Making and Making Steps…

… The Hidden Gems of pure joy in creating your own hand-cut joinery can seem all the more lost in the modernity of today’s methodology surrounding joint making and joinery, but when the hands cut and shape every part using the maker’s energy, something changes forever in him and her. There is no going back....

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Election Memory

In thinking about a new USA President about to come, I was reminded of a Craft Fair on the weekend of Thanksgiving in 2008 where I sat with a man, a friend, who I had known for eighteen years. We were having a nice chat when a message came to me that mentioned the possibility...

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Ancients and Passed Paths

There was a gentleness about him––a gentle settledness, I’d say, really. His frailness belied the determined outlook of this now shrunken man who said little, but when he spoke, and said what he said, no one else spoke, for after he’d spoken, there was nothing more to be said. I looked at his denim overalls,...

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Volunteering

I thought about all of the woodworking joints that I must’ve made with no use of a machine, along with the few thousands of others I have machined in making my production line products. For several years, I made around 100 walking canes a week using a single mortise and tenon joints, but still realised...

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Kreg MortiseMate Review – Should Festool Be Worried?

Kreg recently released a new tool that appears to be a straight shot at the Festool Domino. It makes the mortises with any drill and does so via a clever mechanism that advances the bit about 1/16″ per pass. Kreg also sells Domino-like tenons that complete the system. But is it a Domino killer? Watch this Kreg MortiseMate Review to find out!

• Kreg MortiseMate (Save 5% – affiliate link)
• Festool Domino (affilaite link)
• Rockler Beadlock (affiliate link)
• DowelMax (affiliate link)
• JessEm Pocket Mill Pro (affiliate link)
• Ava’s Vanity (showing the Dowelmax in action)

The post Kreg MortiseMate Review – Should Festool Be Worried? appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Talking Perfection…

…is it perfect? How is perfect defined? I often ask myself this question, being as I use the word so often in my day. Riding my bike here and there to do most of what I do outdoors, come to an obstacle, negotiate the potential issue to get through or past the crowd, the narrow...

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A New Week

It’s a seamless transition for a maker to slip through each of his days knowing the direction ahead and identifying every obstacle he knows he’ll face long, long before he gets there. That carcase, in some ways, might be mistaken in its spelling where a word is spelled out wrongly as carcass to name a...

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It’s All a Bit Twisted

When I cut the dovetail and sank the screw into the countersunk seating, I knew the joint settled tight that way would annoy some and not those that knew the reason behind the pull-power beyond the inventor-man’s invention 2,500 years ago. This “father of mechanics” started something when he created a continuous thread, others followed...

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Woodworking: From a Lived Life

My life working wood spans 60 years. It’s a long time to have worked it six days a week and for longer working days than most: ten- to 12-hour days for much of my life was quite normal and often longer. The important thing is this ingredient: I volunteered every hour I worked into it....

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Move Your Body. . .

. . . for better health, strength and stamina. Wood works for health and welfare when your hands or on the right tools, and you use all of your own energy and skill in the doing of it. Of the sharpening of many edges there is no end and yet, every tool I ever bought...

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A Vanity For My Little Girl

My daughter Ava has been asking me to build a vanity for years. I intentionally avoided it primarily because I didn’t want to build something really nice only for her to outgrow it in a year or two. Nicole purchased a small pink kids vanity off Amazon and sure enough, that thing was absolutely destroyed by crayons, markers, lipstick and general abuse and it ultimately ended up in a landfill. Finally, at 8 years old, I felt Ava was ready for a real piece of furniture. So I set myself to task of building a vanity for my little girl.

The vanity features two continuous grain drawers in the base as well as a hutch unit that contains two drawers and a door with a lighted mirror. The vanity will also serve as a desk and the hutch is removable should she ever decide to convert it to full-time desk duty.

If you’d like to build this project, we have a full 19 video course in the Wood Whisperer Guild. You’ll received downloadable PDF and SketchUp plans and all of the detailed video instruction you can possibly ask for.

Featured Products

• Backside Sandpaper
• 2 x 1 1/2” Butt Hinges
• Lighted Mirror
• Izzy Skirt Washers
• 3/8” Rare Earth Magnets
• 1/4-20 threaded inserts
• 1 1/2” connector bolts
• DowelMax Jig (3/8” and 1/4”) 
• Cost-Effective Alternative to DowelMax
• Dowel Center Pins (3/8” and 1/4”)
• 1/8” Roundover Bit
• Self-Centering Bit
• Countersink Bit Set
• 1/4″ Undersized Plywood Bit
• Shelf Pin Jig
• Hide Glue
• Taper Maker Tapering Jig
• Preppin’ Weapon Sanding Block
• Merle Clamp
• Osmo Wood Wax Clear Extra Thin
• Osmo PolyX Oil
• Osmo Top Oil
• Alfie Shine Wax

The post A Vanity For My Little Girl appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Days of Old Men Working

I sometimes wonder if they can understand smoothness on wood after the plane, fresh-sharpened, swipes away that last thin shaving to leave a surface they’ve never felt before. I’m talking about someone who only ever planed wood with a machine. The grain, sheer-cut, parted off, away and lifted in the bench plane’s stroking swipes, left...

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One System Fits All

I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat myself here: sharpening woodworking edge tools is and always will be an abrasive issue. I have used every type of stone and grinder through my 60 years of woodworking. The choice of abrasives may well be a matter of preference, which one you choose depends on how much...

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My World of Wood

There’s no cute titling in my world. As a working lad, working with other men, there was no space for image and pretence. You just made. I’m glad for that now. They didn’t take any truck from young bucks but gave everything they knew to those who were well-mannered and respectful. These men polished their...

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DIY Floating Frames that Anyone Can Make!

Don’t miss the pre-order pricing for Caleb James’ Dry Bar Cube!

Canvas prints always look better in a floating frame. Many frames are commercially available but most will be cheaply made and won’t be a perfect fit for your artwork. Fortunately, making your own DIY floating frame is easy and inexpensive. All you need is a table saw, miter saw, and drill. For the wood, head to the “project boards” section of your local hardware store.

• • Material for each frame (assuming a 16×16 print): (4) 1/2” x 2 1/2” x 2’ (Sold as 1/2” x 3” x 2’) (4) 1/4” x 1 1/2” x 2’ (Sold as 1/4” x 2” x 2’)
  • Merle Clamp (Amazon Affiliate Link)
  • To finish the frame I used Krylon Fusion Satin. (Amazon Affiliate Link)
  • The frame is hung using a sawtooth hanger. (Amazon Affiliate Link)
  • Titebond Speed Set Wood Glue (Amazon Affiliate Link)

The post DIY Floating Frames that Anyone Can Make! appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Low-cost, Long-lasting Sharpening Kit

For sharpening all chisels, planes, spokeshaves and knife types, in fact, anything with a cutting edge, diamond plates do it all, they cut steel very fast, stay flat, and they are cleaner than oilstones, natural stones, water stones, man made or naturally occurring all of which need additional paraphernalia with little good reason or advantage....

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Auguring Well With Augers

We tend to do better amassing tools without paying a premium price when we wait with a patient and watchful eye and are prepared to wait even a year or two to get the tool we want. Apart from starting out as an apprentice, where necessity forced me to buy tools according to need and...

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Narrowing the Chisel Options

A workhorse and a one-type-suits-all to get you in the saddle. Believe me, they work! For some time, probably sixty years now, I have reflected on chisels, types and functions. General chisel work comprises two tasks that in no way are the same and therefore often set the tone for some discussion with those starting...

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Loose Chisel Handle Repair

Some modern makers use a tang that’s forged to make a super strong tang, but it is not the traditional hammer-forged on the anvil type that’s tapered from the bolster to a more refined and consistent taper finishing at a steep, sharp point. I have one of my German-made 6mm chisels that started to squeak...

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Challenges

It’s a strange phenomenon that I cannot always place. Jealousy and envy can be two close bed partners, of course they can, but then there is expert knowledge, insider knowledge and a range of levels between just disliking someone and tall the way up to hatefulness. Challenging the status quo of any majority and suddenly...

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Sharpening––Less to it Than Others Can Make You Think!

I went ahead and ground a chisel I own that I never grind on any kind of mechanical or electric grinder, never, ever hollow grind, and never grind to then sharpen with two bevels. I stopped doing that back in 1965 when I did it under instruction by a college teacher who failed as a...

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From Old Firehouse to Woodworking Wonderland | Shop Tour 2024

Check out the NEW Guild+

It’s been a crazy couple of years since we moved to Missouri. If you’d like to follow the entire saga, start here: Marc’s Shop.

The 2024 Shop Tour begins with a review of the changes since our last update on Oct. 22 2022. From there we’ll discuss the general workflow and layout in the shop. I’ll then show you more detail as we review the various tools and pieces of shop furniture. We’ll finish up with a Q&A where I deep dive into the topics you were most interested in.

Referenced Courses and Videos

• 6 Tips for Better Shop Layout
• Backside Sandpaper
• Bit Storage Cabinet
• Drill Charging Station
• Hybrid Workbench Course
• 7 Must-Have Table Saw Upgrades
• Outfeed Assembly Table
• Big Assembly Table
• Miter Station Course
• Rubber Floor Tiles

Tools & Stuff

• Powermatic Drill Press
• Tormek Sharpening System
• c14 Harvey Ambassador Bandsaw
• SCM S440p Bandsaw
• Large Magnetic Whiteboard
• SawStop 3HP PCS Table Saw
• Powermatic 12″ Jointer
• Oneida 5HP Dust Gorilla
• Festool Kapex
• Woodpeckers Stealth Stop
• Oliver Spindle Sander
• Hammer HS 950 Edge Sander
• Powermatic Air Cleaner
• Felder D951 Planer
• SuperMax 25-50 Drum Sander
• Festool MFT
• Festool Track Saw TS60
• Rockler Rolling Clamp Rack
• Jet Parallel Clamps 
• Rockler Parallel Clamp Racks
• Grainger Vertical Pipe Racks

The post From Old Firehouse to Woodworking Wonderland | Shop Tour 2024 appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Only Three Common Joints

I’m a traditionalist in some ways and a modernist in others, but I constantly strive never to compromise my own integrity nor the integrity of my work. What do I mean by that? Well, integrity affects many things. Going for cheap-quality and low-grade plywood would compromise the longevity of the pieces I make. Using solid...

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Woodworking Morning Show – Your Weekly Inspiration Boost!

00:00:00 Good Morning!
00:01:59 Giveaways later in the show https://backsidesandpaper.com/
00:02:49 Do you want to see my chisel storage?
00:05:05 Workbench cabinet course
00:05:46 Housekeeping and PBS supporting pitch :)
00:09:33 Can you show us your new under tablesaw cabinet?
00:13:32 How many blades do you keep on hand for your saws?
00:14:25 Why did you get rid of the Japanese Chisels?
00:16:12 Guild Facebook Group easy link
00:16:29 Email from DavidK – Scotch-Brite Grit Chart
00:17:46 The PBS warm and fuzzies from Robert
00:18:09 Question from Les for Ava
00:19:17 Thank you Adam!
00:20:08 Question from Chris – Protecting tempura paint? Polycrylic General Finishes High Performance (Amazon affiliate links)
00:22:08 Thank you TheJentaru! Tacos for Todd!
00:22:29 Question from Alan – Advice on making your own wipe on poly?
00:24:44 Hi Josh! Josh’s spreadsheets Q&A Live Spreadsheet Spag and Friends Q&A Spreadsheet
00:25:20 Thank you Jim! Also watch out for fake accounts
00:26:58 Question from Garage Shop Woodworking – any good Guild courses that implement CNC? Littleton Console
00:28:30 End Table Deep Dive for more CNC
00:28:50 Thank you Ryan!
00:29:23 Thank you Daniel for #Tacos4Todd
00:29:59 Questions from John on the Breadboard End Dining Table
00:34:31 Thank you HomerSimpson for the donuts!
00:36:20 Thank you Jake!
00:36:35 Thank you Jeanine!
00:37:01 Using Makr Sponge with water based poly and it worked great. Don’t forget to use code TWW for 15% off your order
00:37:35 Would you still recommend Carbon Method for your saw surface? Use coupon code SPAGCOAT for 10% off
00:39:11 Sorry Joshua Nicole is running a little behind
00:39:51 Question from Lane – What Honing Guide do you use on your chisels?
00:42:30 Thank you TheJentaru!
00:43:39 Do we plan to do any new interviews in the near future?
00:44:37 Will you collaborate with Jory again?
00:45:36 What is Tempera paint?
00:46:04 LOL Nicole is a bookie (got it on reply Les ;)
00:46:24 Nicole cares about Fallout76
00:47:00 Chisel giveaway
00:49:09 Congrats Heartwood Woodshop!
00:50:02 Backside sandpaper and Guild course giveaway!
00:50:13 When’s the next Wood Talk? 2 episodes per month
00:50:28 What happened to your Festool sponsorship?
00:53:50 Thank you Michael for being one of our earliest supporters https://ift.tt/TK5ZsfH
00:54:36 Congrats Jason Goodrich!
00:55:23 Congrats CAZWorks Woodworking!
00:55:57 What are your thoughts on Star Wars Outlaws? (Amazon Affiliate Link)
00:59:21 New day and time for our monthly Guild meeting. Check the website for details!

Join this channel to get access to perks:
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The post Woodworking Morning Show – Your Weekly Inspiration Boost! appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Paul Sellers’ Furniture Gallery

Team Paul Here! Check out Paul’s new gallery showcasing furniture Paul has made over the last few years.

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Becoming the Maker you Want to Become: Introduction

I’ve been writing a few posts to steer those seeking hand tools as part of their home working that will lead them on a clear path of what is actually needed to get started and keep going. Hand tools are just as viable a means of achieving as any other, and in most cases, and...

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Solving Your Floor Refinishing Dilemma: Osmo PolyX Oil Hardwood Floor Application

This video was sponsored by Osmo!

As part of our recent kitchen renovation, we had several areas of flooring that required new material. As a result, the entire kitchen floor was sanded with the intention of staining to match the old adjoining floor. Fortunately (and unfortunately), the natural-colored floors made the space so bright and inviting that we knew there was no way we could go back to a dark stain.

But what about the rest of the floor?! You can’t really start and stop in the middle of a floor if you’re using traditional floor finishes as you’re likely to have very noticeable lines. Not to mention, there was no room left in the budget to increase the scope of the flooring project. That’s when I decided to attempt finishing the floor myself, using a finish that can easily  blend into the remaining floor in the future: Osmo PolyX Oil.

Preparation

The floors were sanded by the pros to remove the old finish. The floor was then sanded through to grits stopping at 120. The floors were then vacuumed thoroughly to remove any surface dust. Any baseboards or trim materials were masked with blue tape.

Application

Coat 1

The first coat was applied using a brush around the perimeter and a roller for the main part of the floor. I worked in 5×5 sections, spreading the finish as thin as I reasonably could. Unlike painting a wall with a roller, you really want to use decent pressure on the roller to make the finish go as far as possible. Just be careful not to apply so much pressure that you break the roller or handle.

Wait 24 hrs.

Coat 2

The second coat was applied in a similar fashion, just using different tools. I decided to use the non-abrasive hand pad around the perimeter as I felt it did a better job of allowing me to work a small amount of finish into the surface. The roller was then used just to get some finish on the floor and then the FloorXcenter powered buffer comes in to finish the job. The buffer does an amazing job of spreading the finish while also working it into the pores of the wood. I essentially work one area thoroughly, occasionally pushing into an unfinished area to see if there’s anymore finish left on the pad. Once it starting looking pretty dry I could move onto the next section.

Coat 3

On some wood species, it might be necessary to apply a third coat. It really depends on what you see after the second coat. If the surface looks even and consistent, the third coat can be skipped. My floor only required two coats.

The finish takes a few weeks to cure completely but can be walked on with socks the next day. I gave it two days before moving our table back in and I waited a few weeks before putting down our area rug and floor mats.

Maintenance

The floor will be cleaned regularly with Osmo Wash and Care. Maybe once a year I’ll clean the floor with the buffer and their Liquid Wax Cleaner. And then every couple of years I’ll likely hit the main traffic areas with a fresh coat of Polyx Oil.

Five Things You Should Know

It’s important to know what this finish is, and what it isn’t. So here are five things I think you should know.

1. It’s not a typical floor finish, at least by US standards.
2. It’s a matt finish, if you use Osmo PolyX Oil (3031 – Matte). More sheen can be had with Osmo Polyx Oil (3043 – Satin)
3.  It’s a repairable finish.
4. It’s not a “set it and forget it” finish. Maintenance is part of the deal.
5. It can be a little slippery when wearing socks, but will tone down with time.

Products I Used

• 3M 6500 Respirator
• Organic Vapor Cartridges
• Osmo PolyX Oil (3031 – Matte)
• Osmo Polyx Oil (3043 – Satin)
• Osmo Large Roller Set
• Osmo Small Roller and Brush Set
• Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner
• Osmo FloorXcenter Buffer

Amazon links are affiliate links.

The post Solving Your Floor Refinishing Dilemma: Osmo PolyX Oil Hardwood Floor Application appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Wood, Working and Ply

My newest project is nearly done and filmed and it’s another 98% hand tool project and though I have used plywood it is also 98% woodworking too. A few weeks ago I put a plan into action that came to me many monthsd back. Premade manufactured sheet goods have immense value in industry but most...

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Going Back

Sometimes I think it is often more important to go back to something we might have inadvertently moved on from that once spoke more strongly to us than what we moved into later but somehow quite forget its core connection. My reason, and there was ony one, for becoming a woodworker was for the love...

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Poplar––Surprising Me

Many woods have surprised me through the years, even woods I have known and worked with on and off for 60 years. The assumption in the machining-wood world can easily be that all woods work the same way and give the same results. Pass a board into a machine and it works the same for...

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Plywood Lasts Amazingly

My new project is coming together well. I’m altogether convinced of its many merits and thrilled to be near completion. Already a couple of friends have said, “I want one!” Followed by, “It’s perfect for….. and for……” The door swung freely to and fro the first time I tried it. Three brass hinges synchronised the...

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Take Your Bandsaw Resawing To The Next Level With The Laguna Driftmaster DXIII Fence!

Ever wish you had more control at the bandsaw? Most stock fences don’t provide easy drift adjustment or micro-adjustability, two things that can make a big difference in your day to day use of the tool. The Laguna Driftmaster DXIII hopes to solve that problem for you, if you have the cash.

I reviewed the original Laguna Driftmaster Fence System a couple of years ago and while I liked the feature set, I found the installation and maintenance to be a pain in the rear. Fortunately, most of my gripes were addressed with the new Laguna Driftmaster DXIII.

If you purchase the Laguna Driftmaster DXII using our link, you can save 5% off your order and we’ll get a small portion of the sale as an affiliate with Beaver Industrial Tools.

Get Yours Today and Save 5%

The Good

• It’s significantly lighter.
• Easier to install and calibrate. Instructions are clearer and installation videos can be found on the Laguna website.
• The fence now rides on a linear bearing guide allowing for smooth and fast adjustment.
• Taller fence with T-Tracks for accessories
• Much more intuitive and elegant design.
• The switch from a lead screw to rack and pinion makes for faster travel when using the handle.
• Ergonomics are much better than the previous generation. The entire unit is less intrusive and less likely to cause issues with various saw brands.

The Not-So Good

• The track requires wax/lubrication to prevent the bolt from tilting when moving the fence back and forth. Easy fix, but worth noting.
• Setting the fence square to the table is not quite as intuitive as I’d like. The video explains the how’s and why’s of this issue and why it’s ultimately not a major problem.
• The switch from a lead screw to rack and pinion makes the micro-adjustment, while speeding up movement, makes the adjustment much coarser than the previous generation.
• Backlash in the gear can make adjustments tricky if moving forward and back repeatedly. Not as much of an issue when advancing in one direction.

Final Verdict

There’s really not much competition in this space, which means I’m essentially evaluating this product in a vacuum with nothing to compare it to. The only logical comparison is the previous generation of the Driftmaster, which is no longer in production.

That’s why, in spite of the few minor quirks, the Laguna Driftmaster DXIII represents a substantial upgrade for just about anyone looking to up their resaw game. And if you’re thinking about utilizing the bandsaw for joinery, this is the kind of setup you’ll want to look into.

Get Yours Today and Save 5%

The post Take Your Bandsaw Resawing To The Next Level With The Laguna Driftmaster DXIII Fence! appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Seeing Beyond I

Seeing beyond the ordinary and commonplace can, at least for some of us, be a challenge. Don’t move with the times and we are accused of being Luddites but we know that some things, perhaps more than we care to admit, didn’t improve the life of an individual but catered more to so-called entrepreneurs whose...

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The Maker’s Maker

If I look back 70 years or so, I doubt I have known a day in my life without being engaged every day and wholly involved for many hours making. I’m talking eight to twelve hours a day. My memories from early childhood are truly vivid. Fabrics wafted from mid-air to spread and undo folds...

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The Silent and Isolative

As a boy `I worked near to a very old man working far beyond his retirement age, whatever that is. He would have been about the age I am now plus five more years. 80 years for him would have meant 67 years standing alongside a bench vise and working six days a week. I’m...

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Gifts

Gifts as simple as this are rare finds these days and even more rarely given. When Hannah made this for me, it was unexpected. She has one just like it that she found and enjoyed and I had admired it when I saw it for the first time. Hannah made this one for me and...

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I’m On the Plane . . .

. . . in fact, by the time you read this, I will have landed the day before, picked up Rosie and be in the workshop working as it will be Tuesday morning, the day after my arrival back in the UK. Portugal has been a welcome break in the sunshine an hour’s drive from...

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Simplify Your Design Process: Team Up For Success!

Do you find designing furniture difficult? I sure do. Thankfully, we don’t have to design in a vacuum. To simplify your design process: team up for success! Whenever possible, I try to run my designs by at least one other woodworker. In many cases, that other woodworker will come up with ideas and solutions you wouldn’t have thought of. And even if you don’t include all of their ideas, the conversation generated by the collaborative process will help unlock your creativity.

Team Up!

One of my favorite people to collaborate with is Brian Benham. Brian is a top-notch craftsman/designer and he’s well-versed in SketchUp. In fact, you can learn SketchUp directly from Brain with his Intro to SketchUp Course in the Guild. With a quick Zoom call and Brian’s quick drafting skills, we can often hash out complex design concepts quickly and easily.

Just for fun, we decided to record one of those sessions as I began designing the Shop-Made Mortising Jig. The presentation is somewhat raw and unfiltered as we didn’t know what we were going to do with the recording. The more I thought about it, I realized that this kind of content is often missing from our current options. You’re probably used to being told what to cut and how to cut it. But how often is it explained WHY something is being cut to a particular size or in a particular way?

What Do You Think?

I suspect this won’t be everyones cup of tea, but I’m guessing many of you will really enjoy it as it really shows you how you can simplify your design process. That said, please let me know if you found this useful. Obviously this particular discussion is about a simple mortising jig. But the really cool stuff happens when we collaborate on furniture pieces. We’re more than happy to share that if the interest is there.

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Working Oak

I’ve been ploughing grooves for my latest project in European oak. Oak always works really well with hand tools, that’s why I love it, and if you know the tricks (which I always pass on when I remember to), even the wildest grain will yield up crisp and clean results when you know what to...

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Unusual Shrinkage

Considering Britain’s weather and the reputation for rain that is far from true, you might think an instrument made in Pennsylvania decades ago that was bought secondhand in Hawaii would not have a problem in the UK. Not so! A friend asked me to look at his Ukelele because the binding had come away front...

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More Than Just Flipping Boards

When you find a good supplier for your wood it’s worth a strong relationship with them. As it is with many things, the choices of suppliers lessen with each year and with that comes the inevitable increase in prices. A good supplier deserves good support even if we do have to pay more. I bought...

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A Fresh Approach To a Shop-Made Mortising Jig With MicroJig – Check It Out!

#sponsored Save 10% on MatchFit products using my code TWW-MATCHFIT  so you can make your own shop-made mortising jig!

A shop-made mortising jig is an indispensable tool for creating traditional mortises for both integral and loose mortise and tenon joinery. In a world where there are probably 1000 products out there promising to make joinery easier and faster, sometimes it’s nice to make an inexpensive and elegant shop-made mortising jig that works with any router to produce accurate, repeatable, and strong results.

History

The internet tends to have a very short memory so allow me to divulge my inspiration for this shop-made mortising jig. The first jig I became aware of that did this kind of work was the Leigh FMT. I believe it was release in the 1990’s. Made from high quality material, the jig had a price to match and few hobbyists could justify the price tag.

In 2008, Fine Woodworking published a jig by Michel Fortune that followed similar principles to the Leigh FMT but was greatly simplified and was made from typical shop materials. This jig would be dedicated to a single router and featured basic work-holding options that were available at the time.

In 2017, Philip Morley published a video on his Morley Mortiser. By the way, you can see Philip’s shop tour here. Philip’s version of the jig improved a number of things over Fortune’s version. Instead of being dedicated to a single router, you could now use a guide busing in ANY router. Morley also upgraded the work-holding with the addition of MicroJig’s versatile Dovetail Clamps.

How I Made It

For my version of the shop-made mortising jig, I wanted to simplify things even further while also cleaning up the appearance. Instead of using plywood blocks to engage with the base of the router, I opted for a couple of small steel strips that would control the router’s travel by contacting the guide bushing below the surface. This leaves a nice flush surface on top and gives us metal to metal contact for controlling the path of the router. I also used MicroJig’s Dovetail Hardware Packs to eliminate the large clunky knobs. To make repeatable cuts easier, I included a fence on the work-holding plate that can slide into pretty much any position or angle. And I used MicroJig’s new Ratchet Clamps to hold workpieces to the front plate.

Stuff Shown in the Video: (these are affiliate links)

• MatchFit Dovetail Hardware Pack
• MatchFit Setup Gauge
• MatchFit Dovetail Bit
• MatchFit Ratchet Clamps
• MatchFit Dovetail Clamps (2pack)
• MatchFit Dovetail Clamp AP
• MatchFit CNC Workholding Kit
• GRR-RIPPER+ GR-100
• Microjig’s Exclusive Offers Page
• 5/8″ Guide Bushing
• Wiping Poly

Download the FREE plans:

• Imperial PDF
• Metric PDF

The post A Fresh Approach To a Shop-Made Mortising Jig With MicroJig – Check It Out! appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Work Works

I’ve enjoyed these recent weeks. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed all the weeks of my life so far, and that’s 3,848 of them thus far, just that recovering ability after some form of disability will always make you feel happier than before. When COVID hit I started to film myself for several weeks,...

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More on Humidity

I used to worry about humidity while making my pieces. With some pieces, humidity is of little if any consequence whereas on others it’s critical. Much of it is to do with the width of panels and how you plan to hold them in place. A tabletop is a panel we install using only a...

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A Fancy Dead Blow Hammer, a Back-Saving Quick Lift, and a Bargain Router Plane | Tools Unleashed 02

Ready to get your hands on some BackSide? Backside Sandpaper!

Welcome to another Tool Unleashed, where I provide first impressions and mini tool reviews for your enjoyment. UNLEASH THE TOOLS! 

Impact Poly Dead Blow Hammer – Retails for $104. Sent to me for free. No affiliate link.

This dead blow hammer is quite expensive  at about 5x the cost of competitors. It’s truly the kind of tool you can pass down to future generations as it’s made with a welded steel frame (with a lifetime guarantee), has a soft yet tough chemically-bonded poly coating, and features a completely open head cavity where the shot is free to move back and forth for very effective dead blow action. Nice! But is it worth it? That’s for you to decide.

Irwin Quick-Lift Construction Jack – Retails for $99. Sent to me for free. Amazon affiliate link.

When these jacks came into the shop, I thought they were neat but didn’t immediately see a use for them. Then, I had to move my bench. I’m trying to respect my back as much as possible these days so I needed a safe way to get the bench onto some dollies. That’s when I remembered I had these jacks. Within minutes I had the whole bench fully mobile without risking life and limb. That’s just one use-case and I’m sure I’ll come up with more in the future.

Melbourne Tool Router Plane – Retails for $169. Sent to me for free. Affiliate Link.

This is a no-frills workhorse of a router plane with a reasonable price to match. In use it’s solid, capable, and gives great results. The blades are bedded at 50 degrees which means we’re not dealing with any L-shaped blade sharpening. You can sharpen these blades as easily as a chisel. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles and you want a good solid-performing router plane, this one is worth a look.

The post A Fancy Dead Blow Hammer, a Back-Saving Quick Lift, and a Bargain Router Plane | Tools Unleashed 02 appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Humidity Issues

There are times when we adopt a practice for good reason where others get away with something and we wonder how they do it. In general, for we woodworkers, this is not something we practice and our good reasoning allows for something others utterly disallow. In two different cafes, I found cleats screwed beneath the...

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New Discovering

I recall some years ago traversing a million acres of ranchland in the Texas Hill Country 30 miles north of Uvalde just off the ranch road FM1051. From my house, the one I built in Reagan Wells proper, I could walk into vast tracts of rangeland mostly leased to long-term lessors who’d raised their cattle...

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Handworking Housing Dadoes

After sixty years of working wood you develop your pieces using systems you either designed and developed or you adopt concepts of working as standard practices that make life practical. Those that know me and my work know that I developed my mortising guide to guarantee perpendicularity and parallelity to every mortise hole. For the...

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Just Another Trade Secret

Things come to us in the moment and then we leave it alone for decades and just use it ourselves. I’ve got so many it’s hard to keep up with myself sometimes. Sometimes deep and flawed surfaces in our wood end up on the inside, underside and back of a cabinet and we never touch...

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Planes Away

I have written quite substantially about the advantages of owning and using different bench planes. Bench planes are the most significant group of planes we use in our everyday bench work. It’s that wonderful category of a handful of bevel-down planes we hand tool woodworkers rely on for all our general straightening, levelling and otherwise...

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Making Up Lost Time

In some ways, this closing week was my best week in three months since the attack on me that resulted in a cowardly attacker breaking three of my favourite ribs. It wasn’t just my ribs that were seriously damaged though, other injuries with the broken ribs ultimately and literally brought me down. There hasn’t been...

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The Ultimate Space-Saving Hack For Storing Your Spices | In-wall Spice Rack You Must See!

We recently completed a kitchen renovation which included a new pantry. In order to promote continued marital bliss, it became abundantly clear to me that I needed a better way to store my extensive collection of BBQ rubs and spices. Instead of taking up precious shelf space, I decided to steal space from one of the stud cavities behind the drywall to make an in-wall spice rack. The process is much easier than you’d think: cut the opening, mud the back side of the interior drywall so it’s nice and smooth, then construct a frame that can be inserted into the opening for a nice snug fit.

A word of warning: make sure there’s no electrical lines in the wall cavity. Many stud finders have the ability to detect wires and in the worst case scenario, you can open up the wall and do a visual inspection. If you see wires, pick another stud bay.

Now I have enough room for my entire collection and I can actually see what I have, instead of having to dig through rows of spice bottles that are sitting in a bin on a shelf. Good luck making your own in-wall spice rack!

Links for the In-Wall Spice Rack:

• • Drywall Saw
  • Backside Sandpaper
  • Titebond Quick & Thick
  • Fine Nap Roller
  • Meat Church Holy VooDoo Rub
  • See more of our Kitchen -related projects

The post The Ultimate Space-Saving Hack For Storing Your Spices | In-wall Spice Rack You Must See! appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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It’s Just a Gate

People open them and leave them to slam, saying they closed the gate but they didn’t close it. I think a well-made gate deserves respect for its maker. This gate, ageing now, has wear and cracks that tell me things that others miss when they pass through it, leave the gate to slam shut and...

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Unbelievably Easy Exterior Wood Finish With Rubio Durogrit!

In my experience, all outdoor finishes will eventually fail. Some will most certainly fail faster than others, thanks to the breakdown that occurs from UV exposure. Rubio Monocoat recently came out with a new outdoor finish called Durogrit. They say the finish fights UV damage with the use of something pretty unique: cellulose wood fibers. The finish provides durability and increased UV protection in just a single coat. I applied this finish to my Outdoor Coffee Table  and while I’d love to give you a final determination on this finish today, I simply can’t. To effectively evaluate an exterior finish, we need time. The table sits on an exposed patio in Missouri. So it’s getting plenty of rain, big humidity swings, and more than a fair share of sun. We’ll check back in about a year.

Relevant Linkies

• Outdoor Coffee Table
• Outdoor Finishes, Real World Results
• Rubio Monocoat DuroGrit
• Osmo One Coat Only HS Plus
• Osmo UV Protection Oil

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My Two Best Planes

It’s really a superb thing, simplicity. It’s not the same as nor is it anything like minimalism. Valuing simplicity is to dwell and thrive in the humility of being a maker. Politics and social standing dissolve at the workbench and I do it using ordinary tools I bought in poverty and made do until my...

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Another Tip You’ll Like Too

Here’s another one you haven’t seen either. In an emergency, for thicknessing just one thin stick, I set this up in a Black and Decker Workmate years ago and it worked. I thought you’d like it. And the great advantage is that it’s almost an instant setup. Additionally, it offers an infinately adjustable angle-of-presentation so...

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