Page 84 - Learn Woodworking Tips with Rockler

A round up of some obvious (and not so obvious) techniques for cutting a circle in a woodworking shop.

Watch Rob Johnstone transform a slab of walnut into a coffee table, featuring a continuous live edge, ash inlay, glass panel, and metal legs.

Portable drill guides essentially turn a handheld drill into a small drill press. The drill attaches to a shaft that is connected to a chuck, which is guided in a straight line on two rails. The angle of the guide can be changed in relation to the workpiece, and most also feature a depth stop. It's a great tool to have if you don't have space for a full-size drill press or if you need to drill angled or repetitive holes when your drill press is either inaccessible or won't work for the application. The problem with most drill guides, however, is they tend to be a little flimsy and not very precise. The Rockler Portable Drill Guide has all of the features of previous drill guides, with the added advantage that it is also built like a tank. A large 1/2"-capacity Jacobs chuck glides amazingly smoothly on ball bearings.

For most of the history of woodworking, if you were going to make two of the three main woodworking joints (mortise-and-tenon and dovetail), it would have been impossible to do so without a chisel.

Originally, the word "varnish" meant a mixture of natural resin and drying oil. Today's oil varnishes usually contain synthetic resin, but like their ancestors, they're durable, beautiful and easy to apply.

Successful panel glue-ups start with the right choice of adhesive, but it doesn't end there.

The table saw is the heart of most woodworking shops. When looking at stationary table saw, the choice most often is between a contractor saw or cabinet saw. Take a closer look at the differences and similarities you'll find on a cabinet table saw and a contractor table saw. In this case, we use the SawStop Contractor Saw and SawStop Pro Cabinet Saw as our examples of each category of table saw. The saw you choose will depend on the work you need to do with your table saw.

Perhaps this versatile tool could find a home in your workshop. It's easy to use and much quieter than a router!

You can now buy ready-to-spray glazing stain in aerosol cans, and that it is available in two formulations: one for wet glazing and one for "breakaway" or dry glazing. Let's look at what those are, how to use them, and how they can add character to our finishes.

Functional design and simple construction make this workshop cabinet and cart a practical pair for any workshop or garage.

One problem with small shops is that there's never enough floor space. The same often goes for counter space. This fold-down desk project provides a simple, sturdy solution.