Horizontal surfaces such as benchtops are great collecting areas, not only for wood dust but also for miscellaneous small parts and hardware, such as screws, that might be needed for a current project. Here’s how I solved the problem of vacuuming that dust without devouring the small parts. I put a small mesh bag, the kind used to hold practice tennis balls or used for sweater or lingerie laundry bags (www.handylaundry.com), over the business end of my shop vacuum. The vacuum sucks up the unwanted dust while the mesh keeps out the small parts. It really works well.

Drawing by Jim Richey.

Drawing by Jim Richey.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

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Regardless of the board’s grain, this jointer produced excellent results. Its fence was totally flat, worked smoothly, and locked well, staying in place even after jointing multiple edges. Getting the fence to 90° was very easy, but the 90° stop was a little tricky to set and the fence did not go back to square when using it. For those who would use it, there is also a digital depth-of-cut scale.

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The 1⁄2-hp motor has all the power needed to resaw at its maximum capacity of 5 in.

The saw has two speeds: 3,280 sfpm (surface feet per minute) for wood and 1,515 sfpm for soft metals and some plastics.

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With five spindles sized from 1/2 in. to 2 in. and a 4 X 24-in. belt, this sander has become a staple in many a shop Fine Woodworking visits.

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