Sharp tools are vital to successful woodworking, but keeping them sharp can be a problem. If the grinding and honing angles are not correct for the work you are doing, the job soon becomes a chore, forcing you to put too much pressure on the tool and risking an accident. Honing guides can help by holding the blade at the correct angle to the sharpening stone and simplifying the whole process. They are particularly useful for restoring tools that…

This article is taken from the ongoing Back to Basics series in Good Woodworking magazine. To keep up with the latest instalment, be sure to get your hands on a copy, which you should find in all good newsagents. If ever you can't find it, please contact 01689 899257.   With so many tools to choose from, getting started in woodwork can be confusing. There’s so much to take in – what should you spend your…

The current issue of GW (216) is on sale for one more week. There’s lots to look forward to in GW217, but if you haven’t picked up GW216, here’s a sample of one of the many interesting articles you’re missing out on.   For the past few months we’ve been looking at the fundamentals of turning, thanks to the friendly and helpful teaching turner, Sarah Thirlwell. Here’s a sneak preview of her article on…

If you intend to tackle any really intricate cutting jobs, then the machine you need is a powered scroll saw. These rather delicate looking machines are capable of producing the finest work, and are one of the safest cutting machines available. They tend to be more associated with craft work and modelmaking, than furniture projects, however they are surprisingly robust machines and can cope with timber up to about 50mm thick. They can also cut…