Fine Woodworking Magazine

Expert advice on woodworking and furniture making, with thousands of how-to videos, step-by-step articles, project plans, photo galleries, tool reviews, blogs, and more

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THE RIGHT TOOLS MAKE THE JOB EASIER

Fine Woodworking Magazine

quick tips

On the Horizon • A selection of some of the best new tools on the market.

A Timeline of Tool Innovations • Game-changers and gizmos from 50 years of Fine Woodworking

Cordless Track Saws • The best tool for straight, splinter-free cuts is made even better without a cord

Compact Line Lasers • We found the brightest, best-performing green laser in a head-to-head test of eight popular models

HOW WE TESTED • To compare the eight lasers, I used them for two months on my job sites and ran several head-to-head tests.

Drywall Sanders • In our testing of these tools, we compared dust collection, quality of finish, and user fatigue after hours of sanding

ROTARY SANDING ON A BUDGET

WELL-BALANCED SANDER OFFERS IMPROVED RESULTS

RANDOM-ORBIT SANDING PRODUCES THE BEST FINISH

Compact Cordless Routers • All have great power, but balance and bit visibility make a winning tool

New to market • Each year, the experts at Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding test dozens of new products and tools. Here is a rundown of some of the new machines we reviewed last year.

Midi Lathes • Two classes of machines put to the test

Under $1,400 • The lathes in the $1,400-and-under group are, in my view, appropriate for an introduction to woodturning and/or intermittent professional use. These lathes are generally lighter, more portable, and more accessible for the average turner. While still providing a solid foundation for turning, overall these machines lack the range of features, options, and quality of build found on the more expensive midis.

Over $2,300 • The $2,300-and-above class is made up of machines that could easily be run professionally. Heavier and stronger, they are manufactured to be intuitive, comfortable, functional, high-quality machines capable of years of consistent hard work. While it’s tempting to believe that spending more is better, I’ve been running a professional turning business for over 10 years using a full-size equivalent to a machine from group 1.

Setting Up Big Machines • Wrangle stationary tools without breaking your back

How to Prevent Table-Saw Kickback • Use a riving knife, avoid a few pitfalls, and work with no worries

Other safety problems are just as easy to solve • Staying out of harm’s way requires more than riving knives and flesh-sensing technology. The most important practice is to stay in the moment. While you’re working with a spinning blade, don’t let your mind drift to the glue-up that’s coming next. It’s critical to stay focused on where your hands are and what’s happening with the wood. Similarly, don’t use any power tools when you are tired or distracted. It’s also essential that the blade be parallel to the miter slots and rip fence, and for the riving knife to be properly aligned. If you’ve checked those boxes, you’re ready to read on.

New to market • Each year, the experts at Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding test dozens of new products and tools. Here is a rundown of some of the new hand tools we reviewed last year.

Must-have hand tools • Florida School of Woodwork puts these tools at every workbench

Machinist’s Tools in the Shop • Highly accurate and quite affordable, these measuring devices can fine-tune your machines and elevate your woodwork

New Breed of Grinding Wheels • Not just for turning tools, CBN wheels work wonders on chisels and plane blades

Miter Gauges • Replace yours with a more accurate...