Marc Spagnuolo's Blog, page 17
August 20, 2021
I’m a Justifiable Tool
Show notes coming soon.
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But This Not That | Measuring & Marking
Our previous Buy This Not That video about drill bits went over pretty well and many folks asked me to do another one. So I gave it some thought and came up with a list of measuring and marking devices that I think you should buy as well as the ones I think you should avoid. Let’s jump in!
Tape MeasuresMany of us buy 16′ or 25′ tape measures simply because that’s what we think we need. But in reality, most woodworking project parts can be measured at 6′ and under. So my recommendation is to save a few bucks and purchase 12′ or 6′ tape measures instead. They’re nice and compact and you can spend the savings on additional tape measures that you can spread around the shop. Of course you’ll probably still want at least one long tape measure for DIY projects and whenever a shop project calls for it, but I think you’re best served by stocking up on the shorter variety.
SquaresThe premium squares from the likes of Woodpeckers and Bridge City Toolworks are gorgeous examples of craftsmanship in tooling, but they’re completely unnecessary. When you’re first starting out, you’ll be far better served by a set of machinist squares instead. They’re more durable, often more accurate, and much cheaper. Full disclosure, I own and adore my Bridge City and Woodpeckers squares, but they’re what I consider luxury items.
RulersYou may think you need a ruler in the shop and larger rules can certainly come in handy. But if you’re in the market for a 12″ ruler I recommend instead investing in a decent 12″ adjustable square. Most rulers have marks that start about 1/8″ from the end so they’re much less useful. A square, on the other hand, not only functions as a quality rule but also as a square and marking device.
AnglesYou’ll get a lot more use out of a bevel gauge and a protractor than tools with dedicated static angles. A static angle obviously means it can only do one thing, but a bevel gauge allows you to lock in any angle you could possibly need.
PencilsIf you’re new to woodworking you might head to the hardware store and see those wacky flat pencils and assume you need one. Well, you don’t. In my opinion, the best pencil for the shop is a .5mm Mechanical Pencil. Mechanical pencils have consistent line thickness at all times and can also be used with various marking devices that feature holes for a .5mm lead.
Marking KnivesI recommend avoiding double bevel marking knives and instead opting for a single bevel marking knife. With a single bevel, the back of the knife is dead flat and can be pressed against a reference surface for accurate marking whereas a double bevel has a tendency to push the cut line further away from the reference. Double bevel knifes also tend to make a wider cut line as the bevel cuts/crushes fibers on both sides of the center point.
Marking (Cutting) GaugesMarking gauges usually come with one of three cutters: a blade, a wheel, or a sharp point. I recommend avoiding the sharp point variety as they tend to tear out the grain and generally don’t produce as fine of a line.
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40% off a Project at the TWW Guild!
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August 15, 2021
Why the Jointer Can’t Do it All
I recently published a YouTube Short on milling lumber: https://youtu.be/SbPU2e_bKjQ The number of people who asked if I could just use the jointer to mill all sides and faces of the board was staggering. So I thought it would be a good idea to make a video explaining exactly why that won’t work and why you shouldn’t do it.
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August 13, 2021
Space-Saving Plywood Cart | Swings Out!
When I first moved to Arizona, I was fortunate to have a huge garage with an RV pull-through. As a result, wall space was not an issue and my plywood storage consisted of a swing-out rack near the front door. Check out the original cart. Here in Denver, my shop space is much more limited and to date I simply leaned all of my sheet goods against the wall between two power tools. This turned out to be incredibly inefficient because every time we need something at the back of the stack, we have to move EVERYTHING out of the way first. Thankfully, my assistant Jon made a great suggestion: a swing-out rack. While we certainly don’t have the space for a horizontal swing-out rack, we could definitely make a vertical work in this space. So that’s what we have here is a simple plan for a plywood rack that can hold full sheets and scraps while being able to hinge away from the wall for loading and unloading.
Things You’ll NeedGate HingesCasters (This is a 4-pack but you really only need two)Spring-Loaded Gate CasterThe PlansIf you want to build this Space-Saving Swing-Out Plywood Cart, you can purchase the plans here:
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August 6, 2021
Man Girdles & Steel Balls | TWW Live
0:39 – Welcome to TWW Live!
1:42 – We are likely moving to an Every Other Week format
2:13 – Marc received a Seinfeld Lego gift!
2:55 – Nicole received more challenge coins!
4:50 – Marc finally believes in engagement
5:29 – New video! Tricking out a cheap desk!
6:29 – New Giveaway on TheWoodWhisperer.Com – Powermatic 100th anniversary “C” Table
7:35 – What’s the next project that Marc is working on?
8:40 – What are your expectations now that the show is going to an every other week format?
9:54 – The material on a new jointer\jointer knives – Should I clean that off before using it?
11:11 – Secret Code for Giveaway!
11:24 – Can you put a graphic in your video to ask for subscribers?
11:58 – Any tips on squaring and making parallel cuts with a track saw?
13:40 – Any updates on mentoring in Discord?
14:15 – Any plans to do a guild build on a wooden door or shutters\blinds?
17:10 – Can I go across the grain with a router sled or can I go with the grain?
18:08 – When doing small squares with veneer, is there anything to watch out for?
20:05 – Can you lay new veneer on old veneer?
20:39 – Any suggestions for a high gloss black tabletop finish?
21:57 – What type of finish would you use on a red oak handrail that will see a lot of use?
24:07 – When will the new stickers be available in the TWW Store?
25:20 – Do you have tips for someone who is trying to jump into their first project?
27:17 – What is the best method you have found for retaining glass in a cabinet door?
29:00 – Ben Price bought a project for a woodworker starting his first project
31:20 – Do you ever cut bevels with your Incra 5000? Why did you setup your sled to the left of the blade?
33:25 – Do you have a video to show how to do a drawbore with dowels?
34:17 – Are there disadvantages to cutting a rabbit on the right side of a panel and moving the fence to the left side of the blade?
36:40 – I saw you do a table saw sled review on Instagram, do you have a suggestion between the Incra 5000 and the Rockler Sled?
41:27 – Any advice on buying power tools outside of Australia since they seem to have a shortage?
42:26 – Everything in Australia is trying to kill you!
42:41 – Would you air dry or kiln-dry walnut logs?
43:50 – Is there a way to help overcome the anxiety of buying/using wood/materials for the first time?
46:32 – Any thoughts\news on the Woodworkers Fighting Cancer project?
48:31 – How do you design projects so that they are structurally sound?
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Man Girdles & Steel Balls
Show notes coming soon.
The post Man Girdles & Steel Balls appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.
Tricking Out a Cheap Desk | Was it Worth it?!
We’ve all been there. A family member or friend needs a piece of furniture but you just don’t have time to build it, so they buy something instead. When my mom moved to Denver that’s exactly what happened. She needed a desk so she could start working and Nicole knew I wouldn’t be able to build one any time soon, so she purchased a desk and hutch for about $342. While the desk certainly has its issues, it’s really hard to complain at that price. Truth be told, my mom only made one request and that was to improve the drawer capacity. Of course that one change led me to think of other ways we might improve the desk to make it more functional.
The changes I made include building new drawer boxes, installing full-sized slides, building adjustable shelves, installing power grommets, raising a shelf, raising the keyboard tray, and adding an LED strip.
Here are some links to products shown in the video:
Rockler’s Shelf Pin JigThe DeskThe Hutch��LED StripPower Grommet��Power Grommet with Wireless ChargingThe post Tricking Out a Cheap Desk | Was it Worth it?! appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.
August 2, 2021
Own a piece of Wood Whisperer History!
This giveaway will run until Aug 31st, 2021. For more details and our giveaway FAQ head over to the Giveaway page
TWW & Powermatic C-Table Giveaway
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July 31, 2021
Pop the Bubble! | TWW Live
00:00:37 – Welcome back to The Wood Whisperer Live!
00:00:51 – Thank you to our Patreon and YouTube members!
00:02:30 – New video Friday!
00:03:00 – Rockler WoodTalk giveaway
00:04:30 – Spagnuolo home productions
00:06:30 – What’s a good pair of contrasting wood other than maple and walnut?
00:09:30 – Thanks for the incredible Roubo instructions!
00:10:23 – How can I prevent bubbling in my paint?
00:11:52 – How can I clean my router bit?
00:13:10 – How do your rubber floors stand up to your tools’ mobile bases?
00:14:55 – What’s the best way to break down plywood if you don’t have a track saw?
00:17:30 – What’s the best orientation for a table saw in a small shop?
00:19:08 – What’s a good dark finish for maple?
00:20:28 – How can I differentiate the different grains on a workpiece?
00:22:45 – How can I repair peeling veneers?
00:24:05 – How can I get rid of a bow on my benchtop jointer?
00:26:05 – How do the heaters in your shop affect the electric bill?
00:28:15 – What’s the best size for a bandsaw for rough lumber?
00:29:20 – Can I get more details on the kitchen pantry?
My Most Challenging Project in Years! | Veneered Pantry Cabinet
00:30:30 – Do you have multiple projects going at once?
00:31:43 – Do I have to finish the inside of cabinets?
00:34:39 – How can I store lumber in a warm humid area?
00:37:18 – Would finishing a workpiece before routering or planing prevents tearout?
00:39:00 – What sort of knockdown joinery can I use for a very large bed?
00:42:05 – Are there any updates on the acrylic on the gaming desks?
00:42:38 – Why does my end grain cutting board cup like a pringle?
00:44:40 – Do you ever wish you did a main site project as a guild project?
00:48:20 – Would you finish the blanket chest differently than you did at the time?
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