This chopsaw stop block has worked wonderfully for me. It speeds up my crosscut work significantly, and I never use a tape measure at the saw anymore. A special feature of the stop block is the replaceable insert, which ensures perfect-length cuts. To align the stop, set the hairline pointer (marked on a piece of clear plastic) to zero, slide the insert past the sawblade, tighten everything up and cut off the insert, which zeroes it. Now you can slide the pointer to whatever measurement you need, tighten the stop-block knob and cut with confidence.
Lars Mikkelsen, Santa Margarita, Calif.
Fine Woodworking Magazine, October 1993 No. 102
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.
This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in