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6 m Awl for Marking Starter Holes

possibility of the bit wandering off the mark and scratching the surrounding stock. It also guarantees a more precise hole location than if you had just made an 'x' on the stock with your pencil. Another nice thing is the mark will survive sanding. So you can preserve the layout if you pre-finish the part.

7 Use a Drill Bit for Precise Setup

Setting the fence of your router table to an exact distance from the bit can be a real chore. However, since drill bits are precisely machined to a specific diameter, you can use them as reliable measuring tools — just like a set of brass set-up blocks.

For instance, if you need a dado from the edge of a board, just lay a %"-dia. drill bit between the fence and the cutting edge of a router bit. This guarantees the dado will be where you need it without a lot of fussy measuring in tight spaces.

When it comes to laying out hole locations, I reach for an awl. It's especially handy if you're drilling the holes with a hand drill rather than at the drill press. The awl leaves a small indentation which serves as a starter for a drill bit.

By placing the tip of the drill bit in the awl mark, you avoid the

8 m Mark Properly with a Straightedge

It may sound like splitting hairs, but the way you hold your pencil or marking knife against a straightedge as you make a mark can make a big difference. If you want to put a line on an exact measurement, you'll need to be sure the tip of your pencil or knife is not angled away from the edge of the square or rule, as in the far left photo.

A simple way to ensure consistent layout marks is to hold the -point against the straightedge, as shown in the photo at left.

Another rule of thumb is to pull the pencil toward you, rather than try to push it along the straightedge. Pushing the tip can cause it to catch on the grain of the wood and jump away from the line.

NOTE: MAKE SURE MARKS ARE ORIENTED TO SHOW TOF AND BOTTOM OF PARTS

9 Label Drawers ►

No matter how many times I've built a set of drawers, it's easy to get confused and mix up the pieces. The time-tested method of ma rking the matching corners remains the surest way to avoid this mistake. Once you've laid out your pieces, just label both sides of each comer with a letter or a number. (I like to underline them as well.) This makes it easy to match them when it's time to assemble the parts. Make sure that all marks are oriented the same way, so you can tell which edge is the top and bottom of the pieces.

LABELING EACH CORNER MAKES IT EASY TO MATCH DRAWER SIDES DURING ASSEMBLY

42 ShopNotes No. 89