#259–Jan/Feb 2017

Features

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  Making an Octagon

  This old-world layout and cutting exercise hones hand-tool skills.
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  Museum Bench

  Simple but not boring was the goal for this bench, which incorporates two tilted planes for the seat and wide, solid legs pierced with a keyhole slot at the center.
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  Display Cabinet on a Stand

  Eye-catching details and contrasting woods make this a case to remember
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  Combo Squares: The Basics and Beyond

  Tim Rousseau gives tips and tricks for getting better joinery from the combination square, a must-have layout tool.
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  Pick the Perfect Hinges for Your Boxes

  The right choice will help you design and build better boxes.
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  Custom Scrapers for Custom Work

  Shopmade scrapers smooth tough-to-reach surfaces without dulling sharp details
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  Tips for Stronger Tenons

  Make them bigger, reduce gaps, and don’t spare the glue
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  Shoulder Your Dovetails

  Learn how to cut shouldered dovetails for a cleaner, more efficient drawer joint.
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  Turn a Lidded Canister

  With a few basic turning tools, you can create beautiful storage for the kitchen
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  Spice up your work with kumiko

  Learn how to enhance your furniture with this Japanese latticework technique
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  Creating compound curves

  Designer Will Acland and maker Tim Smith built the bent-laminated frame of their curved chair using straight-grained, flitch-cut European ash veneer and MDF forms
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  Bending to Nature

  This bent-laminated chair was built for a client who wanted something “sculptural and amazing.”

Workshop Tips

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  Easy-to-Make Plywood Drawers and Trays

  Rout V-grooves in a plywood panel and fold up the edges to form a box.
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  Use multiple bearings on a big router bit

  When I was making a 2-in.-thick oval lamp base and routing a profile on the edge with a big bearing-guided bit, I needed to make multiple shallow passes for a…
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  Utility-knife blade makes a nimble scraper

  By turning a burr on a standard disposable knife blade and adding a simple maple handle, you get an amazing detail scraper
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  Shopmade Corner Clamps for Boxes

  Use two sets of these block clamps when you need extra box-clamping pressure.
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  New foot for a toggle clamp

  When I needed a longer foot for one of my toggle clamps, I came upon this simple solution
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  Wall-mounted grinding/buffing station

  Bench grinders take up valuable bench space, and they are dirty. Making matters worse, I need two of them: one for grinding and another that spins backward for buffing (a…

Tools & Materials

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  Senco's PC1010N Compressor and hybrid air hose

  Senco’s new compressor and flexible hose are a perfect pair
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  M-Power Router-bit Sharpener

  A diamond stone for router bits
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  Rikon 82-100 Wet Sharpener

  Wet sharpener is a great value
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  MaxiCut Forstner bits by Colt

  Forstner bits don’t clog or overheat
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  Lapped miter bits by Infinity

  Router bits cut better miters

Online Extras

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  Truing Up a Combination Square

  If your combo square isn't as accurate as you'd like, don't buy a new one. It's relatively simple to square it up!
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  The Quiet Art of Kumiko

  Sometimes we need a break from the noise and dust of machine work. Take a quiet moment and watch as Mike Pekovich assembles a beautiful kumiko panel.
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  Easy Plywood Box or Tray

  Tom McKenna shows you how to make a simple but sturdy plywood box or tray using a v-groove bit in the router table and some blue tape

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