ShopNotes #136 2014-07-01

July 2014
Issue 136

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Table of Contents

Readers’ Tips4

  • Page 7: Illustration
    Two of the arrows in the illustration are not pointing to the correct objects. The BASE arrow should point to the base piece of plywood, not to the hole. And the “HOLE FOR WALL HANGING” arrow should point to the hole, a little farther left than where it currently points.

The Low-Down on Lathe Chucks10

A 4-jaw chuck is a great upgrade for any lathe. Here’s what to look for before you buy.

You can find a variety of 4-jaw chucks at most woodworking suppliers and online retailers. The Easy Chuck is manufactured by Easy Wood Tools.

Cabinet Hardware Solutions: Locks14

Keep items secure behind closed doors and drawers with a simple cabinet lock.

Custom Block Plane22

There’s nothing like using a tool you build yourself. This block plane features solid double dovetail construction, an easy-to-adjust iron, and a custom hardwood infill.

  • Page 26: Figure 3
    In preparing the online extras for the infill block plane, we discovered some errors and decided to make adjustments to the sizing of the Lever Cap “C”. The distance from the front (lower) edge of the lever cap to the shoulder is now 1 instead of 7/8. The distance from the shoulder to the top of the lever cap is now 1/2 instead of 5/8. The concave radius on the lever cap is now 5/8 instead of 9/16.

Online Extras

For the steel-sided plane, we purchased a 3"x17" billet of Damascus steel from Alabama Damascus Steel. The thickness should be .14"-.175" thick. On the website, you can select the specifi c pattern you like for your plane.

Bridle Joints at the Band Saw30

Unlock the versatility of your band saw by using it to cut joinery. Here’s how to get accurate results right from the start when cutting bridle joints.

Shop Short Cuts32

Check out our shop-tested tips and techniques for solving your woodworking problems.

Rotary Tool Milling Machine34

Get more from your rotary tool by turning it into a pint-size milling machine. This low-cost, shop-built tool builds in the accuracy you need for small detail work.

  • Page 39: Main Illustration
    The Fixed Jaw should have a dimension of (1" x 1 1/2" x 3 3/4").
  • Page 40: Figure 11
    The length of the threaded rod is missing. The callout for that rod should read: 3/8"-16 x 9 3/4" LH Threaded Rod w/Thin Hex Nuts & Washers.
  • Page 36: Figure 1
    The dimensions of the notch on the top edge of the Tool Platform are not given. The notch is 2" wide by 3 1/2" tall. All corners (inside and outside) are 1/4" radii.
  • Page 40: Figure 11
    The z-axis gibb on the left side has a part 'T', it should be a 'U'.

5 Keys to Choosing a Bench Grinder42

Looking for a bench grinder? These five keys will help you choose the right one.

Setup Secrets from a Pro44

This basement shop has a lot of great solutions for getting more from any space.

Joinery Made Simple: Offset Tenons46

Cutting offset tenons at the table saw is easy with a tenoning jig and these handy tips.

Small Tools for Important Jobs48

The right tool makes any task easier. These pocket-size options are worth a look.

Q&A50