The Perfect Edge: The Ultimate Guide to Sharpening for Woodworkers (Popular Woodworking)

Nearly every operation in woodworking uses a piece of steel between the woodworker and the wood. This steel needs to be cared for and sharpened for the best results. “The Perfect Edge” is an up-to-date book on sharpening every woodworking tool, using the latest sharpening stones, tools and techniques. The author brings more than twenty-five years of experience, working with demanding customers and staying on top of the latest trends.

About the Author

Ron Hock is the owner of Hock Tools, a 25-year old cottage industry that makes acknowledged superior blades for planes and other woodworking tools. Since making his fi rst blades, he has spent 25 years learning about tool steel metallurgy, cutting edge geometry, hand woodworking tools and sharpening. His interest and expertise regarding sharp edges comes from a blade-maker’s perspective; he has given countless lectures about steel, tools, and heat treatment.

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Bill Hylton's Ultimate Guide to the Router Table (Popular Woodworking)

The router is one of the most versatile tools in any shop, and router tables make it even more versatile by incorporating it into a stationary platform. The router table opens up a whole new world of using the router that simply can’t be done using it freehand. Ultimate Guide to the Router Table starts by giving the reader the option of building their own router table (with plans) or buying a manufactured table (with suggestions on what to look for when buying). In either case, this book gives the woodworker all the information they need to use their router table. Basic router-table knowledge is covered in the first chapter: safety issues, setup fundamentals, feed direction and workpiece control. The next chapters cover specific operations unique to the router table. The woodworker is not only how to do an operation, but why to do it in the way explained (and the pitfalls of trying to do it another way). Sidebars and tip boxes will highligh (more…)

Workbenches: From Design And Theory To Construction And Use (Popular Woodworking)

Every workbench should allow the woodworker to easily work the edges, faces and ends of boards, however most benches built during the last 100 years fail on at least one of these tasks. Workbenches is the only book that shows the reader how to design and build a good workbench and most importantly, how to use it in their shop for all sorts of tasks. This book dives deep into the historical records of the 18th and 19th centuries and breathes new life into traditional designs that are simpler than modern benches, easier to build and perfect for both power and hand tools. Two venerable designs are provided as basic skeletons and the knowledge presented shows woodworkers how to design custom workbenches, perfect for their style and method of woodworking.

About the Author

Christopher Schwarz is the editor of Popular Woodworking and Woodworking Magazine and is a long-time amateur furniture-maker and hand-tool enthusiast. He began working with wood at ag (more…)