Author name: Enthusiast

On Nov. 22 I posted an explanation of how cooler temperatures slow the drying of all finishes. Well, the opposite is also true. Warmer temperatures, especially with the aid of air movement, speed the drying of all finishes. The example of why this information is helpful came in the form of a question from a woodworker. He had made the cabinet pictured and finished the inside with oil, specifically Liberon […]

The post Air Movement and Heat Speed the Drying of Finishes appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

One of my current jobs involves adding some cabinets to a kitchen in a 1912 house. Luckily, the kitchen still has its original built-in, which guided the design of the new pieces. “Hang on,” you may be wondering. “What do you mean, ‘its original built-in,’ singular? Surely there would have been a set of built-ins.” No, there would not. Most kitchens of that era had just a single cabinet, if […]

The post A Stroke of Luck While Refinishing a Wooden Counter appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

No book giveaway this week. Instead I’m giving away $100 Lee Valley gift card to one lucky winner! Thanks for all the great comments each Friday throughout the year – it’s been fun to read all the smart, funny stuff you guys have posted and hear about what you’re working on. We’ll probably get another giveaway or two in before the end of the year, but I wanted to give […]

The post Friday Giveaway appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Open throat planes and spokeshaves, like a scrub plane, are designed for the quick removal of thick shavings. Unfortunately, no meal comes free and the price for this quick work is an undulated and often distorted surface. You see, If the throat of the plane is large, it will leave behind a trail of course and often torn fibers. In order to produce a smoother surface, one needs to make […]

The post Close the Throat of a Plane by Shimming the Blade appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

When I started woodworking the idea of veneering seemed like magic to me. From selecting the best materials, to the design (orienting the grain of the pieces to present the desired and impressive final result,) to cutting the pieces (to not leave ridiculous gaps!) and ultimately gluing the whole thing in place. That last task, glueing up the veneer, seemed the most daunting. The process must have constant, even pressure […]

The post Introduction to Vacuum Veneering with Jonathan Benson appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Every year with this gift guide, I recommend one tool that is just a little more expensive than the others but is definitely worth the money. This year it’s the Lee Valley Cast Masons & Engravers’ Square. This is a new item in Lee Valley’s catalog, and the minute I saw it, I ordered one. This well-made tool excels at scribing lines that are parallel to the edge of a […]

The post Anarchist’s 2017 Gift Guide, Day 11: Masons’ & Engravers’ Square appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.