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Charles Neil Woodworking
Monthly Newsletter
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| No. 30 |
January/February 2010
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Please Support
Our Sponsors
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 My World
I'm not going to tell you we've been busy, guess you figured that out since this newsletter should have been out last month.
We have had quite a cold winter and a lot of snow and ice, not a big fan of either....such is life....
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New Whiteside/Charles Neil Router Bit
For years I have used the same profile on my furniture mouldings. I've shown you in various projects that I use one part of a huge multi-form router bit that costs near $100.
Working with Whiteside we are proud to announce that they have added a new bit (part #3286) that is available for purchase exclusively through Charles Neil Woodworking. We are pleased to be able to announce this bit to our subscribers today and offer you a special price for this first run.
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 Oh How Sweet It Is!
Some of you will recall that line was coined by Jackie Gleason, but it surely fits here.
February 22nd is the release date for these beauties, it's Veritas' Detail Rabbet Planes. I was fortunate enough to test one.....Oh MY!
I LOVE this plane. What a sweetheart! Rabbets, Dados, Tenons, Fitting Drawer Bottoms, you name it. The feel....the precision, it's all there. This is a MUST have.
I have the 5/16-inch and it is also available in 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch as well as metric. All I know to say is that Veritas has a home run here. These work better than any other rabbet/shoulder plane I have and while small, they perform in a big way.
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Woodcraft Magazine
Had an exciting week with one of the editors of Woodcraft Magazine and a photographer who does a lot of freelance for them.
I'm crafting a mahogany Pembroke Table for an upcoming article.
Last September I had the opportunity to visit the Wilton House Museum in Richmond, Virginia where I was allowed to measure, photograph and pattern the table. Goes back to the time of George Washington.
The table is a mahogany drop leaf, has wood knuckle hinged wings to support the leaves. A radius drawer with cockbead and a super twist to the drawer you will have to check out.
You can click on the photo which will take you to their web site. The subscription is $12.97 for one year/six issues and if you subscribe now, you won't miss the article which at present is scheduled to publish early summer, we are finishing the photo shoot soon so don't drag your feet!
Be sure and stay tuned to my blog 'cause we will take you along on the photo shoot.
Woodcraft is a big supporter of Charles Neil Woodworking and woodworkers and they help me help you, they're not just a retailer and not just a magazine, they DO believe in all of us. |
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Lots of New Folks
Welcome to all the new subscribers over the past few months from the Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement Forum, our YouTube Channel and Lumberjocks, we're glad you're here!
 
Lumberjocks and Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement forums are two of my favorites, I would encourage all of my readers to check out these sites, click on the logos above to visit them. With all I have going on here, I don't get the opportunity to check in on them daily, but I try to do so often enough to see what's going on. |
 Our Show is doing well, very well. I think this is the best thing we could have done and based on your emails and comments, you think so too.
and a Special Offer
As the Corner Cupboard comes to completion we want to announce that the next project (introduction starts Thursday, February 25th) will be a Mahogany Lowboy with a veneered top and drawer fronts. We will cover cabriole legs, use crotch veneer for drawer fronts and the top, making drawers with false bottoms, and will go into much more detail on making drawer frames than we did in the Corner Cupboard.
Now, before anyone thinks we are pushing the envelope, here with a LowBoy, not at all. We will have one built so you can see exactly what we are doing and where we are going and how we get there. If you are a novice or have experience, this is your build.
I promise you will be whipping out cabriole legs, knocking drawers out and not be intimidated by veneers. A lot of techniques were shown in the corner cupboard and this will be the last week you can subscribe to the show with complete access to the corner cupboard. After this week, new subscribers will only have archive access to the LowBoy, current subscribers will continue to have access to both.
The third project will be a blanket chest which will take techniques from the corner cupboard and the lowboy and combine them with a few new things to make a totally different piece! Can't wait. |
The Finish Line
Oil Finishes
One of my favorite finishes is a good oil finish. I don't get to use it as often as I would like because it is time consuming and sometimes, I just don't have that luxury when trying to get a client's piece out the door.
I've put together some information about applying oil finishes from my years of doing it.
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High Speed Steel Router Bits vs. Carbide Tipped Router Bits
Don't start squealing before you read on....
I am working on a project that is underwraps at the moment but anyway, I need a super small router bit. After a lot of research, I have found that brazing the carbide to a bit, while definitely adding a longer lasting edge, the majority of strength comes from the steel and of course, there are various grades of HSS, like carbide, too hard, brittle, too soft, won't hold an edge. Nothing you didn't already know, right?
Well, I got some HSS bits, running some tests, I was amazed, big time. I got cleaner, sharper cuts, less tear out....I was impressed so I got to checking out why. Now, I'm not going to give up my carbide bits, so don't freak out on me, yet!
Have you ever had a carbide tipped bit sharpened? They remove the bearing and grind the back side, comes back, it's sharper than ever. Here is why:
The factory grinds actually have a slight bevel on the edge, not a true, sharp edge. When you have them sharpened, they have to grind them to a true, sharp edge, you probably also noticed that the newly sharpened bit chips easier. That's the problem, carbide is so hard that when it is ground to a super shapr edge, it's brittle, so it chips easier.
HSS will allow a super sharp edge, just won't hold it quite as well as carbide, but I must tell you, good ones hold for a long time and a quick touch up with a good diamond hone and they perform like new. I'm not telling any one to not buy carbide tipped, but don't turn your nose up at good HSS either.
I know all this is totally contrary to what you have been taught and the normal course of thinking, but what I found, gave me a quick wake up call.
So, just think on it, all your turning tools, chisels, plane irons, all are hardened steel and you see the edge you can put on them. Cutters are no different.
You will hear more on this in the months ahead, stay tuned. |
My Tool Chest
Iwasaki Files
A while back Woodcraft asked me to take a look at these files, I was thinking, yea, yea, yea, another file. Well, shut my mouth, I was wrong.
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 Woodworker Profile
Jim Brokenbourgh
pronounced brokenburr
I met Jim on the Lumberjocks' forum, he is quite active there and if you go to Jim's Web Site you will see that he is quite an accomplished craftsman.
Jim and I have shared numerous emails and a friendship has grown, you can never have enough friends. Last Fall we asked Jim if he would be one of our upcoming profiles for the newsletter and he agreed. Click Here to Read Jim's Story. Jim is a subscriber to our weekly woodworking show and I have invited Jim to build the next project along with me. He in Oregon and I in Virginia. He accepted the challenge. Really looking forward to it. He plans to blog it on his Lumberjocks blog so if you are interested in following his build, the link is at the end of his story. |
| Woodworking Tip
Dampen Your Wood
When hand planing, scratch beading or scraping difficult woods, lightly dampen the surface. This helps prevent tear-out. Does the same when routing.
A good DAMP cloth is all you need. This dampening softens the surface. Keep your tools well waxed and be sure to clean them after use to prevent rust. Mineral Spirits also works if the added moisture is an issue.
An old refrigerator is an excellent place to store sandpaper, glue and finishes. It's insulated and protects these products from high humidity which will soften sandpaper. Will also protect glues and water base finishes from freezing.
Be sure to take precautions and use a good hasp and padlock to keep children & pets safe when you are not working in the area. | |
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There's been a lot going on at the shop and I encourage you to get in your shop and spend some time working with the wood, take some of the stress out of your life.
We've got a lot planned for 2010 so stay tuned. Next month we will introduce an innovative way of making dove tails.
Catch Ya Later! |
Contact Info
The Workshop of Charles Neil
118 W. Stonewall Street
New Market, VA 22844
540-740-3620
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 Winter DVD Special
Want to do some furniture turning? Table Legs? Bed Posts? Two Volume (4 Discs) DVDs by Charles Neil. Regularly $39.95 per title, on sale to Subscribers Only - $24.95 per title (plus shipping) for a limited time only.
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| Click Here to Take Advantage of the Special Pricing Offer Expires: February 28, 2010 | | |
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