Highland Staff

Festool Vecturo – A Knife for Wood

May 232017
 

In the May 2017 issue of Festool Heaven, Jim Randolph shares a quick story on how his first use of the Festool Vecturo oscillating tool helped finish a challenging job quickly and easily.

I’d had my new Festool Vecturo for only 24 hours before I had a job for it…After several hours of clerical work, I was ready for some woodworking. A DIY job would be as close as I could get. When our plumber Terry assessed a job we asked him to do at the office, his first lament was that one of the framing members for this AC air-handler platform was right in the way of reaching the bathtub faucet inside this wall.

Our answer? “We can fix that!”

Click to read how Jim used his new Festool Vecturo for a quick and easy fix.

How Does Woodworking Affect Your Brain?

May 162017
 

What is the Actual Effect of Woodworking on Your Brain?

by Bob Rummer


For many of us woodworking is a chosen leisure activity that we take up because it makes us “feel good.” There may be challenges, frustrations, and hard work involved but overall woodworking makes us happy. Now, I am not a psychologist, but I have read a lot of scientific literature on this topic and would like to share some general perspectives on woodworking and your mental health.

Click here to read more

Book Review – With All the Precision Possible: Roubo on Furniture

May 112017
 

Do you, like me, find hand tool woodworking intriguing? Do you wonder how the old masters went about their work? Are you curious to know what lessons can be applied to today’s practices? If so, With All the Precision Possible is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Andre-Jacob Roubo, 18th century Parisian joiner, wrote many works detailing then-current and past woodworking methods and tools, including his much-celebrated and previously-translated work on marquetry. But for cabinetmakers, this tome contains the material you will most want to devour.

Click here to read more

Show Us Your Shop Update: Tony Rumball Mens Shed

May 082017
 

Wood News readers may recall from our January 2017  “Show Us Your Shop” that Tony Rumball from Canberra Australia had access to three shops – one of which was his local (community) Mens Shed.

Mens Sheds promote the well being and health of men and play a role in the prevention of social isolation by providing a safe, friendly and welcoming place for men to work on meaningful projects, socialize and contribute to the wider community.

Tony has told us that in his Mens Shed there are a number of “woodies” with interests in woodturning, toy making, furniture repair and generally making wooden ‘stuff’.

For the first time, some of these members recently entered projects in the Craft competition in the annual Canberra Agricultural Show. The entrants had various levels of skill and experience but all wanted to ‘give it a go’  and they submitted these projects:

Geoff – ZZ TOP rolling pin

David – Double decker bus (Highly Commended)

Peter – Motorcycle

Malcolm – Spitfire aircraft ( 2nd Prize and Reserve Champion)

John – Surf Jeep

Keith – Spinning (Reversing) tops ( Highly Commended)

Myron – Genie Pot

Harry – Segmented Jar

All enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to next year’s competition!

Return to the May 2017 issue of Wood News Online

Building a Clamp Rack

Apr 272017
 

Having trouble storing all of your clamps? In this 2-part video, Steve Johnson, aka the Down to Earth Woodworker, shares his plan for an adjustable, re-configurable, stacked Clamp Rack that is 5S compliant for his workshop. Turns out this new design allows for 2x the amount of clamps in the same space!

Take a look and see if Steve’s ideas can help improve the clamp storage in YOUR shop!

Product Video: Tool-less Blade Guide Upgrade Kit for Rikon Bandsaws

Apr 252017
 

If you have a Rikon 10-324 or 10-325 14″ Bandsaw, and are sick of all of those hex wrenches, you need the Tool-less Blade Guide Upgrade Kit. Install this kit on your bandsaw in minutes and enjoy the simplicity of tool-less spring-loaded guides.

Find out more about the Tool-less Blade Guide Upgrade Kit in this 12 minute video.

Woodturning Project: Turning Offset Candelabras

Apr 202017
 

In the April issue of The Highland Woodturner, we are featuring Ray Bissonette, a favorite contributor from past issues.

After having his turnings featured in the June 2013 issue of The Highland Woodturner, Ray Bissonette used his earned store credit toward a new Spindle Gouge, which helped him add a new design element to his already “eccentric” woodturned candelabras.

CLICK HERE to see how he made them