Tag: tools

Tool Primer, Tools, Woodworking2 Comments

Tool Primer: Hand Saws for #Woodworking

woodshopcowboy

Every tool has a purpose.  The Tool Primer Series explores common #makerspace and #woodworking tools.  You can check out the entire series here.

When a problem’s too big in my shop, I cut it down to size with a hand saw.  Hand saws have several inherent  advantages over power saws.  They don’t run out of batteries, so makers can use them all day.  The light weight means novice and  smaller makers can comfortably use the tool reasonably safe.  Hand saws can make delicate joinery and also rip through 3” slabs.  No circular saw or table saw has that type of range.

dsc_1912

Hand saws are not made equal.  Each hand saw excels at certain tasks.  In this tool primer, we will examine the Western & Japanese-style divide, learn to match the saw to the cut direction and classify saws by type and function.

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Classroom Project, This Week In the ClassroomLeave a comment

This Week in the Shop: A Simple Pin Marking Gauge

woodshopcowboy

To end the year, my students have been making simple marking gauges.  My students learned to create a mortise and use hand planes to fit a tenon in this particular project. Here’s how we did it. 1.  Cut a 1″ or 3/4″ square oak strip into 8″ lengths. 2.  Cut a 2″ length from a maple strip about 2″ wide, giving you a 2″ x 2″ square. 3.  Use the oak strip to mark your mortise in the center of the maple square.  We did this by marking two diagonals across the maple square and then eye-balling the center.  Mark the square … Continue reading This Week in the Shop: A Simple Pin Marking Gauge

Tool Primer1 Comment

Tool Primer: How to Select & Use Jigsaws

woodshopcowboy

Some tools do only one thing well.  Some tools do a lot of things well if you know how to use them.  The jigsaw (or sabersaw), in my opinion, is unique in the pantheon of modern woodworking tools as it does nearly everything with equal parts of ineptness and frustration.  So why keep it around?  It’s the only portable tool that cuts curves.  And that makes it invaluable in the shop when the project calls for it.

Skil jigsaw
D Handled Jigsaw
Continue reading “Tool Primer: How to Select & Use Jigsaws”

Classroom Project, Education, This Week In the Classroom1 Comment

This Week in the Classroom: Try Squares

woodshopcowboy

My new “little” project obsession:  try squares.  These guys mark boards square.   That’s it.  All they do.  The try, not tri, comes from the act of “trying” an angle to see if it’s square, not three, or tri. This slideshow punctuated by a few of my favorite song titles, puns and lyrics in no particular order. These tools come together quite easily.  First, I rip a 2×4 into 1/4″ or 3/8″ inch thick strips.  Then I flatten one side of the strip using a hand plane.  After checking each strip for flatness, I rip the piece again on my … Continue reading This Week in the Classroom: Try Squares

Community Watch, Education, Tool SafetyLeave a comment

Community Watch: Lie Nielson Toolworks Show, Oct. 21st-22nd

woodshopcowboy

I took my students to the Lie-Nielson Toolworks show being held at the Kellogg Furniture Studio on Fri, Oct. 21st.  My students were able to use some pretty expensive and sweet-working tools from Lie-Nielson and Glen-Drake tools were there.  I especially got a thrill watching a student get pointers from the man that created the tool… Make it safe and keep the rubber side down this weekend. Continue reading Community Watch: Lie Nielson Toolworks Show, Oct. 21st-22nd