find, as they often don't have a web presence, we don't ignore low tech woodworkers. In issue 181 we showcased a carver who works small pieces of scrap wood, carving primarily with only a single knife. Not long before that we focused on a couple who make wooden articulated dolls almost entirely by hand. Since you have broached the subject, this is a good time to remind everyone that we are always open to introductions. If you know of a woodworker who would be interesting to read about, even if it is you, please point us to the appropriate web site. – Editor

Ship's Knees

"Great article on the 'ships knees' [in the premium edition] and a nice picture of the guy in the boat. Now for those of us who have no idea what a ship's knee is, how about a picture?" – Martin Frincke

To be honest, we were wondering the same thing. Here's some clarification from Simon Watts, the guy who wrote the piece. – Editor



This Tale's for the Birds

This letter spun a story worth sharing, even though it came a bit late for last issue's discussion on what inspires your projects. – Editor

"A while back we put new siding on our home, replacing the cedar with fiber cement siding. About a week later, my wife said, 'The swallows are back, and they're not happy!' For the last 10 years we have had swallows nesting in a small hole in the chimney chase. The new siding had covered their 'front door' and they were quite confused, not only by the missing hole, but by the fact that they couldn't make a new hole. The next morning I built a nice little birdhouse from some leftover cedar trim and mounted it near where their original hole was. It was occupied within 24 hours." – Tim Haller


Quiz Quandary

"If you answered 'Polyvinyl acetate emulsion' on the Premium edition quiz question 'What is the chemical composition of yellow carpenter's glue?' you were told it was correct, but if you answered 'polymer emulsion' you were told it was wrong. In fact, both answers are right because polyvinyl acetate is a polymer. Hence, it is both a polymer emulsion and more specifically, a PVA emulsion. It's like asking 'What is a Prius?' The answers 'a hybrid car' and 'a hybrid car made by Toyota' are both right even though the latter is more specific. Furthermore, if you answered 'True' to the question 'If you own a 16 inch band saw, its size refers to the diameter of the blade wheels,' you were told that is incorrect, but in fact, in most cases, band saws are indeed rated by the size of the wheels and not the cutting throat. Most 16 inch saws have only a fifteen and a half or fifteen and three quarters cutting throat. Except for three wheel band saws, which are rare, that answer is correct for the vast majority of band saws." – M. J. McKittrick

It seems there is truly a bit of ambiguity when it comes to the 'right' answers in our quiz. – Editor
 
Typo Corner

"We have oak flooring that has been sanded to bear wood."

Bear wood? Does that look anything like Douglas "fur"? (Sorry about that.) – Editor 

Shows, Stripping, Smiles, Ship's Knees and Safety

Shows, Greens, Wind and Comfort

On Willow, Plans, Books and Alcohol

Kudos

"Thanks for your great eZine. It makes my day each time it comes. Although I am primarily a miniaturist, I find the tips and techniques valuable and the plans often work well when scaled down to mini size. Keep them coming." - David Brazelton


Tweet Willow

"Willow makes the best willow whistles. I have never seen one but my mom, born about 1914, said all the boys at school used their pocketknives to make them." - Jim Ware

"I remember that polo balls were made of willow. I don't know if they still are." - Robert Tatem


Workstation Plans

"I see that you are offering the workstation plans again. This is a great project. It is the centerpiece of the half of the basement where I pretend to be a woodworker. I also use it for woodcarving, and the ability to move the table is fantastic. I did not do the laminated top, but used sealed and waxed particleboard. I still haven't installed a vise, but did mount a hold-down. I purchased the casters, big three-inch locking monsters, at the WoodWorks show." - Tom Fink


A "Berry" Good Suggestion?

After a thread on using sawdust appeared in the last issue, this helpful reader sent an interesting suggestion, made more interesting by a tiny but humorous typo. - Editor

"The best and currant use I have for all of my sawdust is to mix it with wood glue and make my own wood putty. It forms and sands nicely and works as a filler for the occasional knothole." - Kevin Johnson

We're sure Kevin meant current and not currant, though perhaps he spelled it that way because he likes to "jam" it into knotholes. - Editor


A Love Hate Relationship

"Loved your review of the boat building books. I've been wanting to build one for years." - Chris Gawarecki

"The piece on Culler's boat building was fun. However, after two paragraphs of positive, 'buy this book' kudos you wrote 'I can't recommend this book too highly.' Now, which was it? Is it that you can't recommend it highly enough, or you don't highly recommend it?" - George Cowan

You are absolutely right. That conclusion statement could be interpreted in two very different ways.  It rather reminded us of that old Groucho Marx line, "Thank you, I had a wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." In this case, though, it was a positive recommendation, the rather unfortunate choice of phrase notwithstanding. - Editor


Alcohol

Our Q&A section talked about using alcohol to thin shellac, causing this concerned, and obviously Canadian, reader to raise an alarm.-Editor

"The alcohol used should not be methyl hydrates as this is a very dangerous product. It can be absorbed through breathing the fumes, through skin contact, and by ingesting it." - Merv Graham

What Canadians call methyl hydrates is called methanol here in the U.S. While his information about the dangers of methanol are true, it is difficult to buy methanol in the U.S. outside of a chemical supply house. When you go to the paint or home store and ask for alcohol, you will be given denatured alcohol, which is almost entirely ethanol or, as it is called in Canada, ethyl alcohol. That's the same alcohol that shows up in beer, wine and liquor and is, in limited amounts, quite tolerable. "Denatured" means it has a tiny percentage of some non-potable added to it so as to avoid the liquor consumption tax placed on all libations in the U.S. So, while his warning was quite correct, there is little chance you could accidentally get methanol down here. However, we do hope our Canadian readers take note and stay safe by using ethyl rather than methyl alcohol.  - Editor

Pictures, Plans, Chucks and Alcohol

Pop-up Pictures

A new feature that lets you enlarge the pictures in our articles delighted many of the newly formed Matt Becker fan club. – Editor

"Please thank Matt Becker for the larger pictures. They are much appreciated." – Wayne Cheek

We couldn't agree more. – Editor

"The larger pictures for the visually challenged is another great idea. You guys keep coming to the aid and rescue of us fellow woodworkers. Thanks for all the hard work." – Charles Buster

"I don't understand how to make the pictures bigger. How do you do that?" – Bill Vedder

Click on the pictures themselves to make them bigger. – Editor

"Kudos to your new Content Coordinator, Matt Becker. The 'bigger picture' thing is a hit with me as well, I'm sure, with many other readers. Could you so the same thing with the exploded view diagrams that are sometimes featured in your online magazine? Keep up the good work, and I hope your position at Woodworker's Journal is long and prosperous." – JT Turner


Old Plans, New Plans

"I really enjoy receiving the Woodworker's Journal eZine, but was very disappointed with the plans for the Valentine Box. Neat box, but receiving the plans two days before Valentine's Day don't give me much time to make the project. It would really have been nice if you had included it in last month's eZine. I have saved the plans so at least now I will have a year to get one made." – Tom Day

Some readers had a lot more lead time to make it. – Editor

"The Valentine Box and Wall Cabinet go back in time. I still have the original magazines in which those plans appeared. Some of my first projects were made from the plans." – Mike Hennigan


Whither Unaxol?

"A couple of years ago you ran a piece about a finish that seemed almost too good to be true: Unaxol. Since then, I have never seen a review or even another mention of it anywhere. No one seems aware of it, even in chat rooms. Anything you can report?" – Bill Keenan

We'd guess the reason for the paucity of discussion is that they sell direct. Because they are not in any stores, most chat room denizens have probably not heard of them or tried it. You seem curious enough, though. Why not try some and report back your opinions to us, along with any other readers out there who've made the plunge. – Editor


Drill Press Chucks

Our Q&A group suggested some simple ways to remove most drill press chucks, but it's tough to cover all the bases. This reader covered a couple more. – Editor

"There are a lot of drill presses that don't have a Morse taper chuck arbor. Some are held onto the drill press quill by means of a non-removable tapered arbor that fits directly into the chuck body. These will need to be tapped sharply with a brass hammer to loosen them. Some older drill presses may also have a socket head screw holding the chuck on the tapered arbor. Open the chuck all the way and look inside the chuck for a screw. Remove the screw and then tap the chuck off." – Paul A. Otto


Denatured Alcohol

"A sincere thank you for your comments on alcohol in woodwork. We see 'Denatured Alcohol' mentioned often in woodworking and model magazines, but the expression is not used here in New Zealand." – Lou A Hocken

"The can of denatured alcohol in my shop is 45-50 percent methanol. Methanol is extremely hazardous, especially for wood finishing by amateurs with no ventilation systems, insufficient protective gear, lots of skin contact and inhalation." – Richard Stein

While most denatured alcohol formulations contain single digit percentages of methanol, your letter sparked us to investigate. Though you did not mention the brand, we were able to find one whose MSDS indicated that high a methanol level, much to our surprise. It is W. M. Barr, makers of the Klean Strip line of solvents. Sure enough, their denatured alcohol is about 50 percent methanol, and when we called to ask them about the wisdom of that, they stated their formula has been the same since 1946.

Times have changed, and others have a very different attitude. Parks, for example, another large solvent purveyor, told us they reformulated their denatured alcohol several years ago and eliminated methanol entirely, though it still does show up on the MSDS, something that is both legal and rather common.

Thanks for bringing that to our attention, Richard. Now, at least, we all have the option of buying Parks, or some other low-methanol brand, if we choose. – Editor


Typo Corner

Sometimes it is not the letters we mix up, but the way we structure our sentences. We know what this chap meant, but his question sure did come out sounding odd. – Editor

"Is it possible to put laminated flooring on a stair that goes upstairs?"

Is it possible to put laminated flooring on a stair that does NOT go upstairs? – Editor

Pear Wood, Plywood, Plans and Nuts

Pear Wood

"Just a quick comment on the query about pear wood in your Q&A section. Most of the new Paris Opera seating and decorative panels are made from pear wood, and it is absolutely spectacular in appearance. It has been in place for quite a few years now, and they seem to be quite proud of it." – Don Rumrill

That seems quite appropriate. Pear wood is also used for recorders, which are wooden flute-like wind instruments. We have one that we've owned, and played, since the 1960's and, like the seating, it is durable, beautiful and marginally associated with music. – Editor

Smelly Plywood

A reader asked about the relative safety of plywood made overseas that had an odor problem, inspiring this comment. – Editor

"We used something in this country very successfully for years called urea formaldehyde glue. That smelled also." – Tom Heilpern


A Man, a Plan…

"I built five of the Colonial signs, and they came out beautiful, but I altered
them for Texas. I put the star of Texas on top and I'm getting rave revues." – Ronald Buchanan

No doubt many of the raves are from fellow Texans. In any case, we're delighted you liked the plans, though not all is copacetic in the land of woodworking plans. – Editor

"I am a Premium Member. I joined as a Premium Member because I thought that we would get premium plans. A few weeks ago the premium plan was a salt and pepper shaker and later a pencil box. Neither one of these plans should even be considered as a premium plan because they are basic, starter plans for people who are just getting started at woodworking. When I decided to spend the money to become a member, I was expecting that the smallest item that might be offered up as a plan would be something like a nightstand or a large wall mirror frame." – Mark Cooper

Thanks for pointing out this possible confusing factor.  The distinction between the premium and classic plans is the quality of the plans themselves. As in the free area of the eZine, we try to provide a variety of plans for woodworkers of all skill levels. After all, there is no test of a woodworker's skill before he or she can become a Premium Member. Recent premium plans, for example, have included a serving tray, a horizontal routing system and a blanket chest, as well as the salt and pepper shaker and pencil box plans.  – Editor

"The Bow Saw plans are great. I've already built one with my own plans, and was thinking of making more for Christmas presents next year. The only problem is in getting a standard twelve inch box saw blade. Any idea of where a person can buy them, or do I have to take band saw blade material and make my own?" – Chuck Snyder

We suggest the latter: taking band saw blade material and making your own. – Editor


Unaxol

"After a reader mentioned Unaxol in the previous issue, I was wondering if you could help out by telling us who their American distributor is." – Cliff Daley

Certainly. It's Moby Dick Supplies. – Editor


Nut a Problem?

An online thread about replacing the nut on a table saw arbor produced a spate of disagreement, and it didn't end there. – Editor

"Right-tilt saws have right-hand threads. Left-tilt saws have left-hand threads. All are acme threads, so far as I know. Some hardware stores might even carry acme thread nuts for special applications. If the threads match and the nut fits, the nut is probably safe to use because they are made to precise standards just like on regular bolts and nuts. We don't buy nuts and bolts as matched sets because all are made to such close standards. The only concern is whether the replacement nut is made of the right quality material, but I doubt that is a concern on a saw because this is not a high stress application." – Ross Roepke


A Bit of Help, If You Would

"Thank you for a great job with this material for woodworking. I am a turner and am looking for plans to make a copy attachment for my lathe using a router to do the cutting. Does anyone have or know where to get such a thing?" – Blake Matthews

We've never run plans for such an attachment, but perhaps our readers know of a web site or book that will help you out. Anyone out there care to lend a hand? – Editor


Typo Corner

There's nothing like swapping one letter for another to add humor to our words. As luck would have it, we all do it frequently, though unintentionally. – Editor

"I can build anything but am bad at finishing. I need a coarse."

That sounds like a "fine" idea. – Editor

Of Borgs, Doubts, Heads, Threads, Yankees and Heat

Go North, Young Man

After we printed a rather humorous online thread outlining one person's woes at Home Depot, this refreshing letter restored some of our faith. - Editor

"I have to comment on the woodworker and his troubles getting wood cut at Home Depot. I have never had such a problem. The saw they use at my store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada was excellent and made precise non-jagged cuts. I, too, arrived early, found a staff person quickly and, because he wasn't busy, he cut two sheets of plywood to my exact specifications. Maybe it's only in Canada, eh?" - Gene Nurse

This reader, though, had an entirely different complaint. - Editor

"My recent ill-advised 'borg' purchase was three quarter, half and quarter inch oak plywood. The three quarter, stamped 'made in China,' had veneer so thin I couldn't sand it effectively ,and the veneer was glued on with bright red glue. The glue showed through the pores even without sanding, and didn't cover with stain. If I'd had more sense, I would have returned it. Pieces of the half inch warped so much that parts of my drawers look like someone is standing on them. The half and quarter inch are both so brittle that they break easily. Now I am looking for 'made in USA' plywood." - Steven Hammer

Editor's note: "Borg" is a common online term that refers to the national chains of large home improvement stores.


Doubting Thomas

"After reading Michael Dresdner's article on Fraser Smith, I was simply amazed. I have one request ,though. Would it be possible to get a higher resolution image or a fairly close-up shot of some of the detail where one can actually see that it is indeed wood? While I can say it is possible to do that kind of carving, I must say that Mr. Smith is every bit as much an extraordinary artist in addition to being an outstanding master carver. If this were April, I would say that this was your April Fool's issue." - Larry Giust

It's no April Fool joke. Fraser is for real ,and so is his work. Perhaps this will help. Scroll down through these three photos and you will see shots of one of his carved woo