Popular Woodworking 2004-11 № 144, страница 20

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Q & A

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with a rubber band. Traditionally it would have been held to the blade by a leather thong at each end. (The nib often found at the narrow end of handsaw blades serves to capture the thong at that end. The curved cutout invariably found in the handle of saws captures the thong at the other end of the blade guard).

As for boring a hole in the blade I doubt that it hurts (much), but I wouldn't bother; some saws are actually manufactured with a hang hole, but lacking such a hole you can always hang the saw by the handle.

— Graham Blackburn

What Wood is Best to Use When Making Featherboards?

I'm planning on making some featherboards but am unsure what wood to use. Does it make a difference?

Dwayne Crider Austin, Texas

Just about any straight-grained hardwood will do. For my featherboards, I prefer ash, but maple and birch are good choices, too. Stay away from anything that has short grain or is brittle. These can break in the long term.

— Christopher Schwarz, executive editor

Are There Important Differences Among Premium Plywoods?

With some of the "premium" plywoods, what are the differences in finishing, screw-holding and workability among cabinet-grade plywoods such as Baltic birch, Appleply, Europly Okume and the others out there?

Some lumberyards say there are no differences. Others cite differences in facing, materials to fill voids, splintering, stiffness, finishing qualities, personal preference and a number of other answers. Please help. I would like to use some plywood for jigs, entertainment centers, shelves, shop cabinets and other proj ects but am not sure if I need to look at one type or another or just look at the cost.

Rick Shields Portland, Oregon

The differences in premium plywoods are a lot like those between brands of masking tape. They're all very similar, some are slightly better, but they'll all do the job. The differences may include where the originating "tree" came from (the Baltic states, Sweden, etc.) and the type of glues that are used

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in the laminatingprocess, interior grade or exterior grade. Plywoods go through a grading process (overseen by the American National Standards Institute, ANSI) and are rated as to quality of face and core materials. All premium plywood should be void-free, which means the voids have been patched, not that the facings are completely clear. Their working properties will be similar, and all are better than sheathing ply and similar three- or five-ply "utility" plywood options.

— David Thiel, senior editor

Can I Use a Bullnose Plane

to Trim the Shoulders of My Tenons?

I thoroughly enjoyed your article on mor-tise-and-tenon joinery ("Mortise & Tenon Basics," April 2004). As a new retiree, I have just recently got into woodworking - shame on me for not discovering this great hobby much earlier in my life!

You mentioned in the article that Lee Valley Tools may be coming out with a wider shoulder plane. On the Lee Valley web site (leevalley.com), they show a "bullnose shoulder plane," which looks pretty versatile.

It is 1" wide, has a low bed angle of 15°, and, with the bullnose removed, can be used as a chisel plane. What are your thoughts regarding using this plane to trim tenons?

Jim Mattavi Knoxville, Tennessee

The Veritas bullnose plane is a very good tool. I have one in my toolbox now. But bullnose tools (no matter who makes them) arent much help with trimming tenons. The reason is that there isn't much sole in front of the tool's blade—like in a shoulder plane. This additional sole allows you to position the plane properly on the joint and keeps the tool steering straighter through the cut.

If you are looking for alternatives, I recommend the Veritas medium shoulder plane (a wider version is indeed due out this fall). For larger work I prefer the Lie-Nielsen 073 and the Lie-Nielsen rabbeting block plane.

If you're now wondering what bullnose planes are good for, they excel at cleaning up rabbets and making them bigger. I also use them for flushing up casework assemblies after everything is glued up. When configured as a chisel plane, they are great for cleaning out junk in corners. The Veritas plane is available from Lee Valley Tools (800871 -8158 or leevalley.com) for $129. PW

— Christopher Schwarz, executive editor