Page 15 - Cutting and Shaping Wood

For a woodworker, being able to "solve" right triangles is an extremely important skill. Compound miters, multi-sided structures and a variety of other complex building projects can all be understood and calculated using right triangle trigonometry. If the term trigonometry causes you to suffer a sudden onset of "math anxiety," you'll be happy to know that the trigonometry you need for woodworking isn't all that complicated.

If you're an occasional scroll saw user, you might think that one scroll saw blade is pretty much like another. The fact is, there's quite a range not only in type and purpose among scroll saw blades, but also in quality, and the differences can really show up in how a blade performs. How do you pick a good one?

Having trouble getting a uniform 90 degree cut from your jigsaw? It’s a common problem, especially when you’re cutting curves. The issue may lie with the blade, the saw, your technique or any combination of the three, as Michael Dresdner and Ellis Wallentine explain to this Woodworker’s Journal eZine reader:

Grizzly brings professional grade power and many of the same elements that come standard with more industrial drill presses with a price tag that's astoundingly low. In fact, it has the same feature set as the floor mounted model.

Nothing makes a person feel more like a pro than chiseling out a nice, crisp, tight-fitting hinge mortise by hand, but is there a better method? A Woodworker's Journal reader asks this:

The trim router is a tool that might not get much use in some shops, but it is unique and surprisingly versatile tool. They're lightweight, surprisingly powerful and small enough to go places other bulky routers can't. If you only use yours for trimming plastic laminate, think again.

For most do-it-yourselfers and carpenters, it takes a while to warm up to the idea of installing crown molding. The process just seems more intimidating than other trim carpentry and basic joinery tasks.

A Woodworker's Journal reader asks: How can I create fluting on a circular or round wooden column?

When you encounter angles other than the usual 45 or 90 degrees do you end up scratching your head? Don’t feel alone. Here’s a question from one of our readers. Mike was nearly driven over the edge trying to figure out how to calculate the odd-angled miters for a few trim pieces.

Many woodworkers associate a drill press with accurate drilling, and don't really think of a handheld drill as an "accurate" tool. Still, not everyone can afford or has room for a bench top drill press - let alone a full-scale floor standing model.

Whether you're drilling hinge cup recesses, hogging out a mortise, cutting a batch of wood plugs or countersinking some pilot holes, a drill press makes easy work of it all.