Cutting and Shaping Wood

Can a chop saw or sliding miter saw cause kickback? Well...in a manner of speaking.

Benchtop table saws offer the function of a full-size table saw in a compact package that is easy to transport and store. This benchtop table saw stand is a great addition to a small shop with an benchtop table saw. It offers a lot of benefits. First, installing an outfeed table (or in this case, outfeed cabinet) behind the saw provides additional support and safety when you’re cutting long workpieces. Second, you gain additional storage for the saw's accessories, jigs and other tools. Third, it brings the saw up to a comfortable (and safer) working height. Finally, the casters make it easy to roll out of the way when you need the floor space in your small shop or garage.

The dimensions of the stand featured in this plan are based on the SawStop 10'' Compact Table Saw (CTS-120A60). You can easily modify the plan to suit any other benchtop table saw.

A taper jig lets you make angled rip cuts on a table saw. It's a fairly simple tool, and easy to use safely once you get the swing of it.

When you set out to cut a miter joint, the key to ending up with a perfect 90 degree joint isn't so much in cutting two precise 45 degree angles. It has more to do with cutting two angles that add up to 90 degrees - precisely.

How do you choose the best router bits when you're getting started in woodworking? Routers are one of the most versatile woodworking tools. You can use them as a portable handheld tool or mount them in a router table. Rockler sells the best router bits in hundreds of profiles for your woodworking project. So how do you choose the best router bits for your first woodworking projects? Start by considering the kinds of woodworking projects you want to make. Then choose the router bits you will need to complete those first projects. You can add to your collection of router bits as you build more projects. To help you get started, we've put together this list of the top 10 types of router bits used by most woodworkers.

Lumber is not always flat and ready to use. Sometimes woodworkers must flatten a board before using it to build a project. There are several ways to flatten a board. One of the most efficient ways to flatten a board is by using a powered thickness planer, such as the DeWalt DW735x Planer. This planer makes it easy to mill lumber flat. It features a three knife cutter-head that delivers 30% longer knife life and makes knife changes faster and easier. A fan-assisted chip ejection system vacuums chips off of the cutter-head and exhausts them out of the machine keeping your workspace clean.

Learn more about this planer's features and a couple tips that will help you get the most out of your planer.

Having trouble with rough, splintered table saw cuts in expensive sheets of hardwood plywood? You may need a new - or more appropriate – saw blade.

A good way to narrow your options and focus your search is to answer a few key questions.