Where do you keep your clamps? Stacked in a corner? Mixed in with a pile of wood? Hung precariously from a makeshift two-by-four “clamp rack”? Really not sure?

The middle of a glue-up is no time to be searching around for the clamps you need. But for many of us, sadly, that’s the way things usually happen. If only we all had a place perfectly designed for storing clamps, adhesives, rags and other clamping-related equipment; or better still, a handy rolling clamp storage cart that we could bring right up to our workbench whenever we needed it.

The tool designers at Rockler know that in just about every shop, space is at a premium – and that it’s especially true for a small home-shop. To help out, they’ve recently tackled one of the most pernicious shop organization problems known to woodworking. With the new Pack Rack Clamp and Tool Storage System, you now have the opportunity not only to easily keep tabs on your core clamp collection, but also a chance to free-up valuable shop space, and streamline the clamping/gluing process.

The basic Pack Rack consists of a heavy-duty steel A-frame mounted on four industrial-quality casters and a system of  5/8” steel clamp-hanging rods, which can be arranged in any of thirteen possible positions. The eight clamp rods included with the basic kit will let you keep all of your most used clamps at your fingertips, on up to 4 foot pipe and bar clamps.

But you won’t want to stop there. Fitting the bottom of the Pack Rack frame with a plywood shelf will help you keep glue bottles, Clamp-It Assembly Squares, Web Clamps, a dead blow mallet – whatever comes in handy during the clamping process – ready and in reach. Also included are four steel auxiliary shelf brackets for the addition of a shop-made shelf at the height of your choice. The shelf brackets hang from the clamp rods, and are designed to provide a little extra shelf-to-bar clearance, and won’t interfere with the clamp-hanging function of the bars.

Even more space and versatility comes with a few accessories. Additional shelf hooks and standard clamp rods are available for a modest price, in sets of two and four respectively. Extended-length clamp rods are also available. They extend out past the edge of the Pack Rack frame and give you a place to keep those awkward extra-long pipe and bar clamps. And to top it all off (no pun, please) there’s an optional steel top shelf that bolts on to the top of the frame.

When it’s all said and done, the Pack Rack offers the potential for a one-stop mobile glue-up station. It’s a great storage solution, both for large shops, where it simplifies the process of moving clamps, glue and related equipment form one location to another, and for small shops, where it helps keep things organized and out of the way when not in use. We think it’s a winner, and we can’t wait to hear the same from Pack Rack owners. In fact, we’re so anxious to hear what our customers think, we’re planning to give one lucky Pack Rack customer reviewer (chosen at random, of course) a $100 Gift Card just for offering an opinion. How’s that for a deal? Efficient, rolling clamp-containment and - provided you post your review by June 15 - a chance to win back two thirds of the cost. See the Pack Rack offer for details.

Wood filler, grain filler, wood putty – what’s it all mean? Judging by the raft of questions we field on the subject, filling wood is a source of general confusion.  Here’s a little clarification.

Wood filling can be devided into two basic tasks: filling voids – such as nail holes, chips and dents – and filling the pores of “open grained” woods, like oak and mahogany.  Fillers designed strictly for filling voids are thicker, and for one reason or another may not work well for filling grain pores – they may contain particles too large to work into miniscule grain openings, or may not be easily thinned down to a viscosity suitable for the task. Fillers designed strictly for filling grain are thinner, with a consistency often compared to pancake batter. They simply lack the “body” to fill larger voids. Some fillers can be used for both - they are thick enough to span a void, and can be thinned to fill grain pores in an entire wood surface.

For filling voids, many woodworkers swear by fillers composed of a nitrocellulose lacquer binder and wood flour (very fine wood particles). Famowood is an example – and a product that truly lives up to its name. It dries quickly, shrinks minimally, comes in a variety common wood species, and earns customer reviews like this:

“There is no substitute when it comes to the best of the best. That’s what Famo is all about. You simply will not find a better wood filler. Its ability to basically become invisible is what sets it apart from everything on the market. Nail holes vanish, slight imperfections in a mitered joint seam together...”

Wunderfil, another favorite, is a dual purpose filler. It comes in putty form, suitable for filling voids, and can be thinned with water to a consistency that works well for filling grain. It cleans up easily with water and is available in a number of colors, which can be mixed together or custom tinted to produce a perfect color match. Wunderfil is also heartily endorsed in our customer reviews:

"The absolute best filler I have used. I have only used this for damage repair so far but will be starting a project soon and using it as a grain filler. Have confidence it will work well. Nearly undetectable after being stained."

"I recently build a desk for my wife using 5/4 oak for the top. I've never used a woodgrain filler before and couldn't find any on the store shelves. Got it from Rockler, followed the directions and was very happy with the results. Showed it at my woodworkers club, Woodworkers of El Paso and was highly praised for it...thanks Rockler."

"Unquestionably the easiest filler to apply and sand I have ever used. "

(etc.)

Products designed strictly for filling grain come in two varieties: oil/varnish based and water based. Bartley Paste Wood Filler is a classic oil based grain filler, and a top choice for filling grain under oil based wood finishes. It comes in three shades and when used as correctly, will produce the perfectly flat surface necessary for a “glass-smooth” finished product. Crystalac is a water-borne grain filler, cleans up easily, works under any type of film finish, and has a unique and often desirable property: it dries water-clear.

Filling grain requires something of a “knack”, and seems to be the source of the most wood-filling confusion. But it’s not beyond the reach of anyone with average woodworking skills. As with any advanced finishing technique, a little knowledge and a practice run or two can go a long way. If you’ve never filled grain, advice from a pro – such as that found in a wood finishing book or DVD - can really flatten out the learning curve. Bob Flexner’s Understanding Wood Finishing, for example, contains a thorough discussion of various grain filling techniques that can help you choose the best method, and apply it successfully on your first try.

By now, we’re guessing most of you have heard about a certain remarkable tree and the unique, exceptionally figured Bubinga lumber it’s yielded to the benefit of a few lucky woodworkers. We’re making that guess, in part, because the interest in this rare lumber-buying opportunity has been so widespread that we ran through our supply of 4/4 stock available by the board foot at lightening speed, and as of this posting, are only offering Curly Waterfall Bubinga lumber in the form of sensational, if slightly more cost-intensive, large-dimension slabs. For the general woodworking population, that may not be the most happy news. To you, we can say this: stay tuned. We’re not promising anything – but you never know.

If your tool of choice happens to be a lathe, on the other hand, luck is on your side. While the stock lasts, Rockler is offering truly unique Bubinga Bowl Turning Blanks in a variety of sizes – all cut from the very same tree that’s been causing all the stir.

Of course we couldn’t leave turners out of the loop - it’s such an obvious application for the material. Despite its hardness (heavier and harder than maple) Bubinga is a prized turning species. It has a fine texture, machines well, and polishes unaided to an almost glossy surface. In terms of color, even an “everyday” hunk of Bubinga has plenty to offer: namely, a subtle range of rich reddish brown tones punctuated with darker grain striping. On top of that, this particular Bubinga offers a striking grain pattern - uncommon for the species - and comes from a tree of uncommon proportions and notoriety.

Right now, blanks are available for everything from small decorative pieces on up to show-stopping bowls and platters. You’ll also find a few larger dimension chunks, any of which would make a great set, or could represent one-of-a-kind opportunity for oval turners. Whichever way you might decide to go, we’ll offer the same advice that we did when the board-foot lumber hit the market: if you’re interested, don’t procrastinate. We don’t expect these unique blanks to last long, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.