Cutting and Shaping Wood

How do you make a straight cut when using a jigsaw?

I have stored my planer on the ground for years and lifted it up to the workbench whenever I needed to use it. Although I knew I needed a more permanent home for my planer, I never seemed to be able to find the time to make it. That’s why the Rockler Rock-Steady Shop Stand, with its large number of customizable options, is perfect for a project like this. The assembled frame is 32” x 20” x 28”. After adding the casters and a 1.5” top, the final size of the cart came out to be 36” x 24” x 33”, which was the perfect size for me.

Project design and plan by Alex from Bevelish Creations.

The Rockler Taper/Straight Line Jig makes it easy to cut straight-line edges or tapered cuts. Often you'll need to rip tapers when making legs that get more slender from top to bottom, like the shaker end table, or the angled back slats on an Adirondack chair. This jig also makes it safe and easy to rip a straight edge that is parallel to the opposite edge.

Making smooth, safe cuts with your table saw, radial-arm saw, chop saw or sliding compound miter saw depends on having the right blade for the tool and for the type of cut you want to make.

Planes come in several different sizes and slopes for different work, so some thought needs to go into which one to use in a given situation.

As we pointed out in part one of this overview, getting set up and cutting near-perfect coves can be an easy, frustration-free procedure - especially if you have a reliable cove cutting jig.

Coves are one of the most common decorative shapes in woodworking. You'll find them in various sizes on furniture, picture frames, crown molding and just about anything else made of wood that incorporates decorative shapes.

In choosing the best blade for your table saw, you'll have several important considerations.