Workshop Projects. Jeff Jacobson
Compilation Copyright © 2007 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc.
Text and Illustration Copyright © 2007 by Woodworker’s Journal. Woodworker’s Journal is a publication of Rockler Press.
Workshop Projects: Fixtures & Tools for a Successful Shop is a compilation first published in 2007 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc. The patterns contained herein are copyrighted by Woodworker’s Journal.
Our friends at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware supplied us with most of the hardware used in this book.
Visit rockler.com. For subscription information to Woodworker’s Journal magazine, call toll-free 1-800-765-4119 or visit www.woodworkersjournal.com.
Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc.
President: Alan Giagnocavo
Publisher: J. McCrary
Acquisition Editor: Peg Couch
Editor: Gretchen Bacon
Associate Editor: Patty Sinnott
Series Editor: John Kelsey
Creative Direction: Troy Thorne
Cover Design: Lindsay Hess
Woodworker’s Journal
Publisher: Ann Rockler Jackson
Editor-in-Chief: Larry N. Stoiaken
Editor: Rob Johnstone
Art Director: Jeff Jacobson
Senior Editor: Joanna Werch Takes
Field Editor: Chris Marshall
Illustrators: Jeff Jacobson, John Kelliher
Print ISBN 978-1-56523-345-4
eISBN 978-1-60765-043-0
Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Workshop projects : fixtures & tools for a successful shop / from the editors of Woodworker's journal. -- East Petersburg, PA : Fox Chapel Publishing, c2007.
p. ; cm.
(The best of Woodworker's journal)
ISBN: 978-1-56523-345-4
1. Workshops. 2. Workshops--Equipment and supplies.
3. Workbenches. 4. Woodwork. I. Woodworker's journal.
| TT152 .W67 2007684/.08--dc22 | 0710 |
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Note to Authors: We are always looking for talented authors to write new books in our area of woodworking, design, and related crafts. Please send a brief letter describing your idea to Peg Couch, Acquisition Editor, Fox Chapel Publishing, 1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520.
Introduction
The best shops I’ve seen are filled with more things built than bought. Even if you enjoy designing shop accessories, proven plans can be golden, too. That’s where this book comes in. Here are more than two dozen of the best workshop projects we’ve published over the years to save you time, frustration, and even some sweat equity.
A workbench is the heart and soul of any workshop, so we’re offering two classics to get things started. Rick White’s budget bench was extremely well received by our readers, and John English’s no-nonsense maple offering will last for many generations. Further into this book, you’ll find another offering from Rick that combines a solid bench with dust collection (the “Downdraft Workbench”).
Storage is a common shop conundrum, but a sturdy lumber and sheet goods rack can keep your floor from becoming a maze. John English shares some stationary options, or you could build Chris Marshall’s clever rolling rack. If you have too many clamps and no good way to stow them, our mobile clamping cart or Rick White’s clamping station may be just the fix.
Dedicated workstations improve efficiency, and we have some dandies to share. Rick White’s sharpening station and Peter Walsh’s portable lathe station will keep your turning tools both sharp and easy to reach. If a disc sander is what you need, try making your own with a design from our own art director, Jeff Jacobson. And let’s not forget, no shop is complete without a router table. Bruce Kieffer’s version in this book is, hands down, the best I’ve ever seen.
But big shop projects are just the tip of the iceberg. This book is also packed with sensible, affordable jigs, caddies, and tools you can build—from Kerry Pierce’s custom bench plane to John Premo’s circle-cutting band saw jig…and nearly everything in between.
So, consider yourself fully loaded for weekends of satisfying workshop projects. You want the hardest-working shop on the block, and this book will help you make it a reality.
Larry N. Stoiaken, Editor-in-Chief
Acknowledgments
Woodworker’s Journal recently celebrated its 30th anniversary—a benchmark few magazines ever reach. I would like to acknowledge both the 300,000 woodworkers who make up our readership and Rockler Woodworking and Hardware (rockler.com), which provided most of the hardware, wood, and other products used to build the projects in this book. Our publishing partner, Fox Chapel, did a terrific job re-presenting our material, and I am especially grateful to Alan Giagnocavo, Gretchen Bacon, John Kelsey, and Troy Thorne for their commitment to our content.
Larry N. Stoiaken, Editor-in-Chief
CONTENTS
Building a Workbench on a Budget
by Rick White
With its tough top, sturdy base, and end vise, this bench will work just as hard as a European one—but for a lot less money.
Workshop Classic: A Bench You Can Rely On
by John English
A family tradition of matching the workbench to the worker continues with this no-nonsense maple bench.
by John English
Here are two good plans for full-duty lumber racks, plus a couple of options for simpler bracket systems.
by