Midi-Lathe Reviews at Woodworker's Journal

It seems like every six months or so we get all hepped up with the idea that we're going to buy a mini lathe. The image of sitting in the shop and turning out chess pieces takes us to this euphoric fantasy land full of woodworking know-how and competence. During these giddy little daydreams we forget the fact that we know absolutely nothing about these tools or how to use them. We know even less about what makes one good. We've done some research in the past and have always come back to the Jet. It seems to get good reviews....right? Well, thankfully this month's Woodworker's Journal has a run down on four top models (the Jet included).

Author Chris Marshall does a fantastic job explaining the features on each model and what to look for when investing in one of these interesting tools. Chris is pretty much a fan of all of the tools, but he calls out the Delta 46-460 for special praise due to its strong motor, reverse setting for sanding, and the 10" tool rest.

It's an interesting article and if, like us, you dream of owning one of these things at some point, it's worth hunting down and reading. It not online yet, but it might be at some point in the future.

Also, check out our thoughts on WWJ's article How to Build a Fly Rod here.

Subscribe to Woodworker's Journal at Woodworker's Journal or Amazon
Check out the Delta 46-460

Woodworker's Journal: How to Build a Bamboo Fly Rod

To us, a lot of woodworking magazines kind of blur together. In a way, they're sort of like cooking magazines; you get one or two for a year or so and you've got enough to carry you through for quite a while.

This is why we applaud Woodworker's Journal for the cover story in their latest issue (which just showed up on the doorstop). How to Build a Fly Rod...now that's an interesting project. It's refreshing to see a woodworking magazine take on something that's not, well, a cabinet or a workbench. Sure, we're generalizing here, but come on, a fly rod!

It's a cool project, and by the way, far too complicated for us, but if you've got the time and the interest, it looks like a hell of a way to spend about 4,000 hours of your time.

The article is available online here.

Woodworker's Journal also features articles by Chris Marshall, who we've met a number of times and can vouch for the fact that he's a really great guy. We can also say that he's a madman behind the wheel of a super-charged go-cart (as is Jude from Toologics), but that's another story...

Subscribe to Woodworker's Journal at Woodworker's Journal or Amazon

Fine Woodworking - April 2009

Way back when we started the site, we used to review all of the woodworking/construction magazines we got. It was sort of a tedious affair and after we solicited your opinion on the matter, we discovered that you enjoyed reading them about as much as we enjoyed writing them. But still, when we get something we're impressed with, we like to let you know about it. And this month's Fine Woodworking is just such an issue.

A lot of the content of Fine Woodworking lands way above our heads. We don't have the time to spend a day tuning up a block plane or the patience to make a massive table saw jig for just one cut (for a piece of furniture that we don't have the skill to make). But this latest issue, while filled with a lot of expert-level ideas and procedures, also has a number of great articles for anyone interested in tinkering around in the garage or basement shop.

The issue includes...

Continue reading: "Fine Woodworking - April 2009"

This Old House: What's in Your Toolbox

The guys over at This Old House are gearing up for their big reader-generated issue, due out in June of this year. One of the cool things that they're doing for it is a section called, "What's in Your Toolbox." Here, they are inviting readers (you) to go to their website and submit a picture and a little paragraph of your favorite tool. It can be your most used one, the one you just like the best, or even that freaky one that your grandfather made and then passed down to you. If you're looking for inspiration, you should check out some recent postings at The Hardware Aisle, like this one and this one.

We're not sure what we would choose. Probably our old Panasonic drill that we finally put in the trash about a week ago (what a way to treat an old friend). Both batteries were dead and something inside was rattling, but while it was alive, that drill couldn't have been any more dependable.

Tell them about your tools here.

Grizzly Industrial '08

This is our favorite time of year, not because of the non-stop holiday booze-fests, but because it's when the new year's Grizzly catalog arrives. And while we were recently out of town at one of said booze-fests, this momentus yearly event occurred.

To us, the Grizzly catalog is a one stop reference for tools for the entire year, and they've got everything. The catalog is the size of a small city's phone book and is crammed with power tools, shop tools, hand tools, bits, jigs, project plans and plenty more. Also, anyone interested in building their own guitar should start with this catalog, because they feature an extensive section on just that topic.

That said, we obviously think that everyone of you should have one of these kicking around the shop, by the nightstand, in the bathroom, or where ever it is that you have the time to flip through the Cadillac of tool catalogs.

Get your free catalog at Grizzly.

This Old House - Jan/Feb 2008

We gave up reviewing magazines a while back because you guys just weren't all that into it. But we still held out that we'd review the occasional issue if there was something worth writing about. Well this month's This Old House is worth writing about. It's actually the best issue of theirs that we've picked up in a long, long time.

Lately it seems that their content has been getting pretty fluffy with too many of those awful articles on "how you and your spouse can survive a renovation." We say leave those to the pages of Glamour and give us info on tools, building materials, and workable ideas for our own renovations. This issue has all that and more. There's an article on crown molding, there's one on converting a guest bedroom into a large bath, also ones on steam showers, replacement windows, and a great router primer (written by or pal Harry Sawyers from The Hardware Aisle). And the list goes on and on.

We're not exactly sure why this issue is such a home run, but it is. Every single article is worth reading. Here's to hoping they'll be writing issues like this one all year long. Check out the table of contents here.

Subscribe to This Old House at Amazon

JLC Turns 25!

We just got the latest issue of the Journal of Light Construction in the mail and it looks like they're celebrating their 25th anniversary. For the special issue, they've decided to "recap some of the recurring issues [they]'ve covered in the last quarter century." There's a great forum on energy and moisture issues as well as the only article on roof venting that you'll ever need. There's also a funny cartoon series about what it's going to be like being a carpenter in the future.

If you're unfamiliar with JLC, you should rectify that immediately. Even though the magazine is geared for the small contractor, and each issue has a number of articles on legal issues, the building articles are the best out there and would be helpful to even the most basic DIYer.

Their website is here

Subscribe to JLC here

Woodsmith Vol 29 / No. 172 - Review

This month, Woodsmith provides another out of the park home run with an issue crammed full of good articles, tips, and advice. Of all the woodworking magazines that we read, Woodsmith is the only one that consistently exceeds our high expectations.

This time around, the main project is a nice hall bench complete with tall coat hooks and a backboard. There's some tricky joinery and plenty of detail work, but if you're not up to the whole thing, the project can be scaled back to just the chest piece making things quite a bit easier.

Other solid articles include one on built-up crown molding, a great one on finishing supplies, and a primer on table saw joinery. Oh, and there's a terrific article on oak.

Continue reading to see what tools are covered in this issue.

Continue reading: "Woodsmith Vol 29 / No. 172 - Review"

Fine Homebuilding No. 189 - Review

The new Fine Homebuilding just arrived and, after a read-through, we can happily report that it’s a solid, above-average effort from our friends at Taunton. As usual, there are a few articles geared more for idea-generation, as opposed to actual execution. This time around they’re good ones and display a lot of options for consideration. The cover story, “Signature Details for Kitchen Cabinets,” is a fine example, giving eight different ideas and scenarios for sprucing up the kitchen.

The more practical articles, “Insulating a Rim Joist,” “Trimming a Basement Window,” and one on the use of a basement curtain drain,” are all well-written, and easy to understand. Also, there is a good one on how to install a garbage disposal.

Read on to see what tools are covered in this issue of Fine Homebuilding.

Continue reading: "Fine Homebuilding No. 189 - Review"

Popular Woodworking – August 2007 – Review

This month’s Popular Woodworking just showed up and it’s another winner. Lots of cool articles, tips, tricks, and projects for all skill level woodworkers. This issue even has the first installment of a new column, “Jig Journal,” which, according to Christopher Schwartz, Editor of the magazine, is “not your typical woodworking jig column with Rube Goldberg gizmos. These are jigs designed to be used everyday.”

For projects, this issue features a canted wall box (for beginners), a nice tusk-tenon book rack (for intermediates), a great Shaker Clock (for the advanced among you), and a foot-powered lathe (for the insane inventor-types out there). There is also a good article on dust collection, one on plane wicks, and a very cool piece on The College of the Redwoods, the woodworking school founded by James Krenov.

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This Old House – July/August 2007 – Annual Kitchen and Bath Special

This issue of This Old House is another good one, filled with solid articles on kitchens and baths as well as a handful of other relevant topics. The only drawback is that there is very little discussion of tools of any sort.

The centerpiece of the kitchens portion of the magazine is an analysis of three renovations, each done on a different budget. The article has nice cost breakdowns and some good advice (steer clear of trends). There is also a piece on what can go wrong during a kitchen remodel and how not to let those problems happen to you.

As for the baths part of the magazine, there is an article on concrete countertops, one on how to tile a vintage bath, and a particularly cool one on outdoor showers.

Other topics covered in this issue include ceiling fans, irrigation gear, and wireless monitoring systems.

Keep reading to see what tools were covered in this issue.

Continue reading: "This Old House – July/August 2007 – Annual Kitchen and Bath Special"

This Old House - June 2007 - Review

After last month’s stinker, This Old House is back with a great issue, focused mostly on outdoor projects and gardening. Although it showed up in the mailbox looking like it had been sent through a meat grinder, we were able to read through the entire issue except for the last few pages.

There are great articles on container gardening, dormers, and building fountains, but without question our favorite article is the one dedicated to lawn sports. The story gives easy step-by-step instructions on building courts for horeshoes, bocce, and croquet. We have experience in the area, and even though we’re not convinced their instructions are the best, it’s a good place to start and will at least dispel the thought that making room for these games is a difficult thing to do.

The non-outdoors articles include a very nice piece on the restoration of an old farmhouse, an introduction to Japanese-style handsaws, and an essential article on how to choose wood at the lumber yard.

Keep reading to see what tools were mentioned in this issue.

Continue reading: "This Old House - June 2007 - Review"

Fine Homebuilding No. 188 - Review

Taunton delivers another good issue of Fine Homebuilding this month. There’s a vague spring/summer feel to things with articles on customizing decks, creating stone steps, and a low risk way to reroof. There are also solid articles on SIPs (structural insulated panels), framing for a garage door, and building a paneled passageway.

In addition to all this good stuff, what we liked best about this issue is the article on undersink plumbing. It’s likely that your current plumbing is ill-conceived and prone to problems. This article isolates the issues at hand and gives a clear way to redo things to head off the multitude of problems that are just waiting to occur.

Keep reading to find out what tools were covered in this issue.

Continue reading: "Fine Homebuilding No. 188 - Review"

Woodsmith Vol 29 / No. 171 - Review

Woodsmith, our favorite woodworking magazine, showed up the other day and even though this issue isn’t an out of the park home run, it still sits far above the competitors. This time around, they’ve got some great stuff on stropping, cutting gauges, and the Incra Router Table Jig. For projects, there’s a sliding top table, an oak chaise lounge, and a carved book rack. The three projects are all very doable with some nice challenging aspects to each.

Also in the issue is a cool article on hand scrapers, a tool we don’t see enough people using, and one describing 7 tips and tricks for using oil stains. Screwing up the finishing process, after going through all the work of making something, is insanely frustrating and this article has a lot of good information on how to avoid those blunders.

As always, we recommend buying this issue and subscribing to the magazine.

Subscribe to Woodsmith here.