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My dovetail router bit set

August 31, 2011 By

 

In a recent article (Loaded for Bear)I showed the following photo of the router bit set I use to machine dovetails on the Leigh jigs:

Router bits in storage box

For clarification: The parts on the lid were not included in the router bit set. I included them for illustration purposes.

Brian in Texas wrote to ask where I got this set. I bought this kit many years ago — I believe it was in 2001, or maybe in 2002. It is the Highland Hardware set, and includes collars to allow use of the 8-mm router bits in 1/2-inch collets:

 

My dovetail router bit kit

 

I checked at the Highland web site, to make sure that sets are still available. I must admit I have never bought any more dovetail bits, as this set has lasted this long. Sure enough, they are still available in sets. The Highland Hardware web site states that their current kit is equivalent to the Leigh 5116-8  router bit set, shown in the following photo (from the Rockler web site):

Thanks for writing, Brian. Keep us posted!

 

—  Al Navas

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Dovetails, Joinery, Leigh jig Tagged With: , , , ,

Table saw safety rules in the news

August 30, 2011 By

 

Bob Lang, Executive Editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine, was quoted in yesterday’s USA Today newspaper. He advocates more education for woodworkers about new blade guards, and opposes mandatory technology such as SawStop.

Why do table saw injuries happen?

For the record: I totally agree with Lang’s position, for the following reasons:

  • Many, and possibly most injuries in the shop, happen because the person using the table saw removed the blade guard for being “inconvenient”. It is a given that the guard must be removed to make certain cuts; but it also should (must) be replaced.
  • The person using the table saw does not know how to use the machine properly; this includes proper knowledge of situations that could result in finger amputation, for example.
  • Or the worker is simply too tired, and therefore not paying attention to the procedure at hand.

My position

I have stated in the past that I would be willing to retrofit my table saw with a safety feature that is reasonably priced. What is this price? I would guesstimate in the neighborhood of $100 to $150. Lang estimates that technology such as SawStop will likely increase the cost of a saw by as much as 40%.

I hope common sense prevails

I hope that The Power Tool Institute and UL (Underwriter Laboratories) will develop guidelines that will eventually be adopted by CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

Should any guidelines be mandatory? I believe that voluntary guidelines are best, until new and competing technologies to SawStop are developed and implemented commercially. Whirlwind is one such technology I have written about in the past. This will likely contribute to driving down the cost of any technology implementation. Meanwhile, better education is likely to result in significant reduction in injuries at our table saws.

What do you think?

Let me know what you think about this issue, in the Comments section below, or via e-mail — simply click on my signature line below.
 

— Al Navas

 

Filed Under: Blog, Safety, Vacuum Press Tagged With: , , , ,

Meet the Strasihorse

August 28, 2011 By

 

There are shaving horses, and also the bodger’s horse — the differences are shown with illustrations in the wonderful article by Roy Underhill, The Woodwright’s Guide Working Wood with Wedge & Edge. 

Now we also have the Strasihorse

The Strasihorse is the creation of my friend Harry “Junior” Strasil. Correction: Junior sent me this photo; it is Junior’s friend, a blacksmith who spends a lot of time on a regular shaving horse. Here he is, trying out Junior’s new horse:

Junior Strasil's friend on the Strasihorse

Like so many woodworkers, Junior suffers back trouble when standing or sitting for prolonged periods. His back gets worse when he uses the traditional shaving horse, in which the legs are used to activate the vise that holds the work piece.

In the Strasihorse, the craftsman’s weight activates the vise; to release the hold, all he does is stand slightly. At first I thought this partial standing motion might make his back hurt more. But Junior told me it actually helps his back, by providing some relief from a semi-constant body position.

Junior will travel to the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild Open House on September 10, to demonstrate his new shaving horse. You can read the Guild’s Newsletter by clicking on this link.

I will miss the Open House, as I have a commitment in Jefferson City that weekend. But I hope you can attend. I hope someone will shoot video of Junior on the Strasihorse.

— Al Navas

 

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: ,

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