Author name: Enthusiast

I use my CNC router mostly to make small parts out of solid wood, MDF and plastic. Until recently, I had never done any 3D work with it. Then I saw a photo from one of the students in Build a CNC Router, and I was inspired to try something new. Randy Winn posted a couple of photos on Google+ of some carvings he did with his CNC router. He […]

The post 3D Carvings with a CNC Router appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

While I prefer to work with air-dried lumber, that’s not always possible for woodworkers who use a lot of wood or don’t have access to deal who air-dries their stock. One of the major problems with kiln-dried lumber is that it is sometimes rushed through the kiln to get it to market. As a result, the stock can become case-hardened (among other defects). You can’t tell a piece of lumber […]

The post Don’t Forget the Quality of the Kiln appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

When working with construction grade timber, aside from the knots, you’ll more than likely find “eased edges.” You could be concerned that things won’t look good, or have fears about less-than-perfect glue lines or the like. My thoughts are to accept what you have and turn things to your advantage; on a workbench project, they won’t matter one bit if you go with the flow. Because I enjoy working by […]

The post Take it Easy for Workbench Tops appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

While growing up I had never been enamored of stained or leaded glass in my home furnishings – Tiffany glass lamps were usually a bit too frilly for my tastes. But that all changed when I visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois. Suddenly the idea of geometry versus flowers made all the difference in the world. It didn’t take long for me to open my […]

The post Add a New Skill (Leaded Glass) to Your Shop! appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Shortly before my friend Carl Bilderback died last year, he gave me a carload of woodworking books, catalogs and other ephemera that he had amassed during a lifetime of tool collecting and woodworking. His instructions: Distribute the books to young woodworkers who can’t afford them. Since his death, I’ve done just that. And all of his books are in the hands of people who need them and will use them. […]

The post Free Download: ‘Atkins Saw Book for Home Craftsmen’ appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

This article originally appeared in the February 2014 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine as “4 Way to Make a Mortise.” by Robert W. Lang pages 44-48 The mortise-and-tenon joint is fundamental in woodworking. Along with the dovetail, this joint has been used for thousands of years. If you judge by the number of devices and methods developed to avoid making mortises, you might think it difficult and demanding. In truth, a mortise […]

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