Woodsmith - 020

NO. 20

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•

NOTES FROM THE SHOP

$2.50

Sawdust Number Twenty

March,1962

Edrtor Donald B_ Peschke Oe$Ign DIrector Ted Knlilcel<

Art O!f'eetor Jon Snyder ASsISl8nl Edll0t Stolro Krohmer

Graphic Des'9ner Mate(a Simmons

Subscopoon Manage< Sandy J, Boum

When we started

to put together

this

issue, I fully inlended to have a step-bystep article on cUlling half-blind dovetail. (as a follow-up to the last issue's article on through dovetails.) But things didn't work out the way we planned. Here', what happened. In addition to the article on balf-blind dovetails, we thooght it would be a good idea to include the how-to on cutting a dovetail tongue and groove joint. To cut this joint we needed a router table, So, this was the perfect opportunity to design a new router table (to update the one shown in n'"()(l(iSttlitl, No.5). Ted and I agreed that this new t-outer table should be a bench-tep model. \Ve tossed around ideas on the pro. and con, of the "store-bought" models, and came up with a list of changes we'd like t.o make. \V. decided the new router table should !) have a fairly large table, 2) have 8 low profite for 8 comfortable work h~ighl, 3) be easy to damp to any workbench, and 4) be easy to store. Ted came up with a design that mel all of these criteria, and I suggested we use a scrap piece of kitchen counter Iparticle board with R F (1nll ieo top), The new router table worked like a charm ... for a while. Then the top warped so badly we couldn't use itta cut the dovetail tongue and groove (the original point or this whole effort), We switched to plywood and j1(lSOlli(f ror the top, And this time it didn't warp. In r"ct. I got _0 carried ""''1IY with how well this new router table worked that 1 thought a couple of projects using the De" router table would be ideal for this issue. So, we built the ~"all Shelf Ipage 2(1)and the Bread Board (page 24).

SIIARl·~!':L~r.. As if seven pages isn't enough on sharpening, 1have a rew other comments I'd like to make. first, concernIng the wheel used to grind tile bevel on a chisel, Lfyouhave it in your budget, I think lIle /I.·orloll grinding wheel, discussed in this issue are well worth the investment. Yau won't believe how much difference there i< between 8 proper [Norum] wh ee 1 and one of th_ all-purpose wheels that are standard on most grinders, Since no catalogs (that we know 00 carry Norton wheels, you'U have to locate 1\ Norton di.... tributor in your area. In addition to the grinding wheels, he'll probably also have the factory oil-filled stones (these are a

good deal

too),

In lhe articles on sharpening in this issue, we talked only about chisels, \Vby not include plane irons? They're sharpened the: same \\la~1aren't lhel~? Admlnlstrativ. Assjslanl Plane iron. (cutler blades) 81'e indeed Cheryl Scott sharpened exactly the same way as chisels. (I use a 25· grinding angle and then hone a Coombubng Eddor micro-bevel on the cutting edge at a AdOlphE. Peschke .lightly Steeper angle.) However, when a chisel is sharpened, it's ready to use, as is. A plane iron, on the other hand, must be mounted in a plane. There are a lot of other problem. associated with planes in order to make them work properly. \\'c'lI be running a complete article on using and adjusting planes in a future issue, LATEJIIOTE.ltnever Just when we were \\'Tapping up this issue we received a FrugTool Catalog. In it they li~t almost all the equipment we use: fine/coarse India combination stones, a leather stropping pad, the diamond stones, small sticks or' buffing compound (including rouge), and a 8inee we were Ylorking v.ith the router combination lndiolsoft. Arkon$M. If you somuch. we thougbt8largt'rproject might want to get this catalog, send $2 tu Frog be in order, That's when we started work Tool Co. Ltd .. Dept, W, 700 IV. Jackson on the Buffet Table (page I-t), The half- Blvd.• Chicago, IL 60606. N&II FACES. Once again we've added a circle leaves are cut with a router and a new face to the gang at lVooditmillt. JOn WOODSMITH (ISSN 0164-'1114)Is publlsheO trammel point attachment. At this point. half the issue \\'3$ lilled Snyder has joined us as our new An. Direeblmonlhly (January. March. May. July, S8Pand still no half-blind dovetails. Then J tOI'. Jon has exceptional talent. with lembet. November) by Woodsmilh Publishing Co .• 2200Grand Ave.,Des MolO85.lowa 50312, started thinking . , . in order to cut half- graphics, design, and phOlogn.phy (he WOODSMITH Is a regiStered Irademar118in think it's a bit quicker, a bit more accurate, and a whole lot safer. RADIAL ARM SAW TABLES The first step is to attach an auxiliary I've had 8 problem with the saw kern in fence to the rip fence on the table saw, the surface of my radial arm saw table. The Then the jig is made out of scrap wood with saw kerfs accumulate to the point that there's quite a large gap in the table. To avoid replacing the surface of the table every time it gets had, 1 rout a slot in the table, .lighlly orf-center with the blade, to accept an insert of 14- plywood. The inserts are about 2" wide, and as long lIS the table is deep. They fit in the table slightly off-center with the blade. When the insert gets chewed up, just turn it end for end. Because the insert is slightly off center \\ith the blade, you'll get

I.DG. WITH'" If the table and the blade are not square with each other, one of tWO things will happen. The board will either pull away from the straight-edge, or it will bind into the su'8igbt-edge. If it binds, follow the same procedure, but start from the hack of the table. If there's a gap, it indicates that there's an error in the table- to-blade alignment. Adjust the position oflhe trunnion in the direction you would have had to move the straight-edge to close the gap. Recheck the alignment using the same method and repeat this procedure until the board is no longer pulling away from the slraightedge. Then repeal the same test starting from the opposite end of the table. Be sure to move the straight edge flush with the saw blade each time the trunnion is moved. When there's no gap after testing from both ends of the table, the saw blade (and the miter gauge channel) is aligned with the table top. Riclwrd. Bo.7TO"

JodlIT1t; Wben we use the grinding i. matched fur your purpose, y~u really wheel for grinding woodworking tools, • huuldn't have tOil much of a glazing we"" been tempted to use the side of the grinding wheel rather than the edge, Are problem? \\'~TTI:~C.I:I.;Right. it would be very there any problem. wnh u:ting the side of a minimal, I'm net j!:Oillg to say none, be- grindinp; wheel? GLAI'L'I; Th~typeo[\\'heel found on mo.t e.II~" lhat would be ".1'), difficult to achi."e. Jr you get no glazing. the wheel ;" bench j1;rindel'S is a type one, 01' a strrugl,t probably so dog·gone soflthatit won't hold wheel This tJ'jle of wheel is not to be u.~l it. shape. It won't hold the $hape ~f what 01\ it..~$ide. This is an unsafe pratlice 3n,I )'ou are grinding, and it will wear away !'oO shou}() :tl('r:er be u$(.·d. WQ()IlS\1tTII,So the normal grinding fast that you will not be utilizing all of the wheel found in 8 woodworking shop should abr:'\$i\'e. So )'on "'llnl lO make sure [t'f. hard enough to utili7k all of the abrasive lIot be used on its .ide? GLA 1'1"; That is correcl. You should u.., grains. WQ(lI)SMITU;\Vh.t are th~ dl'essing th~ race ol'the perimeterofthe wheel only. (star) wheel and the .iol(lu Iloint diamonil OUR CONCLUSIONS IIstodfor? wt:TTE~G.:I,; Generally the dressing Arter conducting the inter,~ews \lith the NOl'lon Co. officials, Wetried to locate (.tal') wheel would actuall~' be caUed a truing whed. Either the truing wheel or all of the different items lhat had been mentionL'd. At limes, this seemed like the the .ingle point dfamond "ill be both true 3nd dl'C$S the wheel. Most people lind it most difficult 1>8rtof the article. Some of ea..';er to u,,,,, a single point diamulld than a lhe grinding whw],; weren't available at truing wht>elto true and dress the wheill. au.' local Norton disuibutOr, and many or You ran mount the single peint diamond on the tI~aning and truing devices were no· a block and jU8t pa.'!S it back and forth where to be found in many of the major a'< are available impro,'ised \'"r-ionofthe eedu boxe, thaI at any hard,,-are store. I 0.«'(1 th~ I',IU" come \\;th n" .. t ,\rkan_ ,tOIl(o,.The n1y 1,·nJl1.hbec-.. u.-e it's a little thick.r than lh .. .hange 1 mad" is th" lenllth or the bottm. shorter .~ •. Also. since some of the pre· I made the bottom aboul I longer lhan lh. dl;IIt'ncil (rom len 10 right b) to the fin" /, diU and the IlOft Arkansa.< ' ....;veling ot your .11>t have 10 fcod~our ".Y \0 il Polishmg on a lOft Arkan""" stone .hould take only a f... strok es. Then check [or the .. Ire edge. I( you (et'l one. Slop. That', ... (ar a.. you have 10 go. :-k~

'aell

81d, aTC needed,

91'(1111

"'ill /xl a.

IX

:clirf I/OU'/I (I" II·tll,Iland pres1I·1I1J/sha,.", 111£~nd

,,,,,,,,Ik

II)

n,' 91u8$,

II

Sho~ Notes --------------------------

•

SOME TIPS FROM OUR SHOP

11\the previous articles in this issue, I've mentioned most or the equipment we use to sharpen chisel>; in our shop, But I thought J'rl take thi$ chance to !rive" summary or the wheels and .lone, we use and how we keep them in shape.

tools to dress or O'Uea grinding wheel. yeu should wear eye goggle~ and a face mask. Sources for all of these tool. are li.ten in the Ias t section oi the interview with the

GRINDING WHEELS

It WMIl't until we talked 10 the people at the N anon Co. that I learned how much difference there is between one glindin!! wheel and another. '!'hey suggested we try 1l60-):ril.\'0I11t" :12A (aluminum oxide) glindinp; wheel 10 sharpen chisels, So we gol one and I lOtilerl it out. Aft",· l1'inding only one chisel I quickly discovered that the Norton wheel seem. toeut Igl'lIldHhe steel mucb easier. and il CUI. much. much cooler. In fact. if" almost imllOs,-ibleto -burn" t h. chisel -

A few years ago I bought a St'llI'8 grinder

(on 'me. of course) to sharpen some of my chisels, When I finally !(Ot up cnough courage to use it, I wound up with (rayed nerve •. blue-tipped chisels. and an expanded vocabulary. The pmbl"m. I thought, must be the motor. At 1725 RP\I the motor ~impl~' turns the jlTinninj{ wheel lOO fl'l:!"t. and in the process burns up m:,+'chisels, A very gentle touch must he required. I reasoned, Sull I had problems. 11:0 matter how careful or how !(entle I was. the end of the chisel quickly hurned (turned blue). After a liltle experimenting, I Iinally discovered lh. I'('ill culprit, The OO-gril all-purpose glinding wheel that came \11th the SOOI'S grindcr 11'"" "glazing" "CIT quickly. When a steel chisel ;,. pushed against a ):rinclinj( wheel. liny particles of .leel are chipped off, Som~ of these panietes are hot enuugh to bUI'" (the sparks), But olher I'~l'ticle" heeeme embedcled in the surface of the glinuing wheel, A. the wheel fills with these particle g , il becomes "j!lazed:' \\'h~n a grinding' wheel L< Itlaz.ed, the chi..... el no longer comes in contact with as Juan,:.' of the abrasive particles in the wheel, Iustead. you get steel-to-steel frietioll. This friction can generate a lot of heat. quickly. And results in burning the till ofth~ chisel. To wive this problem. the ghl7)ng must be removed. This is where rlre~~~ sticksenter the scene, l)l(t:s.~I~CSTICKS.These sticks are siliL'Oncarbide blocks used 10clean the glazinj! off grillding If you u;:" an all-

Norum Co.. page 6. THE RIGHT WHUL

even

{

(

ir you t,,·.

Also. the

:-':011011

wheel doesn't "glaze-

as easily as the SI'IIr'$ all-purpose Wheel.

because it's designed to "break away" as The old-fasbioned way of doing this is you're grinding lmrd steel. This in ilself with a truing wheel. sometimes called a elimiJUlte.9O':1-of the problems of th. all"star wheel." ihis. is JUSt a heavy iron PUI'J)()"e wheel. handle with several steel cutters (I'stars") \V" also tested two other wheels: a Sur· that chip off the perimete r of the wheel (0)1 6O-):rit ~A, and a 6O-grit aluminum (shown in middle in phou». oxide wheel from lI'wderajl l:iupply (CaL A star wheel is nice to use (in some ways) :-so much lrouble. - shown on page 7. One or two tight passes acrOss the face of the wht-el should ravorites are: Il a NOl1011 combination WHEEl, UKESSf:1\. After lhe glazinj!' is slone. 2) a soft. Arkansas stone, and 3) a remo"ed Ivith • dreSl!ing stick. the face clean it up very nicely. Howeve,', one thing is importanl here. omall diamond stone. (p4!rim~ler) of lhe wheel .hould be trued. For about 9(J'" of the stOne. them off with a little W31er and lhey're The wire brush helps dean orf some or the ready to go again. larger steel particles stuek to the surface or There are also two disadvantages. First. the slone. it .hould be no sw"ri.e that diamond ,!.Ones are a liltle on the expensive .ide: t'L.\1Tt:N'SC: A S1'OI!;cog

'l't_

I E 80"11 I H,

c

J-J

iEjj"'7;J

S" •• 60'

I

c

••

11.

ue on the top of the table. ~ntel'l~1 over the 1h' ""Ie. Then I rotated the base so "hen the router;' attached the"'!', ca.'y pcc,'" to chanlle bits and anjust the heillht, All.er marking theloeauo» of the holes, I drilled cOllntcneingthe design he came up with, [ \\ as pleasantly surprised. The most intriguing thing about this book sh~lfis thM the entire thing i. 8..sse mbled without a single drop of glue. The trick? A dovetail tongue and groove. This joint allows you to assemble and adjust the shelf unit just by sliding lb~ pieces together. The book shelf consists of only three ha... makes the holes 24" apart), and drill two Yo" holes. "," deep. Then glue in "long pegs so they lock into the dovetail groove. The second sct of pel(» fit in the holes in the shelf supports and lock into hole.; in the bottom of the shelves. Tu a1il.'llthese holes on the bcnom of the o,-.b'~ DO 0."

30'

1/:'

FIG.

0

DtJU... H0lf51

",

'IG. '.~

fINISHING 1rounded over the edges of all oi the pieees on a router table \\;lh a earner round bit. Then I finished this book .helf with two roal" of II'o/co Dollish Oil. (An oil JinJl;h ;,. best on this project because it won't dolt up in the dovetail grooves.) Afte,. the nil was dry. I applied a light eoat of p.FI~ "-ax 10the .houldcrs of the do" .. tail tortJ.."It!~ ~o the)' slide easily.

0'0 0""""

-

BOOK ENDS

The bigge"t hassle with book shelves is finding a war to keep the book. from fallin~ over. This is where the dovetail tongue and groove joint really ecmes through. A dovetail Longue is TOO\e will be cut, The joint un t '\'0 ,)roJl"("t~in thi~ i.....sue, the ri~pth or thl' cut should be just a little bit 1>... -,,,1bewlrd.J1(lth~ wall ,helf, The bread 1,> ss lh,on Ih~ flnbhed depth o( the dovetail board I' n $(J(,u example of one of the best groove, ~l'\t~'ig,I. a,,~licati"n. of thi. joint: attaching end Now r('1'13«' lh" V..• lmight bit \lith a ('81). ... to n bt,.lnl. ~. dnveW\iI bil, and ""I the depth of cut (or ri(·('au~L~elr thl' mechanical strength of t he. dovetail grt)()\'P, tht: tJo\'j'lail l(,nJ(\,lt·and gron\'t" joint. an Th(' I".. ition IIf lh,· groove can either be end ""I' can ",. )OlllP th(' dovetai! bit set to the same "epth '('!ling and adju.t the fence so to fil Ihl' IN.\ f:T\ll. (:I(()()\ ..;. Siuee the dovetail thai Ih(' bit barely culll into the edge of. woov,· mu_t tw made wilh only one depth lrial piece (be Rure lhal it'. exactly the :O-('ltlng(Il l'lt"n"t btl matlp h)' t'nif:.ing thE" "am~ thickn •• , of the aclual pieee), Then bit until th"fj,,,,h d('pth i.reached. a, a prekler, "",li'd ""dill (Illd h";llltt, Tu ,llr tht J'ft. '/lr((It( lilt "''0 /OJlg bars to thtrlt'ititJ, ot 1,,(, ('tit'; 'le( (/(.J you "ted a .r 1lidl ('01...,... »rt II" bo nc .r apart). TII(?~ mi&t' 11>,.. " blod, to Ih, dr.,1'ni I,,;ghl (",Inch ..../1 ~ the d.-plh '"~ Ihr "'U), and plact Ih, )lfl u ,T Ih' 11%" blad, ,-t!'g.IMJlg IV 11111,1'. 1,,~A,"g oolh t)" Jro..l nod oorl< mqra oj th~ blade The .. "lun' tJ "n(' 0" fir, lobi. 3(J ( alollQ tkt' in.sid,O/ 1M bar at th, "lxrck" .ide ",'lire

blad,. R"" lll.,'t' tJ 1'.)19. alld C'1411tp a fewce pa,ull,1 t" Ih, 1m, oll/h.lubl, top, alto«; i"g