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…
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…
The Axminster is a smartlooking machine with a white steel body and a smooth cast-iron table. A good solid rip fence is supplied and also a plastic sliding mitre fence. The saw mounted on a steel cabinet base with considerable internal storage space.
The saw itself is strongly constructed and very well fi nished. The blade runs on a pair of cast alloy wheels which are well balanced and easy to adjust. The upper blade guard is alloy…
The silver Draper is a neat little machine. It has an all-steel body with a one-piece metal access door. The blade runs on cast alloy wheels and the blade tensioning system is straightforward to use.
The steel and alloy upper blade guard houses a set of bearings similar to those used on the Titan, with small steel rods giving side support and a roller thrust bearing.
The Rexon is an unusual machine, with a couple of features rarely found on a bandsaw. It’s a nicely-styled machine which sits securely on its widely-splayed base. A floor stand is available as an accessory. The main body is steel, with a plastic access door. On the top is a simple blade tension knob, with the tracking adjustment on the back panel.
The bright, white JWBS9 is another machine with some useful features. It has an alloy frame with a one piece plastic access door. Alloy wheels are used for the blade, and there’s a simple tensioning and adjusting system. The edge of the top casing has a useful viewing window for visual checking of the blade tracking.
Every woodworking project involves cutting up timber, from initial conversion through to fi nal dimensioning and jointmaking. In larger workshops, the table saw generally takes the lion’s share of the work. However, the bandsaw is often a viable alternative for the home user.
Bandsaws generally have a larger depth of cut compared to an equivalent circular saw, and they also cut a far thinner kerf. They can cut both shaped and straight…
The bridle joint is also referred to as an ‘open’ or ‘slot’ mortise-and-tenon joint. This is because the mortise is open-ended and the tenon may be slid into it sideways. The joint can be used on corners, either cut square or mitred, where it’s signifi cantly stronger than a halving joint by virtue of its large gluing area.
Tools you’ll need to cut bridle joints:
• Try square
• Pencil
•…
There are several varieties of dovetail joint, but perhaps the most common – and the most familiar – is the lapped dovetail. This is used when you want to hide the joint on one side, but make it visible on the other. Its most common use is in drawer construction. Here the mechanical strength of the joint is needed to fi x the sides to the drawer front, but you don’t want the joint to be visible when the drawer is closed.…
Feature Checklist
Here’s a list of the features that you should expect to find on a good 24V combi.
Torque control
The torque control ring sets the point at which the clutch in the machine disengages from the motor. It is used for screwdriving so that you do not drive your screws too deep. There are usually around 20 settings. The torque ring may also incorporate the hammer and drilling settings, or there may be a…
