STL368: It Appeared to Me in a Dream

Dreaming of Woodworking Solutions

From Laura:

Has a solution to a woodworking problem ever come to you in a dream? How does dreaming (or intentional imagination time or daydreaming) play a role in your woodworking?

Creating Working Drawings

How to take a design idea from rough sketch to final plans

Designing Furniture: 6 great articles

Whether you’re honing your skills or are starting from scratch, we have a wealth of articles to help you nail your designs without sacrificing looks or ergonomics.

Visit Steve Der-Garabedian’s Website – Black Walnut Studio

A Tool That Changed Everything?

From Tricia:

I’m writing with a question. I heard someone say that using the Domino has had the greatest impact on their woodworking. I’d love to hear what tool (or process) has had the greatest impact on you as a woodworker (outside of the obvious big tools: router, bandsaw, etc.) What is the one optional thing that you couldn’t do without now?

Cross cutting large panels without a table saw?

From Bob:

I am building a large dovetailed carcass with solid wood (cherry), and it’s about 36 in. tall and 17 in. wide. My question is how to make accurate crosscuts. I do not have a table saw. In the past, I have just used a hand panel saw, but it is always a little out of square even if I use some type of homemade guide (aka block of wood which I square up). And Ufta! Squaring that much end grain up with a hand plane seems painful. I have a bandsaw, but it is awkward to crosscut such large pieces on the bandsaw. I’ve been thinking about a track saw, but they are fairly expensive. Could I get by with just a circular saw and a guide I rig up as a cheaper option? I don’t think I’ll use a track saw for much else, which is why I am hesitant to buy one, and I just don’t have enough room in my shop for a table saw (not to mention the cost of that also). 

No Table Saw? No Problem

With the right handheld power tools and other machines, you can do without this shop fixture

Tuning Up a Circular Saw

A few quick tune-up tips can improve performance when cutting joint-quality edges with a circular saw

Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking‘s biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to [email protected] for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page. Join us on our Discord server here.