This set of free bookcase plans stems from a furniture project that went into my home office. My wife needed a bookshelf to store some of the kid's school things, but it needed to fit on a certain wall in the room. It also needed to be pretty tall to maximize the amount of storage space available.
As I was developing the bookshelf plans, I tried to make it simple to build. But I also wanted it to have a little more character than just a box with a bunch of 3/4" shelves in it. The result is now sitting in my office, packed full of stuff, and I think it fits the bill pretty well. Size As I mentioned, the bookshelf needed to fit a certain wall in my office and be as large as possible. An overall width of 28" and height of 82" worked great.
Often, bookcase plans call for a depth of only 12". This seemed too small to me. I extended the depth to 14" to accommodate even the largest of books. The plans can be adjusted to nearly any size you like, as long as the shelves don't become too long to support their load without sagging.
Normally I suggest avoiding shelves that are more than 36" long. In this case however, you should be safe extending them to 48". The addition of a panel (or valance) along the front edge of the shelves serves to stiffen them. It also gives the bookshelf a bit more character than plain old 3/4" shelving.
Design A common practice with simple furniture designs, like bookcases and dressers, is to extend the wall ends to the floor. Then, a slightly recessed toekick is installed just below the bottom shelf, between the wall ends.
I like this look and it helps prevent the unit from tipping forward. So, I included it in the bookcase plans.
This bookcase could easily have been built as a simple box, much like a cabinet. But the recessed toekick gave me the idea to add the same detail to the top and to the adjustable shelves. You can leave off the valances, but they do add a nice detail without a lot of extra effort.
By adding the valances to the adjustable shelves, you also add a great deal of rigidity to the shelves. This allows you to build a bookcase with longer shelves and they won't sag under the heavy weight of books.
In this case, the extra strength is not needed. So the added valances are really just for looks.
Materials If you're at all familiar with any of my other plans, you won't be surprised to learn that I built the bookcase out of white Melamine. It's durable and easy to work with, but any 3/4" panel will work just fine.
If you choose a wood veneer plywood or particle board, the valance panels at the toekick, top, and adjustable shelves can be made from solid stock to match the veneer.
Something I discovered as I was assembling the bookcase was that I had failed to edge band the top edges of the wall ends. For an 82" tall bookcase it's not a big deal since you won't ever see that edge. If you shorten the bookcase plans so that the top is below eye level, then the top edges really should be finished.
Assembly I'm kind of in love with my Kreg jig, so that's what I used to assemble the bookcase. If you're not familiar with pocket hole joinery, I encourage you to check out these videos. They do a pretty good job of demonstrating the basics.
In this case, pocket hole screws are particularly useful for joining the valances to the top, shelves, and bottom. I also used them, along with Melamine glue, for attaching the top and bottom to the wall ends. An alternative would be to screw through the wall ends into the top and bottom, but I didn't want visible fasteners in the wall ends.
The "nailers" are sort of a throw back to cabinet construction that serve to help keep the unit straight and square. They're glued and screwed to the wall ends, top, and bottom.
Drawing File Overall, it's a pretty simple project. With the addition of the valances, and the right material, it will be equally at home in a casual office setting or the front room of your home.
Wherever you decide to put it, to view the plans just click on the link below. If you'd like to download a copy to your computer, right click then "save-as". Either way, you'll need the Adobe reader to view the file.
June 22nd, 2011 in blogs 15 users recommend $(document).ready(function() {$("a.popit").fancybox();}); Photo: http://www.custommade.com/kidney-shaped-desk/by/John
John Wiggers is a pioneer of eco-conscious furniture. In 2005 John was commissioned by The Furniture Society to write a chapter on sustainability for their studio furniture journal: "Focus on Materials" (ISBN: 0967 100437). The materials used in his "Kidney Shaped Desk" can inform your own sustainable building practices...
How it started
It was a series of connections that led to the Kidney Shaped Desk's creation. From a gallery rep in Miami to a NY party featuring holistic-minded supermodel Christy Turlington (click hear to read more) and world famous designer Vladimir Kagan - never could I have imagined that one day I would be working with this icon to build some of his actual furniture.
My connection to Turlington and Kagan came through a common interest in holistic and sustainable living. After my unforgettable encounter in NY, I actively sought a means of incorporating an underlying mode of sustainability into my woodworking practices and into my surrounding environment. Diana Beresford-Kroeger's extensive knowledge of holistic healing and botany seemed to be the necessary key: the notion of introducing rare and unusual trees to the property surrounding my new woodshop seemed perfect. Diana helped develop a bioplan for what I was intending to create, and over time our discussions evolved into an ever expanding exchange of ideas.
The sustainable materials I used:
The Kidney Shaped desk emerged as I continued to wrestle with the idea of how to meld holistic Ayurvedic principles with sculptural furniture design. Using careful mathematics and sacred geometric proportions based on Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra principles, this desk was also designed to utilize discrete inlays of wood that were ultimately suited to their particular holistic attributes. These include special cuttings of Black Walnut for the drawer pulls, and woods such as Hawthorn and Sassafras inside the pencil drawer, all chosen for their natural holistic and aroma-therapeutic properties.
To finance a protype of the Kidney Shaped Desk desk, I needed a buyer. Fate smiled upon me when Todd Marckese needed a desk for clients with strong holistic beliefs. The design I had been tweaking for almost a year wound up meeting the clients' specifications perfectly. I faxed Todd the drawings and explained in detail the holistic attributes of the various woods I was intending to use as inlay.
Less-common sustainable woods:
The main structure was crafted from FSC certified ply, and laminated with Macassar Ebony veneer. The inset of black Tuscany leather was bordered with a radiating grain pattern of wood that was cut to allow it to cascade like a waterfall down the vertical sides of the apron. The plinths on the legs were satin stainless steel.
Inset into the back of the desk were 3 drawers crafted from solid cherry. These drawers were mounted to the Macassar drawer fronts by means of sliding dovetail construction.
Inside the pencil drawer was a pair of trays made of a wood called Sassafras (Sassafras albidum). Sassafras carries within it an oil based complex of compounds that are naturally saturated within the wood itself – both as a wax and as oil. The oils contained within the Sassafras are released as an aerosol each time the tray is opened and exposed to air.
Hawthorn, a traditional healing wood, makes up a small storage compartment between the trays. It was well known to the ancient Greek herbalists, and records indicate that it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine dating back almost 5,000 years.The benefits of the aroma-therapeutic properties of Hawthorn include stress alleviation and heart strengthening. According to Diana Beresford-Kroeger, Hawthorne promotes an overall feeling of well-being and clear thinking.
When you incorporate these kinds of woods into your projects, you give clients access to traditional holistic health benefits that derive from specially-chosen natural materials and a deeper connection to the environmental source that their furniture comes from.
Contributor John Wiggers is a CustomMade.com affiliate and a seminal voice in the field of green woodworking. Feel free to pose any questions relating to sustainability and eco-friendly woodworking practices below and John will address them.
Thinking about going pro and selling your woodwork? Or just want some advice on how to market your business and make it stand out in the marketplace? Well this blog’s for you.
A joint venture between Fine Woodworking and CustomMade, The Pro Shop will give you tips on selling custom furniture or just getting started in the business.
Questions for our bloggers? Post a comment here and we’ll try to address it in an upcoming post.
About Fine Woodworking: Your source for expert advice on woodworking and furniture making since 1975.
About CustomMade: An online marketplace designed to help serious craftspeople sell their wares and help customers locate a custom maker.
June 23rd, 2011 in blogs 2 users recommend $(document).ready(function() {$("a.popit").fancybox();});
Adjustable height lights.
Photo: John Tetreault
Last year my wife wanted a grow light to start her seedlings. Ideally it would be adjustable to keep the light close to the seedlings as they grow. This prevents the plants from getting "leggy" she said.
I first bought the lights so I could design the stands around them. They happen to be GE 22 inch under cabinet fluorescent lights from the local big box store. The bulbs that came with them were 15 watts I think, but you could switch those out for special gardening bulbs if you wish.
I used small pieces of mahogany and redwood for the stands, which are both relatively water-friendly woods. The vertical pieces have three square mortises in each to allow for different heights of the horizontal pieces that hold the lights. The horizontal pieces have through tenons on each end and a square peg holds them in place. A single dovetail at the bottom of the vertical piece locks into the base.
Each year, my wife expands the garden and I've been adding more light stands. It turns out they stack rather nicely, all in a single box up in the attic, until the following spring.
Shop Description: I’ve been a woodworker for years (my dad has a nice shop), but recently decided to set up a shop of my own in my 12' x 24' garage, which I’m sharing with yard tools, bikes, and camping gear. So far I have a table saw and a planer, a few smaller hand-held power tools, and a few hand tools–it’s a good start (and there’s not a lot of space for much more). I like the window next to the workbench, and even though there’s no heat or A/C, I love to be in there.
June 24th, 2011 in blogs 7 users recommend $(document).ready(function() {$("a.popit").fancybox();}); Photo: courtesy of DeWalt
The cordless-tool power race has a bunch of new hot rods competing for pole position. DeWalt just released news about a series of compact 20-volt lithium ion powered drills and drivers. The 20-volt MAX Lithium Ion mighty-midget drill and drill-drivers combine big power in a manageable size.
First off, the line is a DCD780C2 Li-Ion Drill/ Driver that delivers power from a 1.5 Ah battery through a two-speed transmission offering 0-600 rpm for heavy driving and 0-2,000 rpm for efficient drilling. A 1/2in. keyless chuck keeps small bits centered without the inherent run-out of hex-collet bits. Combine this accuracy with a 15 position clutch and this little brute becomes adept at installing hinges and hardware that require high accuracy and a delicate touch.
DeWalt paid careful attention to the weight balance of the motor and battery for a more comfortable, lighter feel. Combined with a well-shaped grip this drill should be very pleasant to use and the built-in LED light will bring accuracy to dark corners. The light has a 20-second delay after trigger release.
An included belt hook and bit holder can be mounted on either side of the drill for those who like to drive on the left side.
The drill will run about 220 bucks with two batteries, a fast charger, and a case.
Next up are the DCD780C2 and DCF885L21/4in. impact drivers. These two are identical except for the battery ratings with the C2 running on 1.5 Ah and the L2 using a 3.0 Ah battery.
A short 5.5 inch overall length, excluding the driver bit, and a svelte 2.8 pounds of weight make this little driver king of the long reach. The drivers have a one-handed loading, 1/4-inch hex chuck that will accept 1-inch bit tips keeping that short overall length useful. These powerful little drivers produce 117 foot/pounds maximum torque and up to 3200 impacts per minute for serious driving power in a small compact frame.
An LED light, belt hook and bit holder add convenience.
The 1.5 Ah driver sells for around 220 bucks while the 3.0 Ah will run about 270 bucks. Both come with an extra battery, fast charger and a storage case.
A full size drill, rotary hammer, circle saw and reciprocating saw round out the 20-volt MAX Lithium Ion line-up.
Eight different kits ranging from a compact drill - driver combo to a complete assortment of the 20-volt MAX tools are available so you can pretty well custom tailor your setup to your needs without buying tools you won't often use.
Expect the DeWalt 20-volt MAX Lithium Ion tools to be available in September.
If you enjoy woodworking then you probably also suffer from an addiction to tools. Whether you collect hand planes or seek out the latest and greatest in power tools, our expert tool addicts will keep you in the loop with news, reviews, and commentary on the latest in woodworking tools.
New: Don’t miss posts by contributing editor Roland (aka Rollie) Johnson. Over the year’s Rollie’s tested countless tools for the magazine. His fascination with motors and gears goes beyond woodworking, he's also an enthusiastic hot-rodder who likes to restore old cars, and is the author of Automotive Woodworking (Motor Books International, 2002).
Contact us: Keep us in the loop on tool news or ideas for this blog. Email the editors at fw at taunton.com or “tweet” Rollie via Twitter at https://twitter.com/Toolwriter.
I just wanted to bring your attention to a sweet giveaway opportunity from the folks at Festool. This month, they are giving away a Festool TS-55 Track Saw and a CT-26 Dust Extractor! Yeah I thought that might catch your interest. Simply head to FestoolSweepstakes.com and enter to win. Its a great way to get your hands on some excellent gear!
All VideosFast Fix Videos Avoiding Glue Squeeze-Out Build a Custom Drawer for Your Router Bits Build a Hinged Stop Block Build a Shelf Pin Drilling Jig Breadboard Ends Jig Double-sided Router Fence Safer Sliding Dovetail Keys Sharpening Stone Jig Stop Planer Snipe Stowaway Miter Saw Stand Vise Insert Prevents Racking Getting Started in Woodworking Season One Season Two Video Workshop Series Cabriole Leg Carve a Flame Finial Carve a Sheraton Leg Elegant Dining Chair Entertainment Center Garden Bench Hanging Wall Cabinet Mission-Style Bed Monster Workbench Morris Chair One Bookcase, Two Looks Roubo Workbench Small Cabinet Step Stool Tool Cabinet Trestle Table Two Ways to Make a Box Walnut Entertainment Center Guide to Safety Against the Grain (ATG) Game Finishing Applying a Finish Choosing a Finish Surface Preparation Coloring Wood Repairing Finishes Sealing and Priming Joinery Box Joints Breadboard Ends Butt Joints Dovetail Joints Dowels and Biscuits Lap Joints Frame and Panel Miter Joints Mortise and Tenon Joints Rabbet and Dado Joints Specialty Joints Spline Joints Tongue and Groove Joints Furniture Construction Assembly and Glue Up Doors Drawers Furniture Construction Furniture Design Installing Hardware Legs, Feet, and Bases Surface Preparation Trim, Molding, and Edging Upholstery Fundamentals Hand Tool Skills Hand Tool Maintenance Milling Lumber Power Tool Skills Power Tool Maintenance Sharpening Wood Science Specialty Skills Bending Wood Carving Making Shop Tools Shaping Wood Turning Veneering and Inlay Hand Tools Chisels and Carving Tools Clamps Files and Rasps Hammers and Mallets Hand Planes Handsaws Measuring Tools Marking Tools Power Tools Biscuit Joiners Circular Saws Drill-Drivers Grinders Jig Saws Miter Saws Routers Sanders Machinery Bandsaw Accessories Drill-Driver Accessories Gluing and Finishing Supplies Miter Saws Bandsaws Drill Presses Dust Collection Hollow-Chisel Mortisers Jointers Lathes Planers Scroll Saws Tablesaws Industrial Machinery Air Powered Compressors Pneumatic Nailers Spray Guns Accessories Router Accessories Safety Equipment Saw Blades Sharpening Accessories Shop Gear Supports and Bases Tablesaw Accessories Turning Tools and Accessories Woods and Materials Adhesives Fasteners Hardware Other Materials Sheet Goods Solid Wood Lumber Finishes Dyes and Stains Epoxy Lacquers Oils Paints Shellac Varnishes Waxes All Woodworking Plans Accessories Arts and Crafts Asian Style Beds Benches Blanket Chests Bookcases Boxes Built-Ins Cabinets Chairs Chests of Drawers/Dressers Desks Entertainment Centers Outdoor Furniture Period Reproductions Shaker Sideboards Sofa Stool Tables Tools & Storage Turning Workbench Plans Workshop Plans Furniture Gallery Shop Gallery Gallery of Jigs Post Photos of Your Own Work Dream Shop Gallery Magazine Reader's Gallery Highlights Shaker Arts and Crafts Tables Workbenches Maloof Inspired Krenov Inspired Shop Gallery Dream Shop Gallery Jigs Gallery Guide to Safety Interactive: Finger-Joint Jig Interactive: Tablesaw Tune-Up Interactive: Ultimate Tablesaw Jig Workshop Layout Workshop Planner Workshop Design Workshop Systems Tool Storage Lumber Storage Workstations Workshop Safety Jigs Clamping Jigs Hand Tool Jigs Measuring and Marking Jigs Power Tool Jigs Push Sticks Router Jigs Sharpening Jigs Tablesaw Jigs Workbench Jigs Blogs NEW: Woodworking TV NEW: The Pro Shop NEW: Hand Work The Editors Mailbox Start Woodworking Free Plans Tool Addicts Design. Click. Build The Woodworking Life GlueTube Furniture Gallery Shop Gallery Gallery of Jigs Share Your Work VideosTechniquesTool GuideMaterialsPlans & ProjectsGalleryWorkshopCommunity KnotsClassifiedsShopsReaders GalleryBlogsLettersProfiles GlueTube Stupefying Engineering in an 18th Century Table comments (12)June 23rd, 2011 in blogs Ed Pirnik, Web Producer 52 users recommend
The marquetry adorning the top of this 18th century table is beautiful, but after over 200 years, it's colors have faded significantly.
J. Paul Getty Museum
With the turn of a key, the top and writing surface extend in opposing directions.
J. Paul Getty Museum
A dizzying array of mechanics make this table an engineering marvel.
J. Paul Getty Museum
The drawer beneath the silk-covered writing surface features no pull. Instead, the user must depress a hidden lever beneath it.
J. Paul Getty Museum
Need more storage? A full length drawer opens out from the right side. Of course, it features a beautiful mortised lock set.
J. Paul Getty Museum
The marquetry adorning the top of this 18th century table is beautiful, but after over 200 years, it's colors have faded significantly.
Photo: J. Paul Getty Museum Add Comment Print
Nowadays, any enterprising woodworker with a bit of engineering know-how can easily purchase any number of manufactured gears, cams, and ratcheting mechanisms for use in extraordinary pieces of furniture. But back in the 18th century, when this exquisite table was built by a French craftsman, there certainly weren't any Woodcraft, Rockler, or McMaster retail stores from which to purchase these sorts of mechanical items, and that's what makes this little table such a marvel of engineering.
Jean-Francois Aubin had privacy in mind when he built this small table for a female French aristocrat. It's chock-full of incredible mechanics that'll make your head spin.
With the turn of a key, the top and writing surface extend in opposing directions, revealing a silk-covered writing surface as well as two hidden wells for the storage of writing paper and other supplies. A small drawer centered beneath the writing surface has no pull with which to open it. Instead, the user depresses a small lever hidden beneath. For even more storage, Aubin incorporated a full length side drawer with a mortised lock set.
Marquetry Worn by Time Interestingly, the colors of the marquetry on this particular table are rather muted--a result of the ravages of time. In much the same way that we're not accustomed to seeing the original colors adorning the old ruins of Rome, the artist's rendering of what this table's beautifully-adorned top would have looked like some 250 yeears ago is simply stunning.
More on marquetry: be sure to catch our audio slideshow on the construction of a reproduction masterpiece.
Secrets Unfold The J. Paul Getty Museum's animation of the inner secrets of this little table is stunning as well, and well worth watching. It's sure to inspire just about anyone who has ever built anything at all!
Posted: 4:12 am on June 26th philtomlinson writes: FWW should really get out to see Robert Yarger of the Stickman Box Company.
He is a puzzle-box maker extraordinaire.
You can see some samples of his work, including his amazing Pirate's Cipher Puzzlechest by going here:
http://www.lhup.edu/jstrayer/charles.htm
Seriously, there's a cover story here. Posted: 5:32 pm on June 25th dixiehighway writes: @geoffm The Amish make a round table that remains round when extended.It is amazing. The pie-shaped pieces unfold, and the table slides out to accept them. Posted: 12:26 pm on June 25th dansanc writes: I take my hat off for Jean-Francois Aubin. What a wonderful piece!!! Are plans available? Posted: 11:38 am on June 25th Norman49 writes: Superbe table. Maitre Aubin certainly was a master artisan. I'd love to get a set of plans replicating this table or similar 18c pieces.
Posted: 10:32 am on June 25th Praath writes: I forgot something; Here is the link to the extending round table that I found on the internet about a year ago. Is this the table that was to be seen at Harrods? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWJdal0SYoc Theo
Posted: 6:49 am on June 25th Praath writes: Is this the extending round table you saw at harrods? I think it's a marvel Posted: 6:46 am on June 25th PaulC123 writes: I must be being a bit thick (not unusual) where is the link to the animation?
Thanks Posted: 5:32 am on June 25th geoffm writes: ... and speaking of stunning craftsmanship, I am reminded of the Jupe Table, which I saw in Harrods, London. This is a round extending table, which remains round when extended ! Maybe FWW can find some info on this marvellous piece ?
Posted: 3:49 am on June 25th DarrenOates writes: Wow, what an amazing piece. Cant imagine how much this piece must have cost in its day. Agree, amazing craftsmanship. Posted: 3:17 am on June 25th Muscleguy writes: That looks like a clockwork motor doing the work of moving the top and writing surface, activated by the key. You can see the ratchet winding set on the front. Nice and a good use of then available tech. Probably more robust than our modern tendency to use electric motors as well. Posted: 3:12 am on June 25th Rustysea writes: Stunning design stunning craftsmanship - pretty stunning video too - and all done with hand tools. Posted: 2:40 am on June 25th You must be logged in to post comments. Click here to login. Subscribe to RSS Feed
add to: my yahoo | igoogle | my aol ABOUT GLUETUBE
GlueTube is FineWoodworking.com's video blog that features self-produced videos about woodworking submitted by woodworkers around the globe. The videos featured here stream direct from video file-sharing Web sites including YouTube, Howcast, Vimeo, Blip.tv, Brightcove.tv and Google Video.
Learn about our new format!
Archive: Temporarily unavailable. Stay tuned and sorry for the inconvenience.
YOUR COMMENTS
"I would expect FWW to do a bit more research, the correct spelling is Jean-François Oeben. He was..."
Ronaldo9 Stupefying Engineering in an 18th Century Table
"FWW should really get out to see Robert Yarger of the Stickman Box Company. He is a puzzlebox..."
philtomlinson Stupefying Engineering in an 18th Century Table
"Now that I have moved into my geezer years, I really appreciate "a bit too esoteric". Some how I..."
cmtall53 Homemade Slot Mortiser Has all the Right Moves JUST POSTED Stupefying Engineering in an 18th Century Table Woodworking Returns to Public Schools Cheap and Simple Slot Mortiser Plans Homemade Slot Mortiser Has all the Right Moves Video: How to Flatten Wide Boards LINKS WE LIKE The Community Gallery The Editors Mailbox NEW IN THE STORE Dust Control Made Simple Sandor Nagyszalanczy $24.95 more info Add to Cart
Links we Recommend On Startwoodworking.com Easy to Build Plans and Projects Workshop Designs, Tips and Tools Guide to Woodworking Tools Share your Woodworking Projects On FineHomebuilding.com Deck Planning Center Video: How to Tile a Shower Guide to Trim Carpentry Video: Build a Built-in Mudroom Cabinet Video: How to Paint a Room On GreenBuildingAdvisor.com Video: Superinsulating a Home With Rigid Foam Building Science Blog Getting Started in Green Building – A Primer for Beginners Energy Efficiency Blog Green Building News #footer { padding: 20px 0 10px 0; } #footer, #footer a { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: #959595; text-decoration: none; background-color: #fff; } #footer a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .footer-content { width: 950px; text-align: left; margin: 0 auto; border-top: 2px dotted #555555; padding-top: 20px; } .footer-content .column { float: left; width: 172px; padding-right: 22px; } .footer-content .last { padding-right: 0px; } .footer-content ul { list-style-type: none; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 18px 0; } .footer-content ul li.heading { margin-bottom: 5px; font-weight: bold; } .footer-content hr { width: 170px; margin-bottom: 20px; } #footer .global-links { display: block; width: 950px; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto; } #footer .global-links, #footer .global-links a { color:#363636; font-size: 12px; padding: 0 2px; } #footer .global-links img.logo { margin-bottom: 8px; } #footer .global-links .byline span { /*display: none;*/ color:#363636; } #footer .global-links .byline span.gb { display: none; } #footer .global-links .taunton-main { display: none; } #footer .global-links p { margin: 12px 0; } #footer .fw, #footer .fw a { color: #BD640D; }#footer .sw, #footer .sw a { color: #175273; } Fine Woodworking Woodworking Plans and Projects Woodworking Videos Woodworking Tools Woodworking Tips and Techniques Woodworking Videos Woodworking Blogs Shops Gallery About Your Safety Woodworking Knots Forum Online Membership Fine Woodworking Magazine Fine Woodworking Magazine Subscription Fine Woodworking Magazine Renewal Fine Woodworking Magazine Gift Subscription Advertiser Marketplace Fine Woodworking Books and DVDs Start Woodworking Fine Homebuilding Homebuilding How-Tos Tool Guide Design and Layout ideas Video Projects and Plans Blogs Projects Photo Gallery Breaktime Forum Online Membership Fine Homebuilding Magazine Fine Homebuilding Magazine Subscription Fine Homebuilding Magazine Renewal Fine Homebuilding Magazine Gift Subscription Advertiser Marketplace Fine HomeBuilding Books and DVDs Green Building Advisor Green Building basics Green Building Product Guide Green Homes Green Building Q&A Green Building Glossary Shop Home Building: Energy Efficiency Fine Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Guide to Grilling Menu Makers Recipe Makers Cooking How-To Cooking Videos Cookstalk Forum Online Membership Fine Cooking Magazine Fine Cooking Magazine Subscription Fine Cooking Magazine Renewal Fine Cooking Magazine Gift Subscription Fine Cooking Books and DVDs Fine Gardening Plant Guide Garden Design Container Gardening Gardening How To Gardening Videos Blogs on Gardening Gallery Forum Fine Gardening Magazine Fine Gardening Magazine Subscription Fine Gardening Magazine Renewal Fine Gardening Magazine Gift Subscription Advertiser Marketplace Fine Gardening Books and DVDs Vegetable Gardener Grow Vegetables Growing Tomatoes Organic Gardening How to Compost Garden Projects Vegetable Gardening Magazine Threads Sewing How To Sewing Videos Embroidery Patterns Teach Yourself to Sew Sewstylish Forum Threads Magazine Threads Magazine Subscription Threads Magazine Renewal Threads Magazine Gift Subscription Advertiser Marketplace Threads Books and DVDs Craftstylish Crochet Embroidery Jewelry Making Knitting Paper Crafts Sewing Books on Crafts FineWoodworking.comGreenBuildingAdvisor.com is part of the Taunton Home and Garden Network Taunton Home | Books & Videos | Contact Us | Product recall information
Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice | Taunton Guarantee | User Agreement | About Us | Work for Us | Contact Us | Advertise | Press Room | Customer Service | Subscriber Alert
Long-time friend of the show, Bill Akins, emailed me recently with a few pictures from a recent meetup at Highland Woodworking in Atlanta, GA. In the picture are Aaron Marshall, Chris Adkins, Todd Hyman, Rufus Carswell, Tray Akins and Bill Akins. What a happy-looking bunch! Although its hard not to have a smile on your face when your walking around Highland. Thanks to Chris for setting the meeting up!
Meetups like this one happen on occasion and I thought it would be nice to give folks an easy way to plan these things. So I just created a new room in the Wood Talk Online forum called “Meetups”. You can find it under the Community category. But here’s a direct link. So if you’re ever looking to plan a meetup, announce a meetup, or see if anyone else is interested in a meetup, that’s a great place to do it. And of course, let me know about it so I can help promote it. Don’t forget to take pictures and post them in the forum!
I hear Chris is planning another meetup in Atlanta very soon, so keep an eye out in the new Meetup Forum for any updates.
Finish Used: Standard Stain with General Finish Dye stain, 3 coats of General Finish Wipe On Stain. I also used Shellac on the top.
Project Description: This was my second project and I needed a good Router table. I wanted to see the effects of different finishes on different woods and what happens if I don’t do the light sanding after the water base stain. I also wanted to practice dovetail, rabbet joinery, inlay (t-tracks for the miter and fence). I also ordered and installed the Jessem Router Lift, which I bought after watching Marc’s router lift segment. Marc was right on with his analysis in my opinion.
As you can see from the full front photo, I fully integrated the dust collection using hose connected to the fence and a pickup from the router cavity. I placed plexi-glass on the door to the cavity and placed a light in there as well that turns on when the router is on. The very bottom door area is for storage. The left side drawers are sideless as I drilled holes to hold the bits. The Top right side drawer is a false front to hold the switch and the 3 lower drawers are half blind dovetails using the MLCS jig.
I learned a lot about finishing, dovetailing, drawer guide mounting and many other techniques as well. Now I have a top-of-the-line table and lessons learned. So as my friends say, this is the most furniture like router table east of the Mississippi.
Title: Hand Finishing and Rubbing Out with Hendrik Varju Run Time: 9 Hrs 52 Min Production Date: 2010 Produced By: Passion For Wood Price: $94.95 CDN (Buy Now) Marc’s Score: 4.3 Grape Sodas out of 5 Matt”s Score: 3.5 Grape Sodas out of 5
Download MP3
“Full outline of finish types and characteristics. Step-by-step demonstration of hand finishing techniques. Learn the lost art of rubbing out the perfect finish. Steps to achieve the perfect polyurethane finish. Real time project finishing demonstration.”
Matt: Hendrik Varju is an amazing woodworker and artisan with a reputation for building prized pieces for his clients and paying an amazing amount of detail to his work. As a teacher and instructor he brings a vast amount of information to his students and it shows in the extent of detail he dives into to make sure every topic is covered, no matter how big or small the detail is. It’s a great title for anyone who breaks out in a sweat when they think of hand finishing their projects. I’d recommend this to woodworkers all of levels of experience, but especially those for who spray finishing just isn’t an option and you want to be able to use a wide variety of finish types. But if you’re looking for a quick fix to your woodworking habit, or even just a refresher to a topic you already feel comfortable with or even if hand finishing isn’t your thing and you’re all about spray finishing, this title is not for you.
Marc: The best way to describe this DVD set is: a weekend seminar in a box. With nearly 10 hrs of footage, it really is like sitting in on a long seminar. That’s both good and bad. Hendrik delivers the information with the confidence of a college professor. And like most of the lectures I sat through in college, I was checking my eyelids for holes after about 20 minutes. Now I realize this is firmly in the realm of personal taste. But with all the presentation and visualization options available to us in the world of video, I hoped for a little less marker on the flip chart. All that said, this is an absolute treasure trove of finishing information. When new woodworkers ask me where they should start with finishing, I usually recommend one of the well-known books that grace most of our shelves. But from now on, I think I’ll be recommending this DVD set. Its a little pricey, but this is a resource you’ll be dipping back into repeatedly.
Entertainment Value: Marc 1.5/5 | Matt 2/5 Production Quality: Marc 3/5 | Matt 2.5/5 Information Quality: Marc 5/5 | Matt 5/5 Overall Value: Marc 5/5 | Matt 2.5/5 Keeps Its Promise: Marc 5/5 | Matt 4/5 Final Score: Marc 4.3/5 | Matt 3.5/5
And congratulations to last show’s DVD winners: Matt Meers, Matt O’Connell, and Jack Wilson.
Every month, we have various woodworking items up for grabs, including tools, accessories, and DVDs. This month’s super sweet items are listed below. The random drawings occur at the end of each month and the winners will be announced on our website. The contest is open to everyone, including our international friends.
One lucky winner will receive a copy of Sand Shading – Mastering the “Hot Sand” Method for Shading Inlays by Ralph Bagnall. If you ever plan on doing inlays, this is a technique you really need to know! Learn More!
One lucky winner will receive 3 Month Guild memberships. If you’re already a member, the time will be added to your account. Learn more about the Wood Whisperer Guild!
One lucky winner will receive a hard cover autographed copy of my book, Finishing: it ain’t over till it’s over. Over 70 pages of woodworking “common sense” advice! Learn more!
All you need to do is participate. Each month, we select the winners(s) randomly from the folks who comment on our videos and blog posts (this one doesn’t count). So the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! Good luck!
Finish Used: Bin primer custom color matched by hand, hand brushed applied then shot with top coat.
Project Description: A client for my remodeling business asked if I could build a TARDIS model from the sci-fiction show “Dr. Who” I said first of all, “what is a Tardis?” and then decided to go for it. Found original prop dimensions from the show online and then scaled down 1/4. The outer posts are solid maple, the panels, rails and styles are poplar. The small trim around the windows and signs (Lexan sanded to diffuse light) are maple as well. There is a three light LED puck in the hip roof ceiling that back lights the interior. I matched the color with paint tint and brushed on the interior white and exterior blue and then applied urethane for durability. The top beacon light is actually a stainless steal drain pipe from a hardware store and there is a slot in the top to allow coinage to fall through. I have a hand cut dovetailed cherry box that I am going to give to the clients to collect the coins.
Congratulation! You have just installed your first unfinished hardwood floor. It looks great. Do not get too comfortable though, because now you have to care for that beautiful floor. Your new floor has three enemies that you need to protect it from or you could lose that lustrous shine and damage to wood. The three things you have to watch for the most are…
Water or any liquid that can pool on your floor and soak into the woodSunlight can fade that shine and cause your floor to oxidizeRegular household dirt becomes ground into the cracks of your unfinished hardwood flooring and steal that shine
Water Has Many Ways of Entering Your Home
You spent a lot of time and energy finishing that unfinished hardwood flooring. Now you have to protect it. Think about all of the places that water can enter your home and do damage. Doors that open to the outside world are the most dangerous places for your floors. Water can hitchhike in on the bottom of shoes and boots. When its windy and raining, rain can come through your open door and attack your floors. Use rugs and mats with slip proof, water repelling bottoms in front of doors and under windows.
Do Not Let the Sun Shine In
Speaking of windows, yours may be killing your wholesale unfinished hardwood flooring by letting Mr. Sunshine in to suck the shine out. That warm and inviting beam of sunshine that feels so good on your face can speed up the oxidization process of your floors to the point that you have to replace the damaged boards. If you have to replace any boards, you will have to re-finish the entire room. Heavy curtains or drapes can help. Pull down shades can also block the dun. The problem with all of this is that they also block that fresh breeze. Your best bet is a great set of blinds that you can open or close with the turn of rod.
Protect Your Investment
It is amazing what regular dirt and dust can do to your beautifully shining unfinished hardwood flooring. The website that had your unfinished hardwood flooring for sale issued a warrantee for your floors when you purchased them. Make sure you read it carefully to discover what to do; and, more importantly, what not to do to keep your floors clean and healthy. Purchasing unfinished orhand scraped hardwood flooringwholesale and doing all the extra work yourself means that you are invested in its maintenance. Sweep or vacuum your floors often and use the recommended cleaner to keep your unfinished hardwood flooring beautiful for years and years.
If you enjoy woodworking then you probably also suffer from an addiction to tools. Whether you collect hand planes or seek out the latest and greatest in power tools, our expert tool addicts will keep you in the loop with news, reviews, and commentary on the latest in woodworking tools.
New: Don’t miss posts by contributing editor Roland (aka Rollie) Johnson. Over the year’s Rollie’s tested countless tools for the magazine. His fascination with motors and gears goes beyond woodworking, he's also an enthusiastic hot-rodder who likes to restore old cars, and is the author of Automotive Woodworking (Motor Books International, 2002).
Contact us: Keep us in the loop on tool news or ideas for this blog. Email the editors at fw at taunton.com or “tweet” Rollie via Twitter at https://twitter.com/Toolwriter.
June 17th, 2011 in blogs 13 users recommend $(document).ready(function() {$("a.popit").fancybox();});
Never walk heavy clamps across your shop again with this mobile Krenovian clamp rack. Based on James Krenov's sawhorses in FWW #208, this clamp rack will bring your clamps right to where you need them.
More Clamp Storage Solutions
CLICK HERE to download the free PDF plan for this Krenovian clamp rack on wheels.
Are you looking for free woodworking plans? You're not alone. That's why we've created this blog to gather intellegence on all the free woodworking plans available on the Web.
If you've built a project based on a free plan, let us know by posting a comment or by posting a photo of the finished product in our community photo Gallery.
A week or so ago I was chatting with a new SketchUp user. He was asking if he could control the perspective in his views of his model. As it turns out there is a lot of freedom to control the SketchUp's camera. In the Camera menu you can choose from Parallel Projection, Perspective or Two-Point Perspective.
Typically the default camera setting is Perspective. As you can see in the image above, the horizontal lines, although parallel in reality, appear to converge toward vanishingpoints on the horizon. Things at greated distance will appear smaller. Although it doesn't show in this view, the vertical lines also converge toward a third vanishing point. If the camera's point of view is from above the horizon the vanishing point will be below the horizon. this can make the model look smaller at the bototm than at the top. This image was created with the camera set to 28mm focal length to bring both vanishing points within the drawing window.
The default setting for the camera in Perspective view is 35°. The perspective effect from the converging lines is fairly obvious here. You can even see that the vertical lines appear to converge.
With the camera set to 28mm, the perspective effect is quite strong.
At 85mm, the perspective effect is subdued but it's still there. This is actually a pretty nice view for furniture pieces.
A focal length setting of 200mm compresses distance and lines don't appear to converge at all.
To addjust the angle of view of the lens in Perspective mode, you can either go through the Camera menu and choose Field of View or you can click on the Zoom tool. Then just type the value you want. You can type either a focal length or the angle of view in degrees. If the label in the Measurements box shows "Field of View" and "deg." and you want focal length in millimeters, enter the units, i.e. 85mm and hit Enter. The label with change to "Focal Length" and the value will be shown in millimeters. If you want to go back to Field of View, add "deg" after the value.
You can also choose Two-Point Perspective which will cause the vertical lines to be drawn parallel to each other. After selecting Two-Point Perspective from the Camera menu the cursor will change to the Pan tool (white hand). You may find you need to pan the camera up or down to see the entire model. Note that if you select the Orbit tool the camera will go back to normal Perspective.
Finally, the Parallel Projection mode results in lines drawn so they don't converge at all. this is also referred to as Isometric Projection. There is no reduction in size as distance from the viewer increases. This view is a common "3D" view created by 2D technical drawing methods. There is sometimes value in this sort of drawing especially if you need to be able to scale parts off of the drawing. On the other hand, it can be a bit jarring for those who aren't used to looking at this type of drawing. If you are making images for a client to look at, you may find they have a better time reading perspective views instead of Parallel Projection. In any case, you have your choice.
Fairing a template curve: Looking down the curve is a remarkably sensitive way to detect lumps and bumps
In nearly all of my woodworking projects, there are curves that can make or break the design. These are almost always curves without a constant radius, so I am relying on what looks "right" to my eye.
Acu Arc flexible curves are my favorite tools for laying out curves. They are available from Highland Hardware in 24", 48", and 72" lengths, and from Lee Valley in 18" and 36" lengths. French curves from an art store in regular sizes, and from Woodhaven in giant sizes, are also helpful for sections of curves.
I generally do not like flexible rules or laths because it is awkward or impossible to control the contour in mid-curve. The curve is regulated by the endpoints and maybe an intermediary point, but then is passively subject to the material properties of the layout device which may not produce the desired contour. I rarely use trammel points or a compass.
To design curves in a project, such as for table legs, I refine sketches into scale drawings. Then I make a full size mock-up by transferring the key dimensions onto scrap wood and use these to lay out a smooth curve. I saw the curve and refine it with rasps, spokeshaves, and planes. When it looks right and feels right, it is right! Then I go back and modify the scale drawings as needed.
For curves applied to multiple parts, and most of them are, such as with table legs, I next make a template by transferring the key dimensions of the final scale drawing onto quarter-inch MDF and use these to lay out the final curve. MDF works better than plywood, solid wood, or cardboard since it holds a clean edge and there is no grain to distract my eye or misdirect tools.
The Acu Arc has a natural tendency to produce a curve without bumps as you shape it. Hold it on the wood, trace only a nearby section of the curve with a pencil, hold it further along, trace more, and so forth. It is made of translucent colorless plastic but I would prefer opaque plastic that would show the curve better against the background of the wood.
Saw the template curve, then clean it up with rasps and sandpaper. Now you are on your own with your eyes and hands as you "fair the curve."Looking down the curve, as shown in the photo, is a remarkably sensitive way to see bumps and lumps that must be eliminated. Gently running your hand along the curve, like a sleigh ride over the hills, is also a very good way to sense irregularities. The edges of the template should be square if it will be used on both faces, as for legs with curves in three dimensions, or as a template for router work.
I position the finished template onto a squared-up blank of the project wood, clamp or double-stick tape it if needed, and draw the layout lines for each leg. With thinner stock, such as a table top or apron, the template may serve as a guide for pattern routing.
I label the templates and save this artistic capital which can be reused for future projects.
When I built the Federal-style desk that featured in Peter Gedrys' article "Antique Finish that Holds Nothing Back" I knew that it would not just sit in a room looking pretty but be used everyday by my wife in her home office. On her previous desk the slide-out tray featured a padded wrist support in front of the keyboard. The purpose was to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome developing in the wrists, a painful malady that can only be healed through surgery. I was determined to add such a support to the new desk but I wanted it to be as unobtrusive as possible. This is how I built it:
1) Take measurements of the existing pad or the keyboard and construct a wooden core. Round over the top corners, and cut 1/8-in. deep rabbets on the the underside.
2) Wrap two layers of closed-cell foam around the core and staple them inside each rabbet. Sources of foam include packing materials or you can buy sill seal used in home building.
3) Cover the foam in either leather, if you're feeling extravagant, or in my case leather-look vinyl. Either can be bought at fabric shops.
4) Fold over the vinyl at each end, cut away surplus fabric, and staple the ends down.
5) Screw on end caps with recessed screw holes and plug the holes.
6) Dye the plugs to match the end caps. I used a non-grain raising dye but even a permanent marker would work.
7) Attach the pad using screws from the underside of the tray. Start typing.
These tips were published in an article on Mashable.com by Ekaterina Walter: 10 Tips for Posting on Your Brand's Facebook Page. For the full original article please click here.
By now, the word “Facebook” has become such a household name that it’s likely your brand is already on Facebook. Company Facebook pages are a very useful social media resource when updated regularly but efficiently. In a recent Mashable article, social media strategist Ekaterina Walter poses a central question to building Facebook relationships with potential customers effectively:
“How [do] you engage those fans and sustain a meaningful online dialogue with your customers. Facebook fans will only want to engage with us if we serve up relevant content and truly participate.”
The key word there is engage, but that’s easier said than done when you’re busy in the shop and running a business and don’t have endless amounts of spare time to devote to your “desk work.” That's legitimate, and often times the only way to use a tool efficiently is to understand the components of that tool and really pin down what you're hoping to gain. If the aim of your business's Facebook is to spread awareness about your brand and build engaged consumer relationships, then knowing about which posts are seen and how is helpful.
Walker calls readers’ attention to EdgeRank, this is Facebook’s News Feed algorithm that helps display “relevant” stories. “The News Feed only displays a small subset of stories generated by the friends and brands users engage with the most,” says Walker. “The more popular your story, the more likely it is to show up in peoples' News Feed. News Feed optimization becomes as important as your content strategy.”
Okay so we’ll start with those 2 ideas, (1) Engaging, conversation-starting content (2)Newsfeed optimization. In her full article, Ekaterina elucidates ten strategies for achieving both engaging content and newsfeed optimization. I’ll boil down Ms. Walker’s first pointer below, but check out her full article for useful, in-depth info on this subject.
#1 Tip: Don’t Automate Your Status Updates
Resist the temptation to feed your blog posts or your Twitter updates directly into your Facebook Page. It may be a short-term time saver, but automated content often doesn’t make it into users’ News Feeds (which means it gets buried and they don’t see it). Your fans can also tell the difference between “auto” posts and customized one that you’ve wrote with thought, so taking the time to write legit posts carries rapport with your fans (your past or potential customers).
This doesn’t mean you have to sweat about updating your page constantly, it’s just a reminder that putting in the extra few minutes when you do get around to updating your Facebook is worthwhile to engage your fans and show up in News Feeds.
CustomMade.com is an online marketing resource for woodworkers and creators of custom products. These marketing tips are intended to help you grow your online presence as a woodworking professional seeking to build a relationship with online shoppers. For more info on online marketing and joining the CustomMade community click here.
Thinking about going pro and selling your woodwork? Or just want some advice on how to market your business and make it stand out in the marketplace? Well this blog’s for you.
A joint venture between Fine Woodworking and CustomMade, The Pro Shop will give you tips on selling custom furniture or just getting started in the business.
Questions for our bloggers? Post a comment here and we’ll try to address it in an upcoming post.
About Fine Woodworking: Your source for expert advice on woodworking and furniture making since 1975.
About CustomMade: An online marketplace designed to help serious craftspeople sell their wares and help customers locate a custom maker.
Subscription Options
On a recent visit with my friend and mentor, David Marks, we decided to make a little video together. Initially the idea was to simply show David my video production process. But as things started to progress, I knew we had the makings of a great video and this was something I wanted to share with the woodworking community.
The goal was simple: let’s turn a bowl! But as easy as that sounds, properly filming a bowl turning from start to finish can be quite tricky with just a few hours to play with. I had to catch a plane that evening and this was something of a last-minute idea. But we managed to pull it off, amazingly.
Anyone who has worked with David knows that the man is a perfectionist by definition. He regularly achieves a level of quality that I can only hope to some day match. So with David Marks, even a “quick and dirty” bowl deserves a perfect spherical profile, an absolutely tearout-free finish, and a crisp decorative band. And forcing him to produce a David Marks creation under those conditions proved to be a challenge and an important learning experience for me. When David works, there is really only one way to do things: to the best of his abilities. So there’s really no such thing as “good enough”. Its either done properly or its not. This is something I really admire.
David shows you a number of tools and techniques in this video. You’ll see some of the more standard options like the bowl gouge, the parting tool, and the pyramid point tool, as well as some interesting offerings from Easy Wood Tools. In this video, David shows the Easy Rougher and The Easy Finisher. You can purchase the Easy Wood Tools, including the David J. Marks Pro Series featuring beautiful Bubinga handles at David’s website. The advantage of buying the David J. Marks Pro Series in addition to getting a signed bubinga handle, is that the handles are longer than the standard Easy Wood Tools which gives them better leverage.
I hope you enjoy this special episode. Maybe this will help fill in the gap left by my severe lack of turning content! And for those of you who miss the good old days of Woodworks, this is going to be a real treat!
Here’s a little recap of what’s been going on in the shop.
The Greene & Greene Adirondack Chair features a nice tapered indent on the front legs. This feature is much easier to make than it might first appear. A simple jig (inspired by Darrell Peart’s design) straddles the leg and when used with a router outfitted with a straight bit and guide bushing, its a no-brainer. A perfect indent every time!
Now because this is a Guild Build, I like to show alternative options whenever possible. So I decided to try my hand at carving a foot similar to one I saw on a Greene & Greene plant stand. I have absolutely no training in carving so I just did my best to replicate the design and the results were passable. Still needs some refinement and I can definitely use more practice. But you get the idea.
As a third option, I showed how to make a leg that is commonly found in Greene & Greene pieces and it features nothing more than a little slope at the foot on all four sides. Here’s a nice shot of all three leg options. I’m still going with the tapered leg indents, but it was nice to review a few different designs.
The next thing I worked on was the side legs of the chair. The trickiest part about these bad boys is the angled tenon. But my Incra 3000 was up to the task! Some careful attention to the miter angle along with a razor sharp dado blade results in perfect angled tenons.
After a test fit, I noticed my tenons were just a little long. So I decided to shave a few thousandths off using my smoother. I just sharpened the iron last week so I was anxious to see what this puppy could do. After a couple passes I was pulling up .002¨ shavings. Now that would put a smile on any woodworker’s face!
If you’re interested in joining us on this build, check out all the features and benefits of a Guild Membership!
And on a completely off-topic note, Jax and Lexi wanted to say hi. Don’t let Lexi’s smile fool you. She’ll rip your face off if you try to come into her yard. And Jax, well, let’s just say he has been working for years on his special trick: balancing a single blade of grass on the tip of his nose.
This afternoon a friend asked me if I had a good way to draw twisted iron spindles similar to the one on the left in the photograph. I hadn't really thought about drawing an iron railing before but I realized that drawing these twisted spindles could utilize a method similar to the finials I drew a little while back.
Three plugins will help to make quick work of this. They are DrawHelix 1.4, Weld and Extrude Edges by Rails. I'm also going to divide the spindle into smaller components to keep the file size down. I think this is important since in a typical model, the spindle would only be a small part of the entire thing.
In this example I am creating a spindle that is 3/4 inches square.
The first step is to create the helixes for the twist. I activated DrawHelix from the Draw menu. The plugin asks for start and end radii, pitch and the number of turns I calculated the radius by multiplying 3/4 by 0.707. I set Pitch to 8 inches and set the number of turns to 1. The helix is drawn as a group centered on the origin and starting on the red axis. Next I rotate/copied it through 90°.
Next, with the Line tool, I drew a line between the bottom ends of the two helixes. I then divided the line into four segments and immediately after, I welded the segments together. Although the line will look the same as before this divide and weld step is required for the Extruded Edges by Rails step coming up. I chose to divide the line into four but it could have been 2 or more. The more segments you choose, the smoother the twist will be but that comes at the cost of a larger file size.
The helix groups were exploded and then the entire model was scaled up by a factor of 100. I drew a 1 inch long line off to the side a bit and measured that with the Tape Measure tool. I typed 100, hit Enter and clicked on Yes. Later, when it is time to scale back down, I just repeat the process but type 1.
Now it is time to start the extrusion. Activate Extrude Edges by Rails from the toolbar. The plugin directs you to first select the profile, then the first rail followed by the second rail and finally it asks for a melding profile. The line at the bottom is the profile. After it is selected it shows in cyan. The helixes are the rails and show in two shades of magenta after they are selected. For this profile, we'll click on the profile line for the melding profile.
After the extrusion is made you have to make some choices. Most of the answers will be no but you should answer Yes to deleting coplanar edges, reversing faces if the back face is on the outside, smoothing edges and deleting original lines as those are no longer needed. the extrusion is made as a group.
Scale the model back down at this point. Then explode the group and make it a component. Doing this after scaling back down ensures that the component definition is set at the correct size.
Rotate/copy the component 90° and make three copies to complete the four-sided twist. We now have a twisted square section that is 8 inches long.
Make a Move copy the four sides up 8 inches and make two additional copies. Now we have a 24 inch long twist with three turns. The spindles overall length is to be 34 inches so I moved the twist components up 5 inches.
For the ends of the spindle I drew a square across the end of the twisted portion. Then I made a 1/8 inch Offset to the outside.
I used Push/Pull to pull the outside down 1 inch and the center down 5".
To create the grooves around the square block I drew an arc to create a profile for Follow Me. Note the arc only has 4 side instead of the default 12. the grooves are very tiny details and don't need a lot of segments to read correctly in the drawing. Reducing the segment count here helpd to keep file size down.
The arc is copied down for the second groove. Follow Me is run around the block to create both grooves and the spindle end is made into a component.
The spindle end is copied to the top and flipped along the component's blue axis. Then all of the components are selected and a nested component is created. This component is then saved for later use.
The spindle component drawn as I have done here makes a component that is only about 47 Kb. If it were drawn without using components for sub-assemblies, it saves out at over 450 Kb. By itself that's not all that large but when combined with other parts in a larger model, the total file size could get to be quite large. A component of less than 50 Kb will have miniimal effect on the overall file size.
Right Click to Download MP3 Dax is working with cypress and when he mills his boards, they start warping almost immediately.Will is making bridle joints out of cherry and finds that once the material is removed from the female part of the bridle joint, the ends start to close in a bit so that he can’t even do a dry fit. Jay is in the market for a new cyclone and needs some advice on the Clear Vue as well as metal ductwork.
If you would like to participate in a Board Meeting, you’ll need to sign up for the Wood Whisperer Guild. We’d be glad to have you!
Exceptional Products For Exceptional Yards. Great yards demand equipment that's as dedicated and hardworking as you. Fortunately, the Husqvarna range of lawn and garden equipment offers everything from lawnmowers and ride-on mowers to trimmers and chainsaws to let you master your great outdoors. You and Husqvarna - together we will make your yard the envy of the neighborhood. The Husqvarna 235 is ideal for jobs like pruning, lighter cutting tasks and hobby work. Easy to start and operate, thanks
16-inch gas-powered chain saw ideal for yard maintenance, tree trimming, and hobby work1.8 HP X-Torq engine reduces harmful exhaust emissions and increase fuel efficiencyCentrifugal air cleaning system removes larger dust and debris particles, resulting in reduced air filter cleaningsLowVib vibration dampening; combined choke/stop control allows for easier startingNon-CARB Compliant/Not For Sale In California; backed by 2-year warranty
List Price: $ 199.95
Price:
Lightweight, easy-to-operate, and able to get into even the tightest areas with ease, this cordless electric chain saw from Black & Decker handles both soft and hard wood measuring up to eight inches in diameter...
Providing cutting-edge features to help you power through jobs both big and small, the Poulan Pro 400E 18-Inch 4.0 HP Electric Chain Saw arrives fully assembled, so it's ready to go right out of the box...
No more balancing acts! No more expensive tree service bills! Just toss This Rope Saw's safety weight over the branch you want to cut, then pull the 25ft. polypropylene ropes. Carbon steel blades can be sharpened...
Compatible with Black & Decker 18-volt cordless chain saw models NPP2018 and CS818, this replacement eight-inch saw chain provides longlasting performance. The RC800 effectively handles yard projects, like pruning and cutting wood...
With its carbon steel teeth and extreme portability, this survival saw is an essential tool for snowmobilers, campers, hikers, mountain bikers and all other outdoorsmen. U.S.A. Chain Length (in.): 24, Blade Material: Carbon steel
In my book Chapter 9, Step 30, there are instructions for placing elongated holes in the Top Frame for fastening the Top. They're elongated to account for seasonal movement of the Top cross-grain.
Here is one of the elongated holes shown with a Back Edges Style so you can see the hole all the way through the Top Frame.
After making one hole, I ask the reader to copy the hole to the other locations in the Top Frame. Here I am moving a copy of the hole down the red axis.
After placing it, the reader will surprisingly notice that the hole is "covered over" - having a face. So, is there a hole there or not?
Also, you are horrified upon clicking the hole covering, the entire face of the frame piece is selected. You can't get the small face of the hole to select only. My book explains this phenomenon - it is normal SketchUp behavior. As explained in Step 30 - "trace over a small part of the hole outline" and the hole face can be selected and deleted, leaving a hole.
Here is way not to "trace over a small part……". These are extraneous lines and will cause problems in removing that face of the hole.
Rather, make sure you zoom in close and, with the Line Tool, trace over a line segment endpoint to endpoint.
Now you'll be able to select the hole face, and delete it.
Acanthus Carving and Design by Bob Yorburg and Hans Sandom, Illustrator Schiffer Publishing, 2010. $24.99; 128 pp.
Acanthus Carving and Design is a book full of color step-by-step photos as well as helpful line drawings. The book provides information on preparation and design, in addition to detailed steps to draw and carve acanthus scrolls and leaves. Two projects - a bread board and a pierced panel - are included, along with a photo gallery to provide more inspiration. There is also a section on sharpening your tools and finishing your carvings. The subheading for the chapter titled Getting Started is “It Is Easier Than You Think”. Those are some encouraging words.
Lucky Murray54 is the winner. His comment was chosen at random.
Be sure to check back later to see his review of the book.
posted in: blogs, giveaway, book review, carving document.write('');document.write('');
FineWoodworking.com editors report from the woodworking front lines. Check in every weekday for news, information, projects, and answers to questions from Fine Woodworking readers everywhere.
Learn about our new format!
Archive: Temporarily unavailable. Stay tuned and sorry for the inconvenience.
Interior Designer Kara Angotti weaves video blogging into her daily design practice
Photo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXEReADq5Os&feature=related Recently Kara Angotti of KO Angotti, a woman-owned interior design and energy audit firm located in Philadelphia, ventured out of the city to visit my wood shop, Superior Woodcraft in Bucks County, PA. To share the information with her design community Kara wrote a blog post and created a YouTube video. Now it’s not every day that I have an interior designer/energy auditor/blogger come for a visit; so this had me thinking about how Kara’s social media work is completely integrated into her interior design and energy audit business. I sought to learn more about the ways in which Kara balances her actual work with her social media marketing endeavors, and here's what I learned: PK: Kara, why did you start to create social media for your business? KO: Social media marketing is a low monetary cost high impact way to reach an interested audience,which is very useful when you’re not exactly a Fortune 500 company. Do you have specialized training in this area? No, I have no specialized training, but we leverage experienced consultants for effective marketing techniques. Social media marketing is still fairly underdeveloped and is rapidly evolving; therefore it’s difficult as a business owner to maintain focus on your core service while remaining current with the latest social media marketing methods. I suggest finding a young eager marketing professional to help guide you. I like what you said about underdeveloped and rapidly evolving. To me this means you can experiment and see what works. You don’t have to spend a lot of time worrying about making mistakes. Everyone is learning about what works in social media. Is it difficult to create a blog and videos? It’s fairly easy to get started with a blog thanks to the many available platforms (Wordpress, Blogger, etc.) and templates that exist. Videos are a bit more challenging since they require filming equipment and editing software. I recommend beginning with a blog and establishing it as the focal point of your online social media marketing campaign. Become comfortable blogging and expand from that point. How has it helped your actual interior design and energy audit business? Social media marketing has given us a promotional outlet that in years passed could have only been achieved through large scale and costly advertising campaigns. It’s also provided a branding opportunity, showcase for our designs, and platform to communicate developments in the auditing industry. What benefits could a small woodworking shop gain from creating a virtual community or social media content? Few media outlets offer a woodworker the opportunity to broadly display their craft. A blog would give your clients the chance to observe your progress and review your portfolio. What small piece of advice do you have for a woodworker who is thinking about creating a blog or shooting videos? I recommend beginning with a blog because of the low cost of entry. Bear in mind that consistency and the quality of your content is imperative to maintain a successful and respected blow. Thanks to all of our readers for dropping in on the conversation between CustomMade.com member Patrick Kennedy of Superior Woodcraft, Inc. and Kara Angotti of KO Angotti. Are you using social media for your business? What results have you witnessed?
? Or just want some advice on how to market your business and make it stand out in the marketplace? Well this blog’s for you.
A joint venture between Fine Woodworking and CustomMade, The Pro Shop will give you tips on selling custom furniture or just getting started in the business.
Questions for our bloggers? Post a comment here and we’ll try to address it in an upcoming post.
About Fine Woodworking: Your source for expert advice on woodworking and furniture making since 1975.
About CustomMade: An online marketplace designed to help serious craftspeople sell their wares and help customers locate a custom maker.
Project Description: This project was a gift to my wife, who LOVES elephants. The inspiration came from wanting to combine an African theme (to tie in with the elephants) with the skeleton movement I used. The end result also incorporates some Greek styling as well. Lots of mortise and tenon joints were used and the base was married to the clock platform with screws so the movement could be replaced if needed.
Find out what woodworking gifts our staff of editors and dads hope to receive this Father's Day.
Photo: Woodcraft
Father's Day is fast-approaching and the Fine Woodworking editorial department's crew of dad's are eagerly anticipating (or at least hoping) for a small workshop-related token of gratitude from sons, daughters, and moms. So we figured we'd take a quick poll of the dad's out there to find out what tools (maximum value of $100) were on their wish-lists. If your plum out of ideas regarding what to get dad, here are a few possible choices to get you started.
What's on Your Wish List? We want to know - especially because some of us are still considering other options!
Asa Christiana Editor
I bought a cheap but complete set of those no-name Taiwanese brad-point drills way back when. Some worked well, but the sharpening was inconsistent on others. And all of them dulled pretty quickly. It's next-to-impossible to resharpen brad-points properly in a home shop, so my set is riddled with gaps now. And ever since FWW did a review of brad-points in 2005, I've wanted a set of the Lee Valley high-speed steel bits, which bored smooth accurate holes in the toughest woods in our test, with zero tearout at the rim. A set of 12 is only $43 at LeeValley.com.
Lee Valley High-Speed Steel Brad Point Bits - $43
Lee Valley's high-speed steel (HSS) set cuts clean, accurate, flat-bottomed holes similar to those produced by a Forstner bit.
Michael Pekovich Art Director
I'll let you off cheap this year. One of the greatest additions to my new shop is a hand-crank pencil sharpener and a big stash of Ticonderoga no. 2 pencils. I sharpened up a dozen pencils and put them in the top drawer of my bench. They soon migrated to every corner of my shop so that now, no matter where I turn, I can find a sharp pencil.
Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils and Sharpener - $25
Remember pencil and paper? It may seem like a boring gift, but a woodworker can never have enough marking implements. Ditto for a good old-fashioned sharpener!
Mark Schofield Managing Editor
Always need more clamps; clamps work best in pairs; I have two sons therefore I'd like two Jorgenson 24in. heavy duty bar clamps. The 1200 lb limit should pull most of my joints together.
Jorgensen 24-in. Steel Bar Clamps - $49.99 each
Need more information on clamps? Check out Fine Woodworking's complete Tool Guide listings.
Matt Kenney Senior Editor
Although I believe I am getting an iPod speaker dock for my shop, it is over $100. So, I'd say for under $100 I would like a 3 in. thick by 12 in. wide by 18 in. long granite surfacing plate from Grizzly. The plate itself costs $34.95, but because it weighs 79 lb. the shipping is $44! That's a grand total of $78.95.
According to Matt, it beats having to stick sandpaper to his tablesaw table--his usual method for regrinding plane irons and chisel bevels.
Tom McKenna Senior Editor
I'm in dire need of Forstner bits (to be used after I get a drill press, of course). The last time I found myself at Woodcraft, I was eyeing up this 7-piece set. Hint, hint, hint.
Woodcraft 7-Piece Forstner Bit Set - $82.25
Be sure to catch the complete review on Woodcraft's forstner bits in our online Tool Guide.
Ed Pirnik Web Producer
I currently own two squares - a 4-in. and a traditional 12-in. combo square. I've always found the 4-in. to be really easy to work with; it hides in my shop apron and is always at-the-ready. In fact, I think I actually use my 4-in. more than my 12-in. That larger square is just a bit more bulky and I've always wanted the perfect in-between size. A 6-in. combination model will satisfy nearly all my needs and is small enough to remain hidden in my shop apron, right beside its trusty, smaller cousin.
Starrett 6-in. Combination Square - $92
Find out what sets a $75 tool apart from a $6 tool in our article on combination squares from FWW #159.
Sometimes I find I want to give the idea that the wood grain material I've used in my SketchUp model has been stained, shellacked or varnished. there are some limited controls available under the Edit tab in the Materials browser. Often, though, it is nice to be able to use an external image editor such as Photo Shop. Fortunately this is very easy to do in SketchUp. Before you can actually do the editing in your external image editor, you have to tell SketchUp what editor you want to use and give it the path so it can find it. Go to Window>Preferences>Applications on the PC or SketchUp>Preferences>Applications on the Mac. Browse to find the program you want to use and choose it. In my example, I am using Paint.NET which is a freeware application that works quite well. You only need to make this setting once and it should be available any time you need it.
So to edit a material first get it into the In Model materials library. You can either apply the material to a face or faces in the model or you can simply right click on the material thumbnail and choose Add to model. In this example I painted all of the surfaces with this material. Then, in the In Model library, right click on the thumbnail and choose Edit Texture Image.
The image editor you selected in Preferences will now open with the material image ready for manipulation.
Make the desired changes to the color. If you use additional layers in the image editor remember to flatten the image before saving.
After you've made the desired changes to the image, save it. Once the image file has been saved, go back to SketchUp, you'll notice the thumbnail image and any faces to which you've applied the material will show the change automatically.
Short, easy and sweet. Note that this doesn't modify the texture image in the original library. It only changes the one in the In Model linrary. If you wish to save the modified texture, open the secondary pane in the Materials browser. Set the lower pane to the destination library then click and drag the thumbnail from In Model to the other library.
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/detailed_plans_cutlists.jpg)
Furniture Gallery Shop Gallery Gallery of Jigs Post Photos of Your Own Work Dream Shop Gallery Magazine Reader's Gallery Highlights Shaker Arts and Crafts Tables Workbenches Maloof Inspired Krenov Inspired Shop Gallery Dream Shop Gallery Jigs Gallery Guide to Safety Interactive: Finger-Joint Jig Interactive: Tablesaw Tune-Up Interactive: Ultimate Tablesaw Jig Workshop Layout Workshop Planner Workshop Design Workshop Systems Tool Storage Lumber Storage Workstations Workshop Safety Jigs Clamping Jigs Hand Tool Jigs Measuring and Marking Jigs Power Tool Jigs Push Sticks Router Jigs Sharpening Jigs Tablesaw Jigs Workbench Jigs Blogs NEW: Woodworking TV NEW: The Pro Shop NEW: Hand Work The Editors Mailbox Start Woodworking Free Plans Tool Addicts Design. Click. Build The Woodworking Life GlueTube Furniture Gallery Shop Gallery Gallery of Jigs Share Your Work /ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/glue-tube.jpg)
Stupefying Engineering in an 18th Century Table comments (12)June 23rd, 2011 in blogs /ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/EdPortrait3_sqs.jpg)
Ed Pirnik, Web Producer /ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/icon_thumbs_up.gif){kind=icon}
52 users recommend /ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/1-french-table-beauty_sqs.jpg)
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/1-french-table-beauty_lg.jpg){kind=small}
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/2-french-table-drawer_sqs.jpg)
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/2-french-table-drawer_lg.jpg){kind=small}
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/3-french-table-mechanics_sqs.jpg)
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/3-french-table-mechanics_lg.jpg){kind=small}
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/4-french-table-mechanics_sqs.jpg)
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/4-french-table-mechanics_lg.jpg){kind=small}
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/5-french-table-long-drawer_sqs.jpg)
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/5-french-table-long-drawer_lg.jpg){kind=small}
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/icon_add.gif){kind=icon}
Add Comment/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/icon_print.gif){kind=icon}
Print/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/3-french-table-mechanics.jpg)
Nowadays, any enterprising woodworker with a bit of engineering know-how can easily purchase any number of manufactured gears, cams, and ratcheting mechanisms for use in extraordinary pieces of furniture. But back in the 18th century, when this exquisite table was built by a French craftsman, there certainly weren't any Woodcraft, Rockler, or McMaster retail stores from which to purchase these sorts of mechanical items, and that's what makes this little table such a marvel of engineering./ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/louisdrawer.jpg)
/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/default_avatar_sqs.jpg){kind=avatar}
Ronaldo9 writes: I would expect FWW to do a bit more research, the correct spelling is Jean-François Oeben. He was one of the greatest ébénistes of the XVIII and was also the master of Jean-Henri Riesener (many consider the latest to be the greatest). Their work sure deserve a whole article each.
Dust Control Made Simple/ABS/Auto%20Blog%20Samurai/data/WoodWorking%20Plans%20And%20Furniture%20Plans/fine/footer_logo_global.png){kind=logo}