Nothing Severed Yet: Spinning Blades

PowerTwist Plus V-Belts

This is one of the easiest upgrades you can make to any of your belt driven machinery and gets a lot of bang for the buck. The belts are available in a range of standard profiles to fit any machinery you're likely to run across.

My tablesaw used to quiver with joy

Tablesaws can be loud, viscious beasts. My old Grizzly contractor saw was so loud that I had neighbors complain when I fired it up. These days, my saw hums quietly to itself. I can rip 8/4 maple while my wife sleeps soundly in the bedroom upstairs. If your tablesaw is shaking the shack, here's what you can do about it.

Sawstop, redux

Dave Wright has had one of these saws since about when I posted my "SawStop?" piece. Real reviews by regular woodworkers who paid their own money are starting to trickle in.

Bookmatch on your tablesaw

When you get lots of lumber, you'll sometimes find small areas with really cool figure. I usually cut these out and play with them--split them in half and glue them back together to make bookmatched box tops, for example. Someday I'll get my bandsaw set up to resaw them properly, but in the meantime, you can do a pretty decent job on your table saw.

SawStop?

My brother recently told me about an update to a curious safety story I've been following for a few years: the persistant people of SawStop, who invented a new safety feature for tablesaws.

Tweakin the bies

My new table saw came with a Biesmeyer-style rip fence. Bies fences are only attached on one end; the far side doesn't clamp at all. I was having a little difficulty with it after setup until I figured out the problem.

Hello, 45: perfect picture frame jig

So I made some picture frames recently, and they had pretty mediocre corners. If you've tried to get a perfect 45 degree miter before, you know what a pain in the posterior this can be.

My Saw

I have to let go of the Green Machine, old faithful, the single instrument that is most responsible for me Not Severing Anything Yet.

Table saw roundup

I was doing some research on table saws yesterday, and wanted to give you a quick report on the results. 1) Get a cabinet saw, not a contractor-style saw. Heavier trunions mean less vibration. Everything is bolted to the base...

Router bit update

I got one of the Oldham Viper bits that was recommended there--a nice fat 3/4 straight bit. Used it to trim some 5/4 walnut, put rabbets in maple, and a few other tasks. The bad boy makes sawdust like a woodchuck.

Sloppy slots

The miter gage that came with your tablesaw wobbles several degrees. If you don't believe me, stick a long skinny piece of wood against the nice, 90 degree flat surface, put it in the miter slot, and wiggle.

A router bit review that isn't an insult to your intelligence

I was looking for a good review on router bits recently. A major woodworkers magazine claimed to have done a comprehensive review on 12 brands of router bits. Their conclusion? More expensive bits cut better. Saywhat? So when I stumbled on a non-moronic review of router bits yesterday I thought I should share.

Forrester Woodworker II: initial thoughts

After a few more hours of ripping 5/4 walnut with this blade, I'm happy to say that it's delightful and a joy to use, although not quite as miraculous as I had expected.

Forrester Woodworker II: coming soon to a tablesaw near me

I've got a Forrest Woodworker II on the way. I'll report back as soon as I start using it.

Hurling chunks

And now, a question from the audience. Kate in Toronto wrote in to ask: So, it's 8am Wednesday and I'm trying to find out why the planer, in the shop I use, keeps taking 1 inch square chunks from the corner (face) of my perfectly jointed boards...

I got a non-crappy bandsaw

I picked up a new-to-me bandsaw this week. I get to use it to build the Japanese-styled table I've been thinking about.

A good use for a bad bandsaw

A bandsaw would be a pretty decent way to trim a spline, no? Sure enough, I ran the only-slightly-bloodied edge of that old picture frame along the junky bandsaw blade, and it was a match made in heaven. The darn thing sheared off perfectly.

The simple joys of a planer

I have a Ridgid TP-1300 planer that I picked up used for a pretty good deal. It is my current favorite power tool. It does all the things a good power tool should.

Your new tablesaw blade

Let me summarize this way: a $400 table saw with a new 80-tooth blade cuts better than an $800 table saw with a crappy low-tooth-count blade.