HALF-BLIND DOVETAILS 9 steps to sure success Page 42 Better Homes and Gardens «tY/»M»lY ORKING MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 1997 ISSUE NO. 95 P FENCE ROUNDUP WE TEST 21 MODELS Page 53 ' MUST-BUILD Country buffet •Circle-top shel n IH I i L*l*l III [•IHfJ MM Bandsawn box^_^ I Turned pocket watch ~~~~ Kid's stilts ^— Cockatoo bank 02> w "92567"U072 Please display until February 11 The New Force of Grizzly! Both Come With A Carbide-Tipped Saw Blade! • ^ ,S0gJ !j-J W2M INTRODUCTORY PRICE INTRODUCTORY PRICE $ 00 $109500 j! 449 I tools. The Z-SER1ES represents top of the We are proud to introduce our Z-SERIES line of woodworking sought after features in a tablesaw and line" versions of our standard table saws. We've taken the most contractor or cabinet-style incorporated them into the best saws you can find. So, whether you are after the call- won't be disappointed! tablesaw, you owe it to yourself to give us a you G1022Z G1023Z • Front rail-mounted magnetic Belt driven from the rear-mounted motor to the arbor switch for easy access 4" - with dust port and clean-out Heavy-duty rip fence IMPORTS, INC. micro-adjustment knob • SHOP FOX* Fence Quick-lock fence locks front and back New saw guard All ball bearing mechanism Purveyors of • Beveled table edge Beveled table edge Fine Machinery. Motor Cover • H.P. Single Phase, 11 0/2 20V motor Vh • T miter slots Sturdy stand 3 H.P., 220V motor Precision-ground cast iron table • Triple V-belt drive and extensions • Shipping weight: approx. 425 lbs. Shipping weight: approx. 270 lbs. TOLL FREE 24 hours a day! West of the Mississippi Ask for your East of the Mississippi FREE • • • \ 1 • • 523 • 4777 1 800 541 5537 '96 catalog! 800 1-800 -438 -5901 FAX: 1 • 800 • 225 • 0021 FAX: http://www.grizzlyimports.com ClfClo No. 860 Ask for Department # 66C Better Homes and Gardens® THE EDITOR'S ANGLE A creative use for THE WORLD'S LEADING WOODWORKING MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 1997 • Vol. 14, No. 2 • Issue No. 95 Editor LARRY CLAYTON Managing Editor JIM HARROLD Tired-Out Trees Art Director C. L. GATZKE Design Editor JAMES R. DOWNING Senior Editor/Features PETER J. STEPHANO don't know about you, Senior Editor/How-To MARLEN KEMMET Assistant Managing Editor/Products BILL KRIER but I've always been fas- Senior Editor/Special-lnterest LARRY JOHNSTON Icinated by chainsaw General-Interest Editor KERRY GIBSON carvings. Whenever I watch Director PERRY A. McFARLIN Associate Art taking shape Assistant Design Editor/Project Builder JAN HALE SVEC one quickly Project Builder CHARLES I. HEDLUND under the skillful hands of Production/Office Manager MARGARET CLOSNER the carver, I feel like I'm Graphic Designer CHERYL A. CIBULA witnessing a miracle. Administrative Assistant NATALIE COOLEY Correspondence Writer DON MOSTROM Lately, it seems like I've Contributing Editors KIM DOWNING, DAVE HENDERSON, been seeing more of these LORNA JOHNSON, ROXANNE LeMOINE, BOB McFARLIN carvings than ever, mainly ©Copyright Meredith Corporation 1997 used as outdoor sculpture. All rights reserved. Printed In the U.S.A. Recently, on the way home Better Homes Gardens® WOOD® magazine (ISSN-0743- and from work, 1 spotted one in 89'iX) is published nine times a year in January, February. April, June, August, September, October, November, and the shape of a turkey in December by Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust St., Des someone's front yard. Moines. 1A 50309-3023. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, Iowa, and additional mailing offices. Better Homes Then, at the Iowa State and Gardens trademark registered in Canada and Australia. Fair last summer, I was in a Marca Registrada en Mexico. ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIFITON PRICES: U.S. and its possessions $25; Canada, S36; other coun- large crowd that watched as tries, S45- Canadian GST Reg. »BN 12348 2887 RT. POSTMAS- TER: Send address changes to Better Homes and Gardens WOOD carver Brian Ruth, of Magazine, P.O. Box 55050, Boulder. CO 80322-5050. Hartsville, Pennsylvania, transformed a red maple log into a 24" tall roadrunner CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION: For service on your magazine subscription including change of with his chainsaws. address, phone toll-free 800/374-9663. Or, write to California chainsaw carver A.J. Lutter (left) and interesting use Better Homes and Gardens WOOD Magazine, P.O. Box The most Bill Mays standing beside one of the five lO'-tall 55050, Boulder, CO 80322-5050. Please enclose your sculpture I've of chainsaw bear sculptures that grace Bill's property. address label from a recent issue. EDITORIAL INFORMATION: Address letters and ques- seen, though, is in the yard tions to THE EDITOR, WOOD Magazine, 1912 Grand of Bill Mays, a retired executive, Thanks to this conservation- Avenue, Des Moines, LA 50309-3379. in suburban Des Moines, Iowa. minded property owner's quick Bill's odyssey began after the city thinking, and to one terrific m decided to widen the street adja- carver, the world is now a more cent to his lot. According to Bill, lighthearted, more beautiful as a result of the city installing a place. Thanks guys! WOOD ONLINE™ retaining wall along his property, If any of you have a tree on your several 65- to 80-foot pine trees property that you're thinking at http:woodmagazine.com next to the wall died. about getting rid of, give Bill's •Do you have questions on proj- Faced with the prospect of hav- solution some thought. To locate ects, tools, finishes, or woodwork- ing to saw die trees into firewood, chainsaw carvers in your area, ing in general? If so, post your Bill opted for what has turned out first call local chainsaw dealers. If questions on our Discussion to be a traffic-stopping solution. that doesn't produce results, Group. Most questions are He hired A.J. Lutter, a talented check with the local artists' asso- answered within a few days. California chainsaw carver, to cre- ciation. No luck, there? Then •We've added several new share- ate five humorous bear sculptures write to me, and I will try to help ware programs for your computer (one is shown in the photo you locate someone who can to help solve shop problems. You above'). Bill tells me that the work on your project. (Note: A.J. $100 to can now download all of the pro- bears, which A.J. created without charges anywhere from grams for free from our drawing pattern lines, have $300 per foot for his carvings.)* Woodworker's Software Library. become such a popular tourist •Use our searchable index to find attraction that city officials and articles and projects from issue no. the police now offer interested 1 to the present. parties directions to Bill's lot. WOOD MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 1997 ^m&tfmomm ISSUE NO. 95 FEBRUARY 1997 Better Homes and Gardens® EI/tDGO THE WORLD'S LEADING WOODWORKING CONTENTSMAGAZINE 27 His sticks are made for walkin' When Tom Smith retired, he leaned on his woodworking skills for a new life. 42 Half-blind dovetails Learn how to use your dovetail jig to make to ugh, tight-lining joints. 48 A pro's pointers for preparation Discover the finishing secrets from the WOOD® magazine workshop. 53 Rip fences Before buying a new tablesaw fence, see our test results inside. 66 Wiring your shop Let us help you figure the electrical needs for your shop. 70 Salvage: the new way to log old timber Discover unique sources for old-growth fir, pine, and hardwoods Page 32 Woodworking projects in this issue Page 60 32 One cool catchall Bandsaw a fine flip-top box in an evening using contrasting woods. 37 Chubby choo-choo Make a locomotive for show or play. 44 Cockatoo cache Build a bird that's really a bank. 50 Arched-top wall shelf Display collectibles effectively on this mir- rored painted project. 60 Country buffet & cupboard Construct the buffet, then top it with the cupboard from issue 95. 68 Stupendous stilts Page 44 Let kids walk tall with this design. Page 70 SHORT-SUBJECT FEATURES 1 The Editor's Angle 24 Great Ideas For Your Shop 4 Talking Back 74 Yesterday's Tools 10 Tips From Your Shop (And Ours) 78 Products That Perform 1 6 Router Review 100 Pocket Watch 20 Ask WOOD 103 Finishing Touches Tbls issue's cover wood grain: Hackberry WOOD MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 1997 THE THINGS YOU BUILD WILL BE STANDING LONG AFTER YOU DIE. LEAVE A GOOD MARK. :*&*&*&* \ f. WL.:rz^ Artists sign the bottom of the canvas. Athletes set records. Yours is a more subtle signature. But if you do it right, your legacy won't fade. And it will never be broken. BOSCH ENGINEERED FOR PERFORMANCE" www.boschlools.com GIANT TALKING BACK SELECTION Converting decimals How to reach us to fractions We welcome comments, criti- A part of the course in cabinet- BIG SERVICE cisms, suggestions, and even making that I took about 50 compliments. And you're sure to years ago included a way of Small Prices hear us, changing decimal measurements back from perhaps on this page! You can "talk back" by Get your hands into fractions. This technique on some of the one of several ways: came to mind when I read "What best woodwork- • your letter woodworkers need to know: Via mail. Send to ing tools and Talking Back, WOOD' magazine, Calipers" in the September 1996 supplies 1912 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA around. All at issue. Here's how it works: 50309-3379. the lowest 1 Take the decimal measurement • Via computer. Send your e- prices every- reading from your dial caliper mail to one of these addresses: day.