ShopNotes #30 1996-11-01

November 1996
Issue 30

Read Online

Subscribe to ShopNotes magazine

Subscribe Today

Subscription Options

Get a Digital Subscription

Contact our Customer Service

Table of Contents

Assembly Table4

No matter what size project you're building, this assembly table makes it easy to put it together. Raise or lower the table to hold projects at a comfortable working height. And flip up two wings to expand the work surface.

  • Page 5: Materials list
    Piece G Lower Stretchers. Measurement printed as 4 x 33 ½ - ¾ but should be 4 x 33 ¼ – 3/4.
  • Page 7: Figure 4
    Length of lower stretcher G printed as 33 1/2" but should be 33 1/4".
  • Page 8: Figure 7 detail b
    The width of piece P is printed as 1 7/16" but should be 1 3/8".

Plunge Routers10

ShopNotes puts eight heavy-duty plunge routers to the test. Which one is best? And what are the key things to look for when you're buying a plunge router?

Small Workbench16

Don't let its small size fool you. This sturdy workbench features two shop-made vises that provide more clamping options than many benches twice its size. There's even an optional cabinet for storing tools and supplies.

  • Page 19: Figure 3 detail b
    The measurement at the top is printed as 6" but it should be 6 1/2".
  • Page 19: Figure 2 detail a
    On Inside Face, the measurement 1 1/4" is incorrect; it should be 1 3/4". Correction may have been made in reprinted issues but source material on cd_archive still contains the error.
  • Page 21: Figure 9
    In the lower part of the drawing, there is a dot and the measurement 7/8" indicating the depth of the rabbet; that measurement should be 3/8".

Drop-Down Tool Tray24

You can take advantage of the unused space under your bench with this handy tool tray. The lid drops down to provide quick access to your tools. And a set of unique tool holders keeps everything safely in place.

Shop Solutions28

Our readers offer their own shop-tested tips: Locking Tool Base, Band Saw Shelf, Box Joint Tip, a Shop-Vacuum Handle, plus three quick tips.

Wood Moisture30

Using wood with the right moisture content can make or break a project. That's because the amount of moisture affects everything from the fit of the joints to the finish.

Spray Painting a Finish31

There's more to applying a spray-painted finish than just shaking up a can of paint. Especially if you want to produce a durable finish that looks good too.

Scenes from the Shop32