The Woodworker - April 2017 - What is in it...

Peter Benson’s ash kit box
Peter Benson’s ash kit box

Our April issue is hot off the press so be sure to pick up your copy now! We’ve got a great array of woodworking content for you this month, including our cover star for this issue - Rick Wheaton’s modern nest of tables, which consists of only nine boards and six joints. It requires little expertise to construct so can be made in only a few hours - great stuff! Other projects for you include Peter Benson’s ash kit box, shown above, which incorporates an Art Deco-inspired sunrise. If you’re of our thinking then perhaps you’ll agree that it’s almost too good for holding tools! The Editor also brings us a handy and practical project in the shape of his bathroom storage stool. This neat design provides a tiny cupboard space for books and general supplies, as well as a step-up for smaller family members, and we also take a look at Mark Griffiths’ fitted wardrobes, which combine modern space-consciousness with the style of 18th-century oak panelling.

Niall Yates’ rescued and restored armoire
Niall Yates’ rescued and restored armoire

On the technical side of things, Niall Yates share the story of discovering a French walnut armoire at his local architectural salvage yard and how he set about restoring it to its former glory. Even though this turned out to be a labour intensive process, it was entirely worthwhile nonetheless and the end result certainly speaks for itself. We also bring you something a little different this month and introduce you to the idea of combining stained glass with woodworking. We take you through the intriguing process and show how the two mediums really do complement each other perfectly.

Tim Pettigrew’s lovely turned walnut platter
Tim Pettigrew’s lovely turned walnut platter

In our turning section, we introduce you to a new author - Tim Pettigrew - who inspects the remains of a mighty walnut tree and salvages some of the wood to make a lovely platter. We also bring you the second part of Bob Chapman’s woodturning techniques article, which sees him looking at those used for colouring and finishing a turned piece. Colin Simpson also takes a break from his usual projects this month and instead looks at the causes for frustrating catches and dig-ins, as well as offering advice on how these situations can be avoided.

The Editor puts the Bosch GHO 26-82 D Professional planer through its paces
The Editor puts the Bosch GHO 26-82 D Professional planer through its paces

We have some great tests in store for you this month, from our three testers - Mark Cass, Andy King and Phil Davy. We Kick off with the Editor looking at the Bosch GHO 26-82 D Professional planer. Accurate and efficient in use, he says that this piece of kit would definitely prove to be an asset to any woodworker and is particularly impressed by the dust collection system. Phil Davy is also back with another test from Ryobi, which this time sees him looking at the new Ryobi R18ROS-0 18V random orbit sander. This cordless offering relies on the One Plus battery system but it is surprising just how much timber you can cover in a few minutes. Andy King brings us a neat little sanding device - the Milescraft Sand Devil 3.0 - which not only represents great value for money but will take standard size belts and is ideal for a multitude of household tasks as well as the usual woodworking applications. He then looks at the Rolls Royce of its ilk, the new Tormek T-8 grinding machine, before the Editor reviews Osmo Polyx-Oil and the Trend DWS/KIT/C diamond sharpening kit.

Coopering calls for quite an array of hand tools. Most of Alastair Simms’ are well seasoned
Coopering calls for quite an array of hand tools. Most of Alastair Simms’ are well seasoned

We have another great feature for you this month from Siân Ellis, who meets Alastair Simms - one of the very last practitioners of the once flourishing art of brewery coopering; in archive we go back to The Woodworker of September 1952 and take a look at a simple variation on the standard box sash; and in ‘Timeslip’, Peter Baker continues his tour of the Harris Lebus furniture factory. As well as all this, we also have your usual favourite pages, including our timber suppliers directory, readers’ letters, AOB, archive and marketplace.

All this and much more in the April issue of The Woodworker, which is now on sale!

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