Classic Shaker Side Table - Popular Woodworking Magazine

Avoid Drawknife InjuriesDrawknives can be dangerous tools. One of themost common injuries occurs when your handsslip and the corner of the blade catches you. I oncewas shown how to easily avoid this injury by simplygrinding off the two sharp corners where theblade ends. It’s the first thing you should do afteryou buy your drawknife.Christopher Schwarz, executive editorUsing Your Drill Press for Threaded InsertsThreaded inserts have machine-screw threads onthe inside of the barrel. Wood-screw threads areon the outside. These inserts are great for manyjigs and furniture projects. But after drilling yourappropriately sized hole in the wood for the insert,it can be difficult to drive the insert straight intothe wood with the standard screwdriver approach.So use your drill press instead. Insert a machinethreadedbolt (or length of threaded rod) into theinsert with an appropriately sized nut stoppedagainst the insert. Then chuck the threaded rodinto your drill press’s chuck and turn the chuck byhand (don’t turn the motor on) to install the insertstraight and accurately into your hole.David Thiel, senior editorFirst, threadnut ontopressThen thread insertonto bolt orthreaded rodLine up insert with hole,then screw it to correctdepth by handFraction/Decimal ChartEver need a quick chart that can help you convertfractions to decimals and back again? Well, we’rehere to help. Check this out:FRACTION1 ⁄ 641 ⁄ 323 ⁄ 641 ⁄ 165 ⁄ 643 ⁄ 327 ⁄ 641 ⁄ 89 ⁄ 645 ⁄ 3211 ⁄ 643 ⁄ 1613 ⁄ 647 ⁄ 3215 ⁄ 641 ⁄ 417 ⁄ 649 ⁄ 3219 ⁄ 645 ⁄ 1621 ⁄ 6411 ⁄ 3223 ⁄ 643 ⁄ 825 ⁄ 6413 ⁄ 3227 ⁄ 647 ⁄ 1629 ⁄ 6415 ⁄ 3231 ⁄ 641 ⁄ 2DECIMAL⁄ 64 0.016⁄ 32 0.031⁄ 0.047⁄ 16 0.063⁄ 64 0.078⁄ 32 0.094⁄ 64 0.109⁄ 8 0.125⁄ 64 0.141⁄ 32 0.156⁄ 64 0.172⁄ 16 0.188⁄ 64 0.203⁄ 32 0.219⁄ 64 0.234⁄ 4 0.25⁄ 64 0.266⁄ 32 0.281⁄ 64 0.297⁄ 16 0.313⁄ 64 0.328⁄ 32 0.344⁄ 64 0.359⁄ 8 0.375⁄ 64 0.391⁄ 32 0.406⁄ 64 0.422⁄ 16 0.438⁄ 64 0.453⁄ 32 0.469⁄ 64 0.484⁄ 2 0.5File off sharpcorner of bladeFRACTION33 ⁄ 6417 ⁄ 3235 ⁄ 649 ⁄ 1637 ⁄ 6419 ⁄ 3239 ⁄ 645 ⁄ 841 ⁄ 6421 ⁄ 3243 ⁄ 6411 ⁄ 1645 ⁄ 6423 ⁄ 3247 ⁄ 643 ⁄ 449 ⁄ 6425 ⁄ 3251 ⁄ 6413 ⁄ 1653 ⁄ 6427 ⁄ 3255 ⁄ 647 ⁄ 857 ⁄ 6429 ⁄ 3259 ⁄ 6415 ⁄ 1661 ⁄ 5431 ⁄ 3263 ⁄ 64DECIMAL⁄ 64 0.516⁄ 32 0.531⁄ 64 0.547⁄ 16 0.563⁄ 64 0.578⁄ 32 0.594⁄ 64 0.609⁄ 8 0.625⁄ 64 0.641⁄ 32 0.656⁄ 64 0.672⁄ 16 0.688⁄ 64 0.703⁄ 32 0.719⁄ 64 0.734⁄ 4 0.75⁄ 64 0.766⁄ 32 0.781⁄ 64 0.797⁄ 16 0.813⁄ 64 0.828⁄ 32 0.844⁄ 64 0.859⁄ 8 0.875⁄ 64 0.891⁄ 32 0.906⁄ 64 0.922⁄ 16 0.938⁄ 54 0.953⁄ 32 0.969⁄ 64 0.9841 1Michael Rabkin, associate editorSharpening Curved BladesMany woodworkers struggle when it comes tosharpening the curved blades of drawknives, inshaves,adzes and even shallow gouges. Here’s areliable way to make your edges better. Chuck asanding drum in your variable-speed drill. Thecurvature of the tool determines how large a diametersanding drum you need. Use a bigger drum(1 1 ⁄ 4 ") for wide-bladed tools and smaller diametersfor the smaller scale stuff. Use #120-grit paper tostart sharpening. You can switch grits if you needa really keen edge. Once you refresh the edge withthe sandpaper, it’s simple work to finish it up witha small curved slipstone.Christopher Schwarz, executive editorUse largedrum for tools withwide curvatureUse different-sizeddrums based ontool diameterSanding Wooden KnobsIf you’ve ever purchased wooden knobs for a project,you know that sometimes they can be lessthan perfect. Some have tear-out from the lathe;others are poorly sanded at the factory. To makemy wooden knobs look as good as the rest of myproject, I wrap the knob’s post or mounting dowelin electrical tape and chuck that in a variablespeeddrill or drill press. It’s an instant mini-lathe.With a piece of sandpaper in one hand and thedrill in the other, I can quickly sand the knob toany grit. WMChristopher Schwarz, executive editorHold piece of sandpaper inone hand and drill in otherWrap post inelectrical tapeSEND US YOUR SHORTCUTWe will send you $25 for each Shortcutwe print. Send your Shortcut via e-mailto shortcuts@fwpubs.com, or byregular mail to Woodworking Magazine,Shortcuts, 4700 E. Galbraith Road,Cincinnati, OH 45236. Please includeyour mailing address and daytime phonenumber. All Shortcuts become propertyof Woodworking Magazine.woodworking-magazine.com ■ 5