Woodworking Seminars Blog

3 Fast & East Methods for Cutting a Mortise & Tenon

Joel Hess — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:38:44 +0000

Here are bonus downloads for this week’s seminar:

Turning Pens On the Lathe

Joel Hess — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:23:32 +0000

Garry Rowe, Woodsmith Store Sales Professional, hosts his first seminar. Garry has been turning pens for many years and gave many demonstrations while managing a Woodcraft Store in Indiana.

Here is the bonus download: WoodPens

Table Saw Dovetails

Joel Hess — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:24:28 +0000

That’s right, dovetails on the table saw! It’s a concept that takes a little getting used to. But the fact is, with some practice, plus a unique, shop-made jig and a specially-ground saw blade, you can use your table saw to make dovetails quickly, easily, and accurately. Best of all, this technique results in through dovetails with that distinct, “hand-cut” look with narrow pins and variable spacing if desired.

The jig is similar to a crosscut sled but the fence is adjustable to allow for cutting both the pins and tails. You can download plans for the jig here: Table Saw Dovetail Jig

Besides the jig, you’ll also need a special saw blade to cut dovetails on the saw. You can use a regular blade, but the cuts will require a fair amount of hand clean up to fit. But, with the help of any local sharpening service, you can get the teeth ground to match the angle of the dovetail. It can be done inexpensively and it’s well worth the effort.

3 Fancy Cuts With a Table Saw

Joel Hess — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:19:10 +0000

Crosscuts, rips, and the occasional miter. That’s the extent of most of our table saw usage. But it’s capable of so much more. For example, did you know you can cut coves on a table saw? All it takes is an auxiliary fence that’s skewed across the table top, which allows you to pass a board over the blade at an angle. The results are amazing and the uses too numerous to mention.

During this evenings seminar, Carol Beronich will talk about or demonstrate three “fancy” cuts that can be made. Don’t be confused by that word fancy though. It not so much the cuts that are impressive — it’s the results. Tapered legs, angled tenons, and raised panels…they all can be done on the table saw.

There is one bonus download for tonights seminar: Adjustable Taper Jig

In addition, the raised panel door was used on a project in Woodsmith Issue No. 187. If you’re interested in purchasing the project plans for the “Two-Tiered , you can pick up a copy at the Customer Service Desk at the store for only $4.95. Or call the Woodsmith Store at (800) 835-5084

Secrets of Pocket Hole Joinery

Joel Hess — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:10:54 +0000

If you could take a stack of boards, rip them to width and cut them to length, and then build a simple, yet beautiful project using nothing more than a simple jig and a handful of screws for joinery, would you be excited to learn about that jig?

We’re betting you will be after tonight’s seminar, because that is exactly what Randy Maxey intends to do. The side table you see in the photo at right was built in a weekend.

There are lots of ways to make pocket holes. Randy’s favorite happens to be the K3 Master System from Kreg Tool Company. It’s a simple system that provides quick, sturdy, and foolproof joinery in a matter of minutes. Randy has provided a SketchUp model for his table design. You can find it here: Randy’s Side Table. If you don’t already have SketchUp you can download the latest version here: Google SketchUp v7.1. It’s a great way to create 3D drawings of your projects and it’s a free download. Finally, Randy has provided a short video showing how the project goes together: Woodsmith Seminar Pocket Hole Project

7 Steps to a Perfect Workpiece: Squaring Up Lumber

Joel Hess — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:42:36 +0000

Four steps, 5 steps, 7 steps. Whatever it takes, the goal is to end up with a workpiece that will fit into your project perfectly. During tonight’s seminar, Dennis Perkins will outline his technique for squaring up a rough piece of lumber — from flattening one face, to jointing an edge, to ripping the board to width and crosscutting it to length, and even a few steps in between.

He’ll also spend some time talking about the different types of lumber, including rough, S2S, S3S, and S4S, and what it all means.

There are no bonus downloads for tonight’s seminar.

Easy Water-Based Finishes for Woodworking

Joel Hess — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:00:26 +0000

During this week’s seminar, Dave Fremming will touch base on his favorite reasons for using water-based finishes. Dave is a sales professional for the Woodsmith Store, a woodworker, and our resident go-to guy for all things finishing.

Dave will talk about why to use a water-based finish over solvent based. He’ll explain the different products that are available and how to tell the difference between them. And he’ll talk about the supplies needed and the techniques he uses to prepare and apply a water-based finish.

There are no bonus downloads for this week.

Sculpting a Spiral Candlestick

Joel Hess — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:13:37 +0000

This seminar was canceled due to a snowstorm back in December. (And it seems as if we’ve just had one continual snowstorm since then, doesn’t it?) So that means there may be a few of you who are sitting on unused tickets. If that is the case, bring them tonight and we will honor them. If you’re buying a season ticket, you will receive a $5 discount off your purchase, to cover the twelve seminars you’re being charged for. Of course, you’ll also receive the $5 $awbuck coupon as well. So in effect, we’re paying you $2 to attend tomorrow’s seminar! Quite a deal, huh?

Dennis Perkins will take us step-by-step through the process he uses to create these interesting wood sculptures. He’ll talk about the tools (including traditional and micro-plane rasps) he uses and the technique he developed for making spiral candlesticks.

Winter/Spring 2010 Seminar Schedule

Joel Hess — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:08:06 +0000

Here is a list of upcoming seminars presented every Thursday evenings at the Woodsmith Store, starting on January 28th and ending on April 15th, 2010:

January 28: Sculpting a Spiral Candlestick
Dennis Perkins, Associate Editor, Woodsmith Magazine

February 4: Easy Water-Based Finishes for Woodworking
Dave Fremming, Sales Associate, Woodsmith Store

February 11: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Band Saw
Chris Fitch, Senior Project Designer, ShopNotes Magazine

February 18: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Router Table
Bob Zimmerman, Senior Graphic Designer, Woodsmith Magazine

February 25: 7 Tips to a Perfect Workpiece: Squaring Up Lumber
Dennis Perkins, Associate Editor, Woodsmith Magazine

March 4: Secrets of Pocket Hole Joinery
Randy Maxey, Associate Editor, ShopNotes Magazine

March 11: 3 Fancy Cuts on the Table Saw
Carol Beronich, Assistant Editor, Woodsmith Magazine

March 18: Resawing On the Band Saw
Phil Huber, Senior Editor, ShopNotes Magazine

March 25: Table Saw Dovetails
Bryan Nelson, Managing Editor, ShopNotes Magazine

April 1: Turning Pens on the Lathe
Garry Rowe, Sales Associate, Woodsmith Store

April 8: 3 Fast & Easy Methods for Cutting a Mortise & Tenon
Joel Hess, Associate Editor, ShopNotes Magazine

April 15: Furniture Refinishing Tips & Techniques
Dave Fremming, Sales Associate, Woodsmith Store

Regular Tickets are $8 per seminar. A Season Pass, good for all 12 seminars is only $80, a $16 savings over buying a weekly ticket. Plus, you receive a $5 $awbucks coupon for each paid seminar ticket, good for anything in the Woodsmith Store.

Sculpting a Spiral Candlestick

Joel Hess — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:35:16 +0000

The seminar this week “Sculpting a Spiral Candlestick,” has been canceled. It may be rescheduled for a later time in 2010. The Woodsmith Store is closed today, Thursday, December 10 because of a water line break. We apologize for any inconvenience this late cancellation may have caused.

Joel Hess