| Workshop Tour, Part 1 -- Essential Stationary Tools |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-413 |
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Tour of David Marks' Workshop In this special edition Wood Works goes on location -- but to a familiar one -- as host and master craftsman David Marks takes viewers on a tour of his Sonoma County workshop. Contrary to what many viewers think, Wood Works is not filmed in a fabricated set, but in Marks' actual workshop housed in a converted horse barn. By popular demand, this show offers a thorough look at the layout and features of the woodworking shop where the featured furniture-pieces on Wood Works are constructed. Marks describes the tools he uses regularly and shares inside tips on how to select and maintain tools, and set them up for peak performance -- like adding back-bevel to jointer blades to eliminate chip-out and setting the blade of a band saw to compensate for drift. For those just setting up shop, David shares his ideas for the tools a home craftsman should acquire, and in what order, to create a home woodworking shop that is affordable and versatile. The shop is housed in a building that was once a horse barn, and has an inside area of about 1600 square feet. It sits on property that Marks bought in 1981. Essential Stationary Power-Tools This episode focuses primarily on the layout of the shop and the larger stationary power tools. (Hand tools may be covered in a later episode of Wood Works.) Following are some of the facts and tips shared by David Marks on this one-of-a-kind tour. - The heart of the shop is the combination table saw and router table (figure A). These vital stationary tools are positioned in the center of the room to allow the maximum area for handling and maneuvering large pieces of stock. There is more than ten feet of clearance on either side of these pieces, so large board and sheets of stock can easily be fed over the surface.
- In close proximity to the table saw and router is a sturdy workbench (figure B) and assembly table.
- Behind the assembly table is a set of tool cabinets (figure C). Plenty of well-organized wall storage is a key element of a functioning workshop.
- Several very useful power tools that are located near to one another are the radial-arm saw, chop saw, 14-inch band saw and hollow-chisel mortiser.
- The hollow-chisel mortiser is a specialty tool ideal for cutting square mortises (figure D) -- a hallmark of the arts and crafts style.
- One of David's recommendations for essential tools is the 20-inch band saw (figure E). The band saw is one of the four basic tools that are considered the foundation of the craftsperson's workshop.
- Another one of the four essential tools is the power planer (figure F). The planer cuts parallel surfaces, a very important step in milling stock for fine furniture.
- The oscillating spindle-sander (figure G) is a great tool for making short work of sanding curves. It doesn't leave scallop marks, and it prevents chip-out of the wood.
- The disc sander can grind flat surfaces such as scarf joints and other subtle shapes. The jig shown on this sander (figure H) is used to grind circles.
- One tool that has not been featured on any previous episodes is the heavy-duty lathe (figure I). This one is an advanced electronic, variable-speed lathe and is rated a 36x24. This means that it can turn an object 36 inches long by 24 inches in diameter over the bed of the lathe. It can be used to make beautiful wooden bowls and vessels that are turned from large blocks of wood. Large wall-sculptures can be turned on the outboard section of the lathe.
- The jointer (figure J) is "Number 3" on the list of four essential tools for the woodworking shop. David's shop contains two jointers -- a 6-inch version and a 16-inch, heavy duty version that was purchased used.
Tip: It's sometimes possible to find good bargains in used stationary tools. In many cases, older equipment is heavier, which may translate into less vibration and truer cuts. - The most important feature of jointers are the knives (figure K). The 6-inch jointer has a three-knife configuration.
Tip: Jointer knives should not only be sharp, but for best results they should also be back-beveled. The same is true for the planer. Back-beveling the knives causes the cutting action to be more like a "scraping" action , thus reducing chip-out and save time from fixes and sanding. Back-beveling is an added cost, but will payoff in the finished wood products produced with the jointers and planers. - The drum sander (figure L) is a precision tool that sands to within 5/1000-inch tolerance.
- The multi-router (figure M) is an amazing time-saver of a machine. It makes the repetitive task of batch-cutting equal-sized mortises easy, fast and accurate since the stock is supported on a bed with linear-motion bearings.
- Another classic tool for the woodworker's shop is the drill press. The one shown (figure N) is another piece that David purchased used.
- The scroll-saw is the perfect tool for making marketry and inlays.
- The final words in this review of workshop tools are "table saw." This is the primary tool of the workshop, and is the most important of the four essential tools. A later segment is devoted entirely to the table saw.
- The table saw, band saw, planer and jointer comprise the basic tool complement that is required as you begin to build your shop.
In the segment that follows, David Marks discusses the band saw and shows how to tune up this essential tool. Sponsored Resource
> Click here to order your tools and materials for this project from Woodcraft!
RESOURCES :
Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456
Mastering Woodworking Machines (Fine Woodworking Book)
Author: Mark Duginske
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 0942391985
David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com
How to Design and Build Your Ideal Woodshop
Model: 1558704817
Author: Bill Stankus
Popular Woodworking Books
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