Fathers Day Must Have Woodworking Gifts

Find out what woodworking gifts our staff of editors and dads hope to receive this Fathers Day.

Photo: Woodcraft

Fathers Day is fast-approaching and the Fine Woodworking editorial departments crew of dads are eagerly anticipating (or at least hoping) for a small workshop-related token of gratitude from sons, daughters, and moms. So we figured wed take a quick poll of the dads out there to find out what tools (maximum value of $100) were on their wish-lists. If your plum out of ideas regarding what to get dad, here are a few possible choices to get you started.

Whats on Your Wish List?
We want to know - especially because some of us are still considering other options!

Asa Christiana
Editor

I bought a cheap but complete set of those no-name Taiwanese brad-point drills way back when. Some worked well, but the sharpening was inconsistent on others. And all of them dulled pretty quickly. Its next-to-impossible to resharpen brad-points properly in a home shop, so my set is riddled with gaps now. And ever since FWW did a review of brad-points in 2005, Ive wanted a set of the Lee Valley high-speed steel bits, which bored smooth accurate holes in the toughest woods in our test, with zero tearout at the rim. A set of 12 is only $43 at LeeValley.com.

Lee Valley High-Speed Steel Brad Point Bits - $43

Lee Valleys high-speed steel (HSS) set cuts clean, accurate, flat-bottomed holes similar to those produced by a Forstner bit.

Michael Pekovich
Art Director

Ill let you off cheap this year. One of the greatest additions to my new shop is a hand-crank pencil sharpener and a big stash of Ticonderoga no. 2 pencils. I sharpened up a dozen pencils and put them in the top drawer of my bench. They soon migrated to every corner of my shop so that now, no matter where I turn, I can find a sharp pencil.

Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils and Sharpener - $25 

Remember pencil and paper? It may seem like a boring gift, but a woodworker can never have enough marking implements. Ditto for a good old-fashioned sharpener!

Mark Schofield
Managing Editor

Always need more clamps; clamps work best in pairs; I have two sons therefore Id like two Jorgenson 24in. heavy duty bar clamps. The 1200 lb limit should pull most of my joints together.

Jorgensen 24-in. Steel Bar Clamps - $49.99 each  

 Need more information on clamps? Check out Fine Woodworkings complete Tool Guide listings.

Matt Kenney
Senior Editor

Although I believe I am getting an iPod speaker dock for my shop, it is over $100. So, Id say for under $100 I would like a 3 in. thick by 12 in. wide by 18 in. long granite surfacing plate from Grizzly. The plate itself costs $34.95, but because it weighs 79 lb. the shipping is $44! Thats a grand total of $78.95. 

 Grizzly Granite Surface Plate - $34.95 + $34 (shipping) 

According to Matt, it beats having to stick sandpaper to his tablesaw table--his usual method for regrinding plane irons and chisel bevels.

Tom McKenna
Senior Editor

Im in dire need of Forstner bits (to be used after I get a drill press, of course). The last time I found myself at Woodcraft, I was eyeing up this 7-piece set. Hint, hint, hint.

Woodcraft 7-Piece Forstner Bit Set - $82.25 

Be sure to catch the complete review on Woodcrafts forstner bits in our online Tool Guide.

Ed Pirnik
Web Producer

I currently own two squares - a 4-in. and a traditional 12-in. combo square. Ive always found the 4-in. to be really easy to work with; it hides in my shop apron and is always at-the-ready. In fact, I think I actually use my 4-in. more than my 12-in. That larger square is just a bit more bulky and Ive always wanted the perfect in-between size. A 6-in. combination model will satisfy nearly all my needs and is small enough to remain hidden in my shop apron, right beside its trusty, smaller cousin.

Starrett 6-in. Combination Square - $92

Find out what sets a $75 tool apart from a $6 tool in our article on combination squares from FWW #159.

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Keyboard wrist protector

Shaping the wooden core.

When I built the Federal-style desk that featured in Peter Gedrys article "Antique Finish that Holds Nothing Back" I knew that it would not just sit in a room looking pretty but be used everyday by my wife in her home office. On her previous desk the slide-out tray featured a padded wrist support in front of the keyboard. The purpose was to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome developing in the wrists, a painful malady that can only be healed through surgery. I was determined to add such a support to the new desk but I wanted it to be as unobtrusive as possible. This is how I built it:

1) Take measurements of the existing pad or the keyboard and construct a wooden core. Round over the top corners, and cut 1/8-in. deep rabbets on the the underside.

2) Wrap two layers of closed-cell foam around the core and staple them inside each rabbet. Sources of foam include packing materials or you can buy sill seal used in home building.

3) Cover the foam in either leather, if youre feeling extravagant, or in my case leather-look vinyl. Either can be bought at fabric shops.

4) Fold over the vinyl at each end, cut away surplus fabric, and staple the ends down.

5) Screw on end caps with recessed screw holes and plug the holes.

6) Dye the plugs to match the end caps. I used a non-grain raising dye but even a permanent marker would work.

7) Attach the pad using screws from the underside of the tray. Start typing.

posted in: blogs, carpal tunnel, injury prevention, Keyboard wrist protector

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Milwaukee 48 Fine Fine Fine 828 High Capacity Fine 8 Volt Battery Pack

The Milwaukee 18V XC High Capacity LITHIUM-ION Battery pack offers increased run-time with 40% less weight than an 18V NiCd battery. Compatible With: Certain Milwaukee Cordless Tools, Battery Amp/Hour: 2.8, Battery Type: Lithium Ion, Volts: 18, Thermal Protector: Yes, Low Battery Indicator: Yes, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 3 x 6 x 7 1/2
On-board fuel gaugeWidest operating temperatureIndividual cell monitoringProgressive charge indication,Advanced discharge control
List Price: $ 208.00
Price:
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A Tribute To Our Military

As a thank you to the men and women of our military, we are offering a special 40% discount on Guild memberships today (Sunday) and tomorrow. This applies to new memberships and renewals. So if you are active military, contact me and tell me your story. I’ll then set you up with a coupon code for 40% off your membership or renewal! Its our way of saying thank you for your service!

View the original article here

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Interior Designer Kara Angotti on Social Media in our Industry

Interior Designer Kara Angotti weaves video blogging into her daily design practice

Photo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXEReADq5Os&feature=related Recently Kara Angotti of KO Angotti, a woman-owned interior design and energy audit firm located in Philadelphia, ventured out of the city to visit my wood shop, Superior Woodcraft in Bucks County, PA. To share the information with her design community Kara wrote a blog post and created a YouTube video. Now it’s not every day that I have an interior designer/energy auditor/blogger come for a visit; so this had me thinking about how Kara’s social media work is completely integrated into her interior design and energy audit business.  I sought to learn more about the ways in which Kara balances her actual work with her social media marketing endeavors, and heres what I learned:

PK: Kara, why did you start to create social media for your business?

KO:        Social media marketing is a low monetary cost high impact way to reach an interested audience,which is very useful when you’re not exactly a Fortune 500 company.

Do you have specialized training in this area?

  No, I have no specialized training, but we leverage experienced consultants for effective marketing techniques.  Social media marketing is still fairly underdeveloped and is rapidly evolving; therefore it’s difficult as a business owner to maintain focus on your core service while remaining current with the latest social media marketing methods.  I suggest finding a young eager marketing professional to help guide you.  

I like what you said about underdeveloped and rapidly evolving.  To me this means you can experiment and see what works.  You don’t have to spend a lot of time worrying about making mistakes.  Everyone is learning about what works in social media. Is it difficult to create a blog and videos?

 It’s fairly easy to get started with a blog thanks to the many available platforms (Wordpress, Blogger, etc.) and templates that exist.  Videos are a bit more challenging since they require filming equipment and editing software.  I recommend beginning with a blog and establishing it as the focal point of your online social media marketing campaign.  Become comfortable blogging and expand from that point.

 How has it helped your actual interior design and energy audit business?

 Social media marketing has given us a promotional outlet that in years passed could have only been achieved through large scale and costly advertising campaigns.  It’s also provided a branding opportunity, showcase for our designs, and platform to communicate developments in the auditing industry.

What benefits could a small woodworking shop gain from creating a virtual community or social media content?

Few media outlets offer a woodworker the opportunity to broadly display their craft.  A blog  would give your clients the chance to observe your progress and review your portfolio.

What small piece of advice do you have for a woodworker who is thinking about creating a blog or shooting videos?

I recommend beginning with a blog because of the low cost of entry.  Bear in mind that consistency and the quality of your content is imperative to maintain a successful and respected blow.

Thanks to all of our readers for dropping in on the conversation between CustomMade.com member Patrick Kennedy of Superior Woodcraft, Inc. and Kara Angotti of KO Angotti. Are you using social media for your business?  What results have you witnessed?

? Or just want some advice on how to market your business and make it stand out in the marketplace? Well this blog’s for you.

A joint venture between Fine Woodworking and CustomMade, The Pro Shop will give you tips on selling custom furniture or just getting started in the business.

Questions for our bloggers? Post a comment here and we’ll try to address it in an upcoming post.

About Fine Woodworking: Your source for expert advice on woodworking and furniture making since 1975.

About CustomMade: An online marketplace designed to help serious craftspeople sell their wares and help customers locate a custom maker.

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Wood Talk Online Radio – 86

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On today’s special live edition of Wood Talk Online Radio, we’ll be discussing leaving a woodworking legacy, popping the grain on non-figured woods, Popular Woodworking goes digital, and other stuff and things! We’ll also have some voicemails, emails, and the common task quiz.

Email us at woodtalkonline@gmail.com or call and leave us a voice mail at (623) 242-5180 or Skype us at WoodTalkOnline. And don’t forget to visit the forum at WoodTalkOnline.com!

Lim’s voicemail kicks off a conversation about building for your personal legacy.

Pop WW’ing goes digital?
Adam King steps down from managing Twitter #woodchat
Charger’s maiden voyage Adirondack Guide Boat

Louis asks about popping the grain in redwood.

You are making a table top for an end table. The top is compose of three boards. Do you alternate the end grain or no?
This same table decides to cup one year later. Its causing a separation from the table aprons. What do you do?

What makes a woodworking class good? – ShawnG
Do your co-workers listen to WTOR? – Jim

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