Dan Shapiro

You don't need it, but you know you want it anyway.

I added something new to the right hand side... basically, I took the most expensive, yet ineffective items from Amazon's tool store, and recommended them to you.

When I was finishing my coffee table, I had all sorts of problems with the cloth I was using to apply shellac. I tried old T-shirts, socks, just about everything, but kept having problems with lint and pilling, which would show up in the finish.

I divide tool brands into two categories. These are, roughly, "cheap and crappy" and "good and expensive".

In an old post, I let you know about the decline of Ridgid. Specifically, how they slashed their warranty and outsourced tool production to the far east. Well, "someone" anonymously took issue with that, so I updated the article.

I got one of the Oldham Viper bits that was recommended there--a nice fat 3/4 straight bit. Used it to trim some 5/4 walnut, put rabbets in maple, and a few other tasks. The bad boy makes sawdust like a woodchuck.

When gluing up something that will be hard to clean when complete, use masking tape to keep the squeezeout from messing up your project.

Spalting is the decay left behind by a specific type of fungus. The wood must be harvested when the spalting is pronounced and visible, but wait too long and the wood loses its structural integrity.

The miter gage that came with your tablesaw wobbles several degrees. If you don't believe me, stick a long skinny piece of wood against the nice, 90 degree flat surface, put it in the miter slot, and wiggle.

But what about the lining? You want spanish cedar. NOT any other kind of cedar, or your cigars will smell like a hamster cage. Spanish cedar is remarkably expensive for an otherwise-unremarkable softwood; it usually goes for about $5.50/bf in inconvenient thicknesses.