Save up to 64% and get a free gift. Subscribe »
Yoav Liberman
In my school’s woodworking program, we have a variety of chisels, ranging from wood-handled to plastic-handled. We even have a chisel without a handle, which is a full-tang hybrid between a cold chisel and a woodworking tool. One particular type of plastic handle we have is a composite of hard, transparent plastic wrapped with soft,…
Chad Stanton
Here’s what one pro always keeps in his toolbox. My favorite tools are the ones that I use every day—around the house, in the shop or at a jobsite. They’ve become old friends. They’re not complicated, gimmicky or gold-plated. Seven of them cost less than $20 apiece. My everyday kit also includes a few obvious…
Pop Wood Editors
Ease and speed versus the idealization of the past – sometimes. When Lord Acton wrote that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” he was referring to politics, but he could as easily have been referring to tools. After all, he wrote this now-famous phrase in the spring of 1887, one year after Karl Benz patented his first…
In the first part of the story, I showcased my small bandsaw and discussed the basic procedure of aligning the blade over the tires and checking for drift during a rip cut. Now, in this segment, I will detail how I endeavored to adjust the table to compensate for the excessive drift towards the right…
While our new 1955 Crescent band saw was brand new on the pallet, that doesn’t mean it was in ready-to-go condition. The tires had deteriorated over the years, and we had to deal with the three-stage power requirements before the saw could be fired up and put to work.
Ensuring your band saw’s blade runs square to the table and miter slot is crucial for accurate ripping and cross-cutting. A blade that cuts without any drift makes sawing along the grain, or ripping, a breeze and also makes sure your cross cuts will split the workpiece at the intended angle. In this and the…
Logan has finally found a band saw he considers to be adequately large — a 36-inch 1955 Crescent that was purchased as government surplus and never used. In this video, he walks you through the features and current condition of the saw, which does need some maintenance after 69 years of inactivity.
Logan Wittmer
Tool: Big Eye Rip Fence Shop Now Manufacturer: Harvey Woodworking MSRP: $1249+ There are times when there is a product released that I think really met the mark. One of those is the Harvey Big Eye Rip Fence. For years, there hasn’t been a quality aftermarket fence available. Now, I think there is, as the…
If you follow woodworking news, you might have noticed a new player in the plane market: the Melbourne Tool Company from Australia. They’ve been promoting their line of planes, spokeshaves, and router planes for a few years now, gaining notable exposure on Instagram, in woodworking magazines, and on YouTube. The reviews I’ve read and the…
Tool: HP-10 Foxtail Plane Shop Now Manufacturer: Bridge City Tool Works MSRP: $999 Several years back, when it was announced that Bridge City Toolworks had been sold, I will admit that I was disappointed. I was worried that the beautiful quality tools that everyone loved would somehow change. Well, I’ll be the first to admit…
The aftermarket bench plane blades market is brimming with quality options, from Hock to Veritas to WoodRiver, and now, Taylor Toolworks Premium Blades. A common feature of these premium blades is their thicker steel construction compared to the classic Record or Stanley blades. This thickness enhances stability, facilitates easier freehand sharpening using the Hollow Grind…
Collin Knoff
Tool: Low Angle Jack and Block Plane Kit Shop Now Manufacturer: Melbourne Tool Company MSRP: $269 The premium hand tool marketplace is a much different place today than it was in the dark days of the early 1980’s. There’s no shortage of quality options at numerous price points. Melbourne Tool Company, founded in 2022, is…
Milwaukee held their annual PIPELINE event today, and there was no shortage of exciting tool announcements for the woodworking crowd. If you want full details of any the products announced today, or to see the non-woodworking related releases, check out the Milwaukee PIPELINE landing page. Batteries It’s hard to highlight any single item as the…
Tom Caspar
It can save you lots of money—and grief! Are you a scrounger? Always looking for a deal? Self-reliant? Those words fit a lot of woodworkers, particularly those who search for unusual or inexpensive sources of wood. Once you stray from a lumberyard, there’s one tool you really ought to have: a moisture meter. A moisture…
Tool: IQ Vise Shop Now Manufacturer: Work IQ Tools MSRP: $279.99 A picture can be worth a thousand words, but I was recently reminded that it’s no substitute for hands-on experience. When I first saw pictures of the Work IQ Vise, I assumed it was exclusively for lightweight tasks. Any sort of aggressive sawing or…
Join our email list and download your choice of 7 plans instantly. Plus get Popular Woodworking’s top projects and tips, special offers and product news.
Start typing and press Enter to search