When Jacek Romanski, who works in the marketing services department of Wolfcraft Inc., began taking a woodworking class two years ago there weren’t many students in the class.
When the first class was finished, he signed up for a second one and the enrollment had increased. Then with each subsequent class it increased some more until it was finally split up into two sessions and then three because so many people wanted to learn the techniques of woodworking.
“I think there is a new trend to make your own knickknacks and furniture,” says Romanski, who echoes the observations of others in the woodworking field. “Magazines and do-it-yourself books have become more in tune with the amateurs so it makes woodworking less intimidating for someone to start a project, and when you do it once, you get the flavor of it and you like it and you keep on doing it.”
The rush to work wood has inspired manufacturers to find ways to meet the growing demands of do-it-yourselfers. “More and more good power tools are now available and there is a wider range of them,” says Chris Carlson, senior product manager at Bosch. “A lot of the techniques that used to have to be done by hand can now be done by machines such as routers and joiners, and electronic controls make the tools more adjustable and easier to use and more accurate.”
Carlson points out that woodworking is not only a satisfying creative outlet, but that it also has an earthy quality to it. “With wood you’re touching a part of nature which is a living material,” he explains, “and to make it work properly, you have to understand its properties.”
Woodworkers can gather information to improve their skills from a number of television shows as well as from woodworking shows that offer demonstrations and seminars, as well as competitions for amateurs. Says Carlson, “This is a great time to be doing woodworking.”
The prices given for products listed here are suggested retail prices. You can contact the manufacturers mentioned for help in finding a retailer in your area that carries a specific item.
Small biscuits
When it comes to making strong, durable joints, many do-it-yourselfers prefer biscuit joining because it is a quick and easy technique. Now Ryobi has developed a tool that makes a good thing even better. Whereas normal biscuits begin at 1 7/8 inches in width, Ryobi’s new Detail Biscuit Joiner uses small biscuits that are no bigger than a fingernail. The joiner comes with biscuits that are only 5/8-inch-wide as well as ones that are 3/4-inch-wide and 1-inch-wide.
These small biscuits can be used for craft-making as well as for larger projects such as cabinetry. The wood biscuits are glued into slots in matching pieces of wood to hold the joint together. The biscuits swell up to fill the slot, and sanding, painting or staining can be done several hours after the joints have been made rather than having to wait a day. The tool, which has a 3.5-amp motor, features a see-through space that enables the user to always keep an eye on the work pieces.
In mid-August, Ryobi will also introduce a mini-router base for its Multi-Tool. This accessory, which has easy-to-grip handles, a see-through space and two guide rods, can carve names as well as designs into wood. Price: $69 for the Detail Biscuit Joiner, $39 for the Mini-router. Ryobi, 5201 Pearman Dairy Rd., Anderson, S.C. 29625. Phone: 800-525-2579.
A clean cut
The Dovetail Quick Router Jig from Wolfcraft is designed to cut dovetail and box joints quickly, easily and cleanly on everything from drawers to small jewelry boxes. It has a built-in window so that the bit is in view and comes with a template that makes it possible to cut boards that are up to 1 inch thick. Among other features, it has a sliding guide that makes it possible to set the height of the bit exactly. The company has also introduced Quick-Jaw Even Hold Spring Clamps, which are able to grip flat and odd-shaped surfaces. The clamps, which come in three sizes, have textured handles, which make them comfortable to grip. Price: $39.99 for the Dovetail Quick Router Jig; $1.99-$4.49 for a clamp, depending on size; $19.99 for a clamp six-pack. Wolfcraft Inc., P.O. Box 687, Itasca, Ill. 60143. Phone: 630-773-4777.
In the groove
Dremel has launched the Contour Sander, which is designed to get the job done in difficult-to-reach spaces. It comes with a series of 10 different sanding contours, which can get into the slats of window shutters, the grooves of baseboards, the intricate curves of molding and many other challenging places. The tool, which weighs 1.75 pounds, has variable speeds that range from 4,000 to 8,500 strokes.
It comes with sanding contours that include convex, concave and angled shapes as well as a detail pad. The sanding tubes fit over each contour and can be rotated to use the entire surface. No special tools are required to change the sanding contours and paper grits, which are released with the push of a lever. The sander and accessories come in a storage case. Price: $79. Dremel, 4915 21st St., Racine, Wis. 53406-9989. Phone: 800-437-3635.
The cutting edge
Black & Decker has found a way to eliminate one of the causes of cutting mistakes. It has removed the guesswork by including a Sightline Window on top of the blade guard in its new WoodHawk Circular Saw so that woodworkers can look at the cutting line. The saw’s dust chute is adjustable so that sawdust can be kept away from the cutting line and a Shopvac can be attached to the chute. The saw weighs 8 1/2 pounds and has a 10-amp motor. It is 40 percent quieter than conventional circular saws. Its blade, with an anti-stick coating, is 6 1/2 inches instead of the normal 7 1/4 inches, thus making it more efficient for cutting today’s lumber, which is milled in smaller dimensions than it used to be. Price: $69 for the Woodhawk, $59 for the Shopvac. Black & Decker, Consumer Services, P.O. Box 618, Hampstead, Md. 21074. Phone: 800-54-HOW-TO.
Multipurpose tools
The new Skil Classic Series includes four tools: two drills, a jigsaw and a circular saw. The jigsaw, which has a 4-amp motor, is equipped with a feature that reduces vibrations, thus providing better control and less fatigue. It has an ergonomic handle, as well, for comfort. It also has an air stream that can be directed to blow dust off the cutting line. The Skilsaw, with a 10-amp, 2.5-horsepower motor, is designed to operate quietly. It offers a guide to make straight lines and a wrench for changing blades, which stores on the tool. It has a variety of other features as well to make cutting easier and more accurate. Price: $39.99-$54.99 for the drills, $59.99 for the jigsaw or the Skilsaw. S-B Power Tool Co., 4300 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60646-5999. Phone: 773-286-7330.
On the fast track
A line of Palm Grip Random Orbit Sanders from Bosch is equipped with motors that can speed up the job. Models 1295D and 1295DP both have 2.3-amp motors. The deluxe model 1295DH, with 2.5 amps, can do fine finishing at the normal speed as well as fast removal in the Swift Sand setting. All three sanders feature ergonomically designed grip surfaces on the motor housing and a dust canister that can swivel 360 degrees. Price: $74 for models 1295D and 1295DP, $84 for model 1295DH. S-B Power Tool Co., 4300 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60646-5999. Phone: 773-286-7330.
