The trend toward automatic end stops, computer-controlled machinery, laser-guided tools and the like has been with us for many years. And it’s not likely to go away unless we experience a return to the Middle Ages, a possibility that some do not see as being completely far fetched. (more…)

DeWalt. Porter-Cable. Black and Decker. These are names that have long represented high quality “American-made” tools. (more…)

Since the mid 1980′s, virtually every table saw sold in this country has been equipped with some kind of “splitter”, a stationary metal blade intended to hold the kerf open behind the blade. The splitter has also done double duty as a convenient mounting place for the ineffective but required blade guards that have long come with every table saw. In truth, the splitter has rarely functioned as a decent safety device because, for the most part, they have been made of flimsy metal of a thickness far less than that of a typical saw blade. (more…)

Kitchens have been a mainstay of professional woodworkers for the last sixty years. It seems that kitchen design trends are outpaced only by the fashion industry and maybe the auto industry. But over the last five years or so, the hot trend has been the “outdoor kitchen.” And I’m not just talking about a barbeque kettle out on the back deck. We are talking about full-featured kitchens, complete with cooktops, ovens, refrigerators, long runs of stone countertop and, of course, cabinets. (more…)

For a very long time now we have understood the difference between “nominal” and “finished” sizes. A 2×4 has not been two inches by four inches for many years now. And we have all pretty much accepted the explanation that the dimension “2×4″ refers to the size at which the wood was sawn and that after “surfacing” it would be somewhat less than two inches by four inches. (more…)