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PROBLEM-SOLVING PRODUCTS

Finesse Your into a Scrollsaw

THE PRODUCT: Carter Stabilizer MADE BY: Carter Products Company, Inc. WHAT IT DOES: Allows a Before I cut , bandsaw to make fine scrollsaw-like TRIAL RUN: I made sure the small tracked outside cuts by serving as a guide for in the center of the tires with the narrow width guide retracted so nothing touches AVAILABLE AT WOODCRAFT: the blade. Now, run the to see #140819 for 14" imported ; if the blade tracks correctly. Next, #838334 for 10" or 14" Rikon band- advance the Stabilizer so that it ; #838335 for 18" Rikon bandsaws touches the blade and the blade is centered in the . Advance the PRICE: $69.99 Stabilizer forward about 1/8" so that it TESTER: Mark Duginske pushes the blade forward. Finally, check that the blade still tracks in the middle of the top While my bandsaw is regularly used wheel. You may need to angle the for ripping and resawing, having top wheel back slightly. The pressure the ability to use smaller blades further stabilizes the blade and also would certainly increase the ’s prevents it from coming forward if versatility. I prefer the bandsaw you back out of a cut. over a scrollsaw because it’s faster, 3 capable of sawing thicker stock, and I used the stabilizer to cut /4" doesn’t pick up the wood and cause stock for patterned back and it to chatter in mid-cut. However, experienced no blade deflection or 1 the problem with using narrow angled cuts. On 1 /2" I went width blades on the bandsaw is that slower with the same good result. the blade’s teeth can get damaged the second you start the saw, if the THE SETUP: On the standard BEST APPLICATIONS: metal guides are not set perfectly 14" bandsaw, simply loosen one The Stabilizer cannot be used for or mid way into a cut, should the screw to remove the top guide holder pierced scrollsawing, but it does come blade defl ect into the steel blocks. and slip the Stabilizer in the slot as in handy when out patterned The Carter Stabilizer solves both shown above. Setup takes a minute. pieces that have a lot of tight turns. problems. If you own or are purchasing a Carter’s Stabilizer bandsaw guide Carter full guide kit then it’s as easy TESTER’S TAKE: There is provides stability when cutting as sliding out the upper guide and no perfect guide system for every with blades 1/4" or less in width. The sliding in the Stabilizer, and at this situation. This product helps you design consists of a bracket that point you’re ready to cut. cut tight curves with narrow blades. supports a roller on a bearing with a Setup for bandsaws larger than For straight cuts and joinery (for groove in the middle where the blade the standard 14" models is more example, tenons and dovetails), rides. The bottom guide (below involved because the large bearing you’ll want to stick with a wider the table) is retracted, allowing the guides are hard to adjust for small blade. Stabilizer to control the blade from blades. (Contact Carter at the top guide position. [888] 622-7837 or carterproducts.com for information.) 4½ out of 5 biscuits

70 WOODCRAFT MAGAZINE J UNE /J ULY 2 0 0 8 Low-Cost Waterstone Delivers Super Shine Unlike most fi nishing THE PRODUCT: Natural stones that are kept dry Polishing Waterstone and then wetted just before use, instructions edge with 6000- or 8000-grit stone Hones the WHAT IT DOES: call for soaking the Natural is usually suffi cient for most edges of and planes to a Polishing Waterstone for 30 and blades. But if you’d like level of fineness formerly achieved minutes before use. However, to take your to the next level, only with pricier pastes or I found that this waterstone such as for paring chisels, specialty micro-. worked fi ne with just a splash carving tools, and smoothing planes, AVAILABLE AT WOODCRAFT: of water on its surface prior this stone is worth adding to your #144950 to use, and only a splash or arsenal. two to keep it wet during $30.99 PRICE: moderate honing. TESTER’S TAKE: An 8000- TESTER: Andy Rae grit waterstone’s polish is fi ne for TRIAL RUN: Beginners most of my edge tools, but this stone’s will need practice to master superior polish makes it a keeper for Waterstones are fast-cutting, provide this stone because it is so times when I need the best possible good feedback, and are popular with hard that it more closely resembles edge, such as for my delicate carving pros and amateurs alike for honing an oilstone’s feel, providing very little chisels and thin-bladed . This chisels and plane . But synthetic “grip” as you rub. Also, unlike many stone does not quite deliver the fi nish stones don’t come cheap, and natural finishing stones that allow you to skip I can get with the micron-grade stones are even more expensive—over a few grits in the sharpening process, and diamond pastes on $100. And the highest-grit stones, with a polishing stone it is important the market. However, for a fraction of those used for fi nal polishing, are to work your way up. For general the cost of comparable stones, it does typically the most expensive. At $30, sharpening, I recommend starting produce a this natural polishing stone sounds with 1000 grit, then moving to 6000- wonderful like a real bargain. So, does this 8000 grit before finishing on the mirrored budget-priced stone deliver? polishing stone. polish. 3½ out of 5 biscuits Compared to my other stones, I THE SETUP: The stone was noticed that there’s very little slurry WHAT PRODUCTS build-up, even when the stone is plenty fl at right out of the box, but PERPLEX YOU? the surface was somewhat rough, rubbed with a nagura (a small stone necessitating smoothing before use. used to prepare waterstones and Have you ever looked in a Although you could smooth and create a slurry). This lack of slurry catalog or browsed in a woodworking store and encountered a product that refl atten the stone with another stone makes the tool want to skip over the baffled you? You eyeball the item, read of similar or lesser grit, this stone is surface, which can scratch the tool the promotional information, but still so hard that the quickest approach and the stone. The trick is to use a don’t see the product’s value? Hopefully, is to rub the surface with a medium- light touch, rubbing gently and with with this column in Woodcraft Magazine, grit diamond stone. (Medium-grit less pressure than normal. Although those days are over. We’ll select one or more “mystery products” for each issue adhered to a fl at surface this process requires more strokes and show how to use them beyond will also work.) Incidentally, at 1¼" and takes more time, the resulting the manufacturer’s take. We’ll point out thick × 2¾" wide × 8" long, this is super-shiny surfaces and keen, sharp their pluses, problems, practical shop an extra-thick stone which means edges are worth it. applications, and grade them. If you know of a few such products that need longer wear and life. (Note: stones more explanation, email us at Editor@ are cut and polished by hand so sizes BEST APPLICATIONS: For WoodcraftMagazine.com may vary.) everyday sharpening, fi nishing an to let us know.

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