Lettering templates

by Ted Duquette

Here is how I make lettering templates out of  1/16" plexi- glass. I use a computer to print out the lettering patterns first (you could also draw them by hand). The trick to cutting Plexiglas successfully is to buy the type that has the brown paper on both sides of the Plexiglas.

Canadian Machinery & Metalworking

I was recently looking for some end mill bits, and came across this site. While the site lacks any substantive content, it does have an extensive on-line

This site really piqued my interest, as I've always liked pencils. Most of us use them in the shop when designing

White Mountain Toolworks

Hand planes are essential shop tools, producing a surface that is superior to anything you can achieve with sandpaper. And nothing beats the 'wood on wood' feel of a well-built wooden hand plane. White Mountain Toolworks, is a micro tool maker, based in Metcalfe, ON. They have available two traditional, finely handcrafted wooden hand planes, in 10 inch and 22 inch lengths. The planes are formed with a sculptured shape for ease of use and better control. The bodies are handcrafted from European Beech, with the sole and strike plate made of Goncavo Alves. You can also buy a detailed plan for making your own plane. With proper care planes like these will last a lifetime or two.

Micro Fence now available for Festool routers

Micro Fence (Tel #: 800-480-6427) Mounting Bars are now available for the new Festool routers, the OF2000 (3HP) and the OF1400 (2HP). Both are high quality plunge routers with well-engineered attributes and accessories. Festools’ high quality routers coupled with the Micro Fence Edge Guide System brings a fine degree of precision to your routing projects.

Micro Fence is the first and only edge guide to provide reliable and accurate adjustment of the distance between the fence and the router bit. Borrowing directly from the machine-tool trade, it features a built-in micrometer that measures in thousandths-of-an-inch to make any set-up precise, efficient and repeatable. The Festool Guide Rail System comes in lengths varying from 32 to 197 inches.

All Micro Fence accessories and options build upon the ease-of-use concept developed within the initial Micro Fence Edge Guide, which easily mounts to every router available today.

Ready Ratchet

Ready Products introduces the new Ready Ratchet which stores sockets in a snap-in locking socket tray in the Ratchets handle. Made from composite materials with a contoured handle, the Ready Ratchet exceeds national specifications for torque. A quick release cap keeps the sockets secure when not in use. Ready Ratchet is ideal for many woodworking applications.

Compact and convenient, the Ready Ratchet Self-Storing Socket System is available in 3/8" or 1/4" standard or metric sizes.

New Sawzall® Blades from Milwaukee

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Tel #: 800-729-3878) introduces THE WRECKER™ line of Sawzall® reciprocating saw blades for rescue and demolition applications.

Premium Screwdrivers and Handles from Bondhus

Bondhus has introduced a complete line of the highest quality German screwdrivers. The screwdriver blades are expertly machined from the finest Chrome/Molydenum/

Vanadium steel and heat treated to the highest possible hardness levels to give tool users a lifetime of precision service. Each handle has a tough, split resistant core and a non-slip outer layer in a shape that is ergonomically superior to other screwdriver handles. This means unparalleled comfort and superior torque transmission from the users hand to the handle. The screwdrivers are available in a wide variety of types and styles.

Bondhus has also announced a new, ergonomically designed handle for its line of wing and flag style tools. The handles have a hard thermoplastic core for strength and split resistance, and a soft rubber outer coating to ensure maximum comfort and grip. The handles are available in wing and flag styles, in a range of Star and Star plus sizes from T5 through T20.

Bondhus tools are distributed in Canada by IMS Canada (Tel #: 800- 361-1606). Contact them for the name of your nearest dealer.

Miller Dowel introduces Six New Species of dowels

Miller Dowel recently introduced six new species of dowels that are especially suited for outdoor projects. These new species include Ipe, Purple Heart, Teak, Mahogany, White Oak and Black Locust. Each of these species is available in two sizes: the 1X for joining wood up to 1 1/8” thick; and the 2X for wood up to 1 5/8” thick. You can use them to blend similar woods or design combinations that contrast different species.

For those of you unfamiliar with the product, Miller Dowels are a stepped, solid-wood structural fastener that forms joints from the outside in. Unlike other methods of wood joinery, Miller Dowels require minimal tools and can be installed exactly where they are needed in any woodworking project. The key to the Miller Dowel is its unique, patented stepped design which has several benefits. The first section acts like a clamp that securely holds the first piece to the second. The second section

gives the joint shear strength. The remaining sections bond with the anchor piece to form a secure joint. Miller Dowels are not tapered which means that the glue surface remains intact through the entire length as the dowel engages with the wood.

Although these new species of Miller Dowels are suitable for use with indoor projects, each species offers unique characteristics that make them ideal for use in outdoor projects such as decks, furniture, decorative garden objects, fences, boxes & crates and boat building. Some of the characteristics of each of the species include: IPE – weather has little or no effect upon the structural integrity of this wood and it offers the highest decay resistance available. Ipe is resistant to splintering and checking, and is an incredibly strong and dense wood that has good dimensional stability (it doesn't move much at all). PURPLE HEART – a fine tropical wood that is attractive, hard and dense. Purple Heart tends to be used primarily as a contrasting wood due to its striking color. It offers good weather resistance, is rated as highly resistant to attack by decay and is very resistant to dry-wood termites. TEAK – with its high oil and rubber content this wood is a natural water repellent that is virtually immune to rotting. Teak withstands weather better than any other wood species – it is impervious to the effects of snow, ice, rain, sun, heat, cold and humidity. It also resists the attack of insects and termites. MAHOGANY – a strong and dense wood that is water-resistant with excellent dimensional stability and rot-resistant properties. Mahogany offers good weather resistant and is durable in its resistance to decay fungi. It is also moderately resistant to dry-wood termites. WHITE OAK – impervious to liquid, this species is tolerant of both dry and moist environments. White Oak is a hard and heavy wood that offers great wear-resistance and good decay resistance. It is very long-lasting and heavier than red oak. BLACK LOCUST – a long lasting and durable wood that is also the hardest commercial species in the United States. Black Locust is very resistant to rot and shock, offers high decay resistance and is more resistant to moisture than white oak. This species also features moderately low shrinkage and swelling with great structural strength and an interesting end-grain.

Each of the new species of Miller Dowels are packaged in poly bags of 100 or 500 dowels in both the 1X and 2X sizes. You can get Miller Dowels from Lee Valley, House of Tools and other woodworking suppliers.

Lifetime Wood Treatment

Valhalla Wood Preservatives, (Tel #: 250-538-5516) based on Saltspring Island, BC, have introduced what they claim as a unique wood treatment, that once applied to bare wood, lasts a lifetime with no maintenance required. The product comes as a powder that is mixed with water, then applied with rag, brush or roller. It leaves no harmful residue on plants or in soil. $20 per gallon (3.8 L) package of concentrate. This just might be the ticket for those of you looking to do some outdoor woodworking this spring.

Shadoe Track

Speaking of spring, its generally a time for either putting up new or renovating old decks. Tylan Enterprises (Tel #: 800-742-3632), in London, ON, have developed a great accessory that enables you to install decking without nailing through the top of deck boards. This goes a long way to preventing water penetration, and it looks a lot better. You simply fasten the Shadoe Tracks to the deck joists, then screw the decking to the tracking from underneath. Worth a look I'd say.

Introduction to Marquetry

Jan Walker (Tel #: 403-553-4511) from Calgary, has announced a new step-by-step marquetry instruction program. The 48 chapter program shows you everything you need to know to start. You learn about handling and choosing veneers, using patterns, knife cutting veneers, gluing-up, presses, sanding, and finishing. A materials kit is available that contains enough veneer to complete one project. $29.99 on DVD ($59.99 with a materials kit) or $34.99 on VHS (64.99 with kit).

S-50 Adhesive System

ConProTec Inc. introduces its MIXPAC S-50 System for 2-component adhesive dispensing. The S-50 system is designed to work with manually operated dispensers from ConProTec, as well as with a new patented, battery-powered EZ-mix®HI hand-held dispensing unit by DTIC Dispensing Technologies.

Because of the unique design of these two systems, when used in conjunction, end-users can obtain a higher flow rate and dispense thicker materials safely. The MIXPAC S-50 can accommodate the following volumetric ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 10:1, and an additional ratio of 3:2.

Lee Valley Spokeshave Roll

Every spring Lee Valley brings a host of new products to market. Being an affectinado of spokeshaves this polyester carrying case caught my eye, as did the price - $14.50. It'll hold six shaves plus a few accessories, and folds into a neat 8" x 13" size.

Mahonry's Walnut Oil Finish

Mike Mahoney (Tel #: 801-802-8484), a professional woodturner, has developed two new walnut based finishes: a utility oil finish and a walnut oil and wax finish. The oil finish is heat treated to enhance its hardening qualities. And its food safe. The wax finish incorporates walnut oil, beeswax and carnauba wax.

I tried both in the shop and was very satisfied with them. The oil finish leaves a satin sheen and with several coats builds to a durable finish. The oil has a consistency somewhat like maple syrup, making it easy to apply. The wax left a satin sheen on the oil finish. You don't have to use a lot of it, so a canister of it should go a long way. Certainly as good as Claphams Wax. Both of these finishes are odorless.

There isn't a Canadian retailer yet, but the pricing is very good. The oil is $10US for 16 oz and $50US for a gallon (plus shipping). The wax is $10US for 8 oz or $15US for 16 oz.

Oneway Multi-Gauge

To do the best work you are capable of, your shop machines have to be set up properly and maintained on a regular basis. Jointer and table saw fences are notorious for getting out of alignment - it's no wonder considering all the stress we put them through. Over the years I've tried a range of machinery alignment accessories, few of which I've been entirely satisfied with; that is until I tried the Oneway Multi-Gauge. For those of you who don't know Oneway (Tel #: 800.565.7288), they're a Canadian company that makes what many consider the best woodworking lathe on the planet. (Naturally, don't Canadians make the best of almost everything!).

The Multi-Gauge consists of a cast iron frame fitted with a removable precision dial indicator. At 7 1/2" wide, 5" high and 1 1/4" thick it's heavy and stable. The edges are crisp and the two outside corners are exactly at 90°. The dial is large and easy to read. It comes with both flat and

rounded tips, and gives 1 1/32" of travel. The arm of the gauge is exactly 90° to the base. All told, this is a well-made and precisely machined tool.

In its basic form, as shown in the top photo, the Multi-Gauge is the ultimate tool to check the squarness of anything: jointer, table saw and bandsaw fences, bandsaw and saw blades, drill press quill, and even project parts.

With the dial indicator you can take precise measurements to within .001". In the second photo you can see it set up to check that the jointer knife is level with the out feed table and that both ends of the jointer knives are at the same height. Turned upside down you can do the same job on your thickness planer. The Multi-Gauge is also the ideal tool to check saw blade, shaper cutter or router bit height.

This tool should last a lifetime, and if you care about being able to make hassle free, quick, and precise machine alignments and measurements, then for about $100 you can't go wrong.

Kreg Universal Drawer Slide Mounting Tool and Mounting Brackets

Installing drawer slides can often be a pain in the.. But not with the Kreg (Tel #: 800-447-8638) Universal Drawer Slide Mounting accessories. These low tech tools make the installation of just about any metallic slide (bottom-mount, full-extension and center-mount) painless and fast. Essentially what they do is enable you to position the part of the slide that mounts in the cabinet accurately in line with the slide arm that is attached to the drawer. This tool uses the intersection of the cabinet stile and rail in face frame cabinets, and the cabinet side in frameless cabinets as a reference point from which to position a slide perfectly parallel to the drawer opening.

In the top photo you can see the slide held in place on the mounting tool by a large magnet. In the second photo the tool is held on to the front of the cabinet with a quick grip clamp. Its now simply a matter of marking the location of the screw holes. Remove the clamp and mounting tool, and then screw the slide in place. I found that it's easiest to use a 1/4" brad point bit to mark the screw locations (3rd photo).

Once the slides are screwed in place you clamp the mounting brackets in place (photo 4). Then set the drawer box into the drawer opening so it balances on the brackets. Pull the slide to the front of the drawer box and screw it in place.

I found that the Kreg Drawer Slide Mounting System worked very well. It definitely speeded up drawer installation. And at $42.99 for the mounting tool and $34.99 for the mounting brackets, it doesn't break the bank. Contact Kreg Tools for a dealer near you.

The Original Woodwork Shop and School

The Original Woodwork Shop and School is a franchise that offers both school and shop facilities. Currently there are three locations: Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. They offer something for woodworkers at every skill level. You can select from a wide range of courses. Prices are very reasonable. For example, the course to build a Mission style table is 8 classes long (4 hours per class) and costs $369, plus $395 for materials. Don't need instruction, just tools and space? No problem. You can rent their facilities for between $11 and $15 an hour (depending on the number of hours you purchase). And to make it easier for you they sell lumber, plywood and other supplies, so all you need to bring is yourself. Don't want the course, or don't have the skills or time to build your dream project? They have you covered there as well. Give them a sketch of what you want and their staff will build it for you. The Original Woodwork Shop & School is expanding across Canada; if you're interested, check out their web site.

Kevin Shantz from Kitchener, ON, made this TV  corner cabinet out of birds eye maple.

This avian sextet flows from the creative mind of David Liechti, from Kitchener.

Andre Fournier, from Quebec City made this coffee table in purpleheart and hard maple. The squares on the table top are not veneer; they are 1/4" thick pieces of solid wood glued to 1/2" plywood. Another 1/4" solid wood is glued under the top to prevent warping.

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