Popular Woodworking 2006-12 № 159, страница 7

Letters

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Shapers and routers are designed to run at different speeds, with routers running much faster. The cutting geometry is designed with these speeds in mind, so to get a decent quality cut with a router bit in a shaper, you need to slow your feed rate down to match the slower spinning machine. Running a shaper cutter designed to spin no faster than 12,000 rpm in a router capable of turning 20,000 rpm or more is crazy in my book, and I can't think of a responsible manufacturer that would market an adapter to let you do this.

— Robert W. Lang, senior editor

Is Big-box Wood Good for Furniture?

I want to start building furniture. I loved working in my grandfather's shop and now that I have my own home, I have decided to take on some basic projects to see if my desire can match my skill. My question: Is the wood purchased from a home center good for furniture? I read about the moisture content and I wonder if their wood will warp.

Brady Smith Lewisville, Texas

Wood from home centers can be used to make furniture, but hardwoods (such as oak and poplar) are far more expensive at home centers than hardwood from a lumberyard or woodworking specialty store. Softwood (pine and fir) is generally well-priced at a home center.

If you do buy lumber from a home center, here are a few tips: It's always a good idea to buy wood that has been stored indoors. Pick the straightest stuff possible even if you have to go through the entire rack. If you don't own a moisture meter to check each board, a good rule of thumb is that the boards that are lightest in weight are the driest (water is heavy).

And one final tip: Once you purchase the wood, it's always a good idea to let it acclimate in your shop for a couple weeks. Then you should be good to go.

— Christopher Schwarz, editor

Can Leftover Decking Wood Be Used to Build a Durable Workbench?

Due to a crazy brother-in-law who ordered way too much wood for a deck, I find myself with a healthy supply of 2" x 6", 20'-long cedar boards. Is this wood good for a workbench? I'm just starting out in woodworking; I just bought a contractor saw and wonder if this

would be a good first project. I appreciate any tips you can give me.

Kevin Klauber Sonoma, California

Traditional European benches were made from beech. Maple is a common choice in this country. But I think that what is more important than the species you choose is the physical properties that the wood possesses. I recommend people use materials that are inexpensive, plentiful, heavy and tough for a workbench.

Unfortunately, cedar doesn't pass this test. It's cheap and easy to get, but it is a lightweight and soft wood. And, in my opinion, it's too lightweight and soft for a traditional bench. I've made a lot of benches out of Southern yellow pine, hemlock and fir, but those are about as soft a wood as I would consider.

I'd check out the lumberyard and see what wood is available for framing joists and other high-stress applications, which requires clear, strong material. That material — whatever it is — is almost always good stuff for a workbench. It might need to dry for a while in your shop, but it won't break the bank.

— Christopher Schwarz, editor

Swiss Made Tools Produce Premium Quality Carving Blades

Although your recent article in the October 2006 issue by David Calvo contained a lot of information which would be beneficial to any beginning carver, his statement that "Swiss brands" are the poorest quality carving tools on the market today is unfounded and very misleading.

Pfeil, our supplier of Swiss carving tools, is a very well-respected manufacturer that has been producing premium quality carving tools since 1942. Pfeil utilizes a unique manufacturing process that begins with a special alloy chrome vanadium steel, made to Pfeil's specifications, which combines outstanding elasticity with unsurpassed edge-holding properties. This steel is then forged in house to ensure consistent tool shaping and quality. The entire blade is then finely ground and polished inside and out. All Swiss Made blades are electronically hardened to Rc 58-60, sharpened and honed ready to use. The blades feature square tangs that prevent twisting in the handle, and full bolsters to distribute pressure to the handles. The easy-

to-grip octagonal ash handles provide extra control and feature an internal steel ferrule under the bolster to prevent the handle from splitting. All tools are quality inspected at every stage of the manufacturing process to ensure only the finest tools receive the Swiss Made trade mark.

With more than300 sizes and styles there is a Swiss Made tool for virtually every carving application. Thousands of carvers world wide, including the prestigious Brienz Carving School, make Pfeil Swiss Made their tool of choice.

Andrew Bondi director of product development, Woodcraft

Editor's note: David Calvo responded that he stands by the statements he made in his original article.

High-end Machines Review Request

I have been shopping around for a cabinet saw and I can get reviews from different sources for Delta, Jet, Powermatic etc. However, I have a hard time finding reviews for the higher priced, higher quality saws.

I think it would be great if Popular Woodworking could do an article about or review several of these costlier saws and give the pros and cons of each. Not everyone can afford one of these machines, but I am sure that some of your readers can and would find such an article very informative.

Richard Kelly Gallatin, Tennessee

I don't know if we'll be able to review all the expensive saws in the coming year, but we do have an article coming up that compares European table saws with American table saws. It will be evaluating the features on European saws and try to assess their value. (We suspect that once accessories are added to an American saw to make it equivalent to a European saw, the price difference will be much less.)

— Megan Fitzpatrick, managing editor

Pierce Oversimplifies Shaker Cabinet

May I make the following observations relating to issue #155 regarding the Shaker cabinet? Firstly, the Shakers were not wood poor; they were very careful in the choice of stock and had access to old-growth timber. No competent craftsman would of choice use rift-sawn continued on page 16

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Popular Woodworking December 2006