Popular Woodworking 2004-10 № 143, страница 20

Tricks of the Trade

Compiled by Paul Anthony Illustrations by Matt Bantly

The Easy Way

To Get Glue in Tight Places

THE WINNER:

I was repairing an old saw handle that had a small but deep crack that resisted glue injection. I was puzzling over how to fix it when I landed upon the idea of drawing epoxy into the crack using vacuum pressure. I dug out the kitchen vacuum food bagger, put a blob of epoxy over the crack, then put the handle in the plastic bag and sucked the air out. The epoxy disappeared into the crack like magic, after which I quickly removed the piece from the bag and wiped off the excess before it set up. The technique works great for any project small enough to stick in the bag, including broken plane totes and small turnings.

Wayne Anderson Elk River, Minnesota

Food vacuum sealer

Place piece to be repaired the vacuum sealer

Removing air from bag draws glue into piece

Honing Spokeshave Blades

I was trying to hone a spokeshave blade by hand for the first time recently and was having a hard time holding it at the proper angle. I typically use a honing jig for sharpening plane irons, but the spokeshave blade was too short to fit into either of the jigs I own.

So I got to thinking and came up with the idea to remove the iron and chipbreaker from a jack plane, loosen the screw and clamp the spokeshave blade between the iron and the cap iron. This projected the spokeshave blade out far enough for honing. This configuration won't withstand a lot of pressure, but it's strong enough to hold the blade in place for me to hone it.

Dan Donaldson Canton, Michigan

CASH AND PRIZES

FOR YOUR TRICKS AND TIPS!

Each issue we publish useful woodworking tips from our readers. Next issue's winner receives a General 75-050 tilting-head benchtop mortiser. This high-quality machine features heavy-duty, cast-iron construction, a gas cylinder for smooth 6" chisel strokes, ⁵/s" and ³/4" sleeves for multiple chisel shanks, heavy-duty rack-and-pinion gearing for smooth, accurate mortising and a TEFC V2-horsepower motor operating at 1,720 rpm.

Runners-up each receive a check for $75. When submitting a trick (either by mail or e-mail) you must include your complete mailing address and a daytime phone number. If your trick is selected for publication, an editor will need to contact you. All entries become the property of PopularWoodworking. You can send your trick by e-mail to popwoodtricks@fwpubs.com or mail it to Tricks of the Trade, PopularWoodworking, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

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Popular Woodworking October 2004