Need an Extra Hand? 5 Reasons Why you Should Use Stands and Supports for any Project

Every woodworker has wished they had another hand at one time or another. But the next best thing is using a stand or support to hold your project while you work.

Workshops are dangerous places, and any piece of equipment that can help keep you safe is a worthwhile investment. You are at risk of machine kickbacks, flying chips and material, tool projection, wood dust, noise and vibration.

Why Use Stands and Supports

#1 Safety – When you are working with power tools or sharp hand tools, you don’t want to risk a hand injury because you are trying to hold your project and work at the same time. Save the two hands you have by always clamping your work securely before you get started. But it’s not just hand injuries you are at risk of.

If you are having to hold a heavy or piece while drilling or sawing, chances are your body is in an awkward position, and you could sustain a soft tissue injury. If you have to hold a piece above your head for any length of time, your shoulder, neck and back are at risk of being injured.

Most woodworkers can recount a time where they have to duck to avoid a piece of flying wood. It’s much easier to do if you are only holding your tool and not the other end of your project.

Carpal tunnel is a concern for anyone that uses their hands a lot for work or hobbies. Holding the timber when using power tools can cause vibration which over a long period can result in the painful wrist injury.

#2 Save from Damaging your Work – One small slip can damage even destroy your work if it’s not secure. You will be kicking yourself if you didn’t spend the time putting it in a support before you got to work.

#3 It’s Often Quicker – It might not seem like it at the time but using a stand or support can be quicker than trying to complete the job without. You will need to stop work to get a better grip or shift your project around when you are trying to hold it with your hand.

#4 Get a Better Quality Job – You will always achieve a better looking, more accurate job if you secure your work before measuring, drilling or sawing. Those few millimetres can make a massive difference to the overall look and performance of your project.

#5 Convenient – Stands and support make the job easier. You will no doubt remember when you didn’t have anywhere to put down your work down without risking it being damaged. A support keeps it up off the ground, effectively giving you more bench space.

Stands and Support Products

Third hand stands and supports do what the name suggests – provide another hand to help while you work. Some of the recommended products include:

3rdHand Little Hand
Sometimes you only need a little help. Rated to hold up to 68 kg per hand, it can easily hold upper cabinets in place when placed on the bottom cabinets. The Little Hand Covers a range of 420mm – 580mm and come in a heavy duty carry bag.

3rdHand
Just like the Little Hand but much bigger. Suitable for holding crown moulding, upper cabinets, supporting roof panels and creating dust barriers – anything that’s at the height of 1.52m - 3.66m

3rdHand Work Holding Adapters

Known as the pipe and panel adapters, they support stock where it’s needed by adding on to the end of your 3rd Hand System.

3rdHand Magnetic Lasermount Kit

No need to worry about chalk lines or trying to hold a laser. The Lasermount Kit uses powerful neodymium magnets to keep the laser in place, so you don’t have to.

Check out the extensive range of stands and supports including the full 3rd Hand range or contact us online.

How to Choose the Best Dust Extractor for your Power Tools

If you have been keeping the workshop tidy with your floor vacuum, you have probably questioned whether a dust extractor is really worth the extra cost. Sure a wet and dry vacuum can do a good job of picking up the fine dust that settles on the floor and your equipment, but it doesn’t take care of the dust floating in the air.

Do I Need a Dust Extractor?

Dust is the bain of any workshop person’s life. Cleaning up shavings and the fine dust that settles on everything in the workshop takes time and effort with a broom or vacuum cleaner. That time could be better spent working on your projects.

Without adequate protective equipment, you will breathe in fine airborne particles which is a hazard to your lung health. A filter cleaner can remove the dust from the air, but there is always the chance of breathing it in before the filter has worked its magic. A dust extractor offers the benefit of collecting the dust before it has a chance to escape into the workshop air.

Types of Dust Extractors

There are several types of dust extractors available. The one you choose depends on the type and number of power tools you are attaching them to and the size of your workshop.

Dust Extractors

Check out the different types of dust extractor units to find the one that best suits you and your workshop fit-out.

Dust Extractor Fitter Starting Kit

If you don’t have all your tools yet, a starting kit is an excellent place to start with a dust extractor. A generous hose length of 3 metres will mean it’s suitable in the biggest size workshop. The exhaust hood comes in three sizes suitable for most power tools you buy now and in the future.

Dust Cyclone Kit

These vacuum systems work by separating coarse and fine particles into separate containers so more free air can flow through the unit and improve extraction efficiency.

3 HP Dust Extractor

If you have a small commercial or large home workshop you need a unit that can cope with extracting dust from more than one power tool or machine at once. Smaller 1HPand 2HP units are also available.

Wall Mounted Kit

If you like the idea of freeing up floor space, look at mounting your dust extraction unit on the wall. The kit contains all the parts you need to get started then choose a 3m or 6m length hose.

Personal Dust Protection

No matter what type of dust extraction or cleaning system you use, personal dust protection equipment is a must. Wear a mask when you are using any power tools that are likely to create dust. Your face is close to the wood, and a mask is the only way to protect you from breathing in the fine particles.

But it’s not just your respiratory system you need to be concerned about. A tiny wood shaving or dust particle can cause pain in your eye and even lead to a permanent eye injury. Wear good quality eye protection whenever you are using power tools and don’t forget ear protection to keep your hearing safe.

For more information, see the full range of dust extractors to suit any workshop or contact us online.å

10 Woodworking Projects you can Make with a Router

A router gives a project that professional edge. Routers are used for cutting fancy patterns, round edges and grooves into a variety of woodworking projects, cabinetry and decorative mouldings. With hundreds of router bits available, the electric router is a very versatile tool that makes a woodworker’s life much easier and far more interesting.

Here are 10 projects you can try with your router.

#1 Frame for a Mirror

Whether it’s a full length or small horizontal mirror, a classy wooden frame can change it from a functional piece to the feature of a room. A bevel edge makes it look elegant, not to mention more expensive. Shape the outside edge of the frame then the inside edge and join them together.

#2 Cutting Board

You might have made a cutting board in high school woodworking class but this one can be next level. With rounded edges the board is comfortable to use looks good enough to leave out on display. Just remember to use a food grade epoxy adhesive if you are using two contrasting colours of wood.

#3 Wall Shelf

A wooden display unit or shelves is a great addition to any room, kids bedrooms in particular. Kids like to show off their mementos, trophies and treasures in their room. A two or three shelf unit with routered edges can be finished to match any other wooden furniture in the room or painted white.

#4 Serving Tray

A serving tray with routed handles will a great looking addition to your kitchen that will come in handy whenever you are entertaining a crowd. Use a food-safe finish on the wood such as raw linseed oil, walnut oil, shellac, tung oil or beeswax.

#5 Wooden Sign

Once you have a little experience under your belt, you can tackle a sign that displays your house number, property or business name. Draw your design on the wood in pencil then hollow out the lettering. You can use a round nose, square end or v-groove router bit. Either round out the edges of your sign or add a decorative edge and you have yourself an original sign.

#6 Stool or Side Table

The top of a stool or table can be made beautiful simply by rounding the edge. If you have small children, it has the added benefit of being safer with no sharp edge for them to bump their head on. Running your router along the edge of the wood is 10 minutes well spent.

#7 Give Cupboard Doors the Edge

Whether you want to give your existing kitchen cupboard doors an update or you you are starting from scratch and building a new one, a router can give the doors a lift. Do an internet search for a groove you would like for your doors then find the corresponding bit and router away. Affix some handles that match your doors and you can drastically improve the look of your cabinetry and save a fortune.

#8 Skirting Boards

Many new homes are handed over with no skirting boards. Luckily it’s an easy project to do yourself and you can save money routing the profile rather than buying ready made boards. Do some research to find a profile that fits the style of the home and buy the bit/s you need to make it.

#9 Jewellery Box

If you are just starting out, don’t worry about attempting a mitered dovetail box, that is one for the seasoned woodworker. A mitered box with splines is a better choice of project for a woodworker who doesn’t have much experience under their belt. You can use your router for making grooves to hold the internal trays and a decorative rounded edge for a beautiful finish.

#10 Fireplace Mantel

Use your router to make a stunning crown moulding and legs for your fireplace mantel with grooves, decorative or rounded edges. Sketch out a plan for your mantel so your design is well proportioned then secure it safely to the wall.

If you are looking for a new router or the right bit for your woodworking project, check out the extensive range or contact us online.

Choosing the Right Adhesive for your Joinery Project

Not all adhesives are created equal. Glues have different properties making them more or less suited to some projects than others. Once you know the glues available, you will match the correct glue to the task for a long-lasting, clean finish.

PVA Glue

The most common glue used in woodworking projects, PVA glue is a good all-rounder to keep in your workshop. It’s a colourless, odourless adhesive and is readily available.

The main drawback is that the glue can be visible, albeit clear, when dry if you aren’t careful to remove every trace from your work. If you’re concerned about the appearance of your work, you can protect it by using a line of masking tape down one side of the join, then apply the glue inside the join before clamping the wood together and using a cloth to wipe off any excess. Some PVA’s are available as waterproof and non-toxic so they’re suitable for use on wooden food cutting boards.

Epoxy

Epoxy is a two-part adhesive– a resin and hardener mixed in equal or specified proportions. A chemical reaction occurs when the two liquids are mixed that they harden. Unlike other adhesives, epoxy is ideal for filling gaps in joints. Epoxies are water and chemical proof that adhere to a range of materials. They have strong physical properties for structural bonding. Hardeners are available in fast or slow curing formulas. Some projects require an extended working and cure time so a slow hardener may be needed. A microfibre blend may be added to the resin/hardener mix to thicken the adhesive. The filler can be adhesive (high density) or fairing (low density).

Polyurethane Glue

Polyurethane is one glue that doesn’t mind a damp surface to activate and dry. Polyurethane is ideal for outdoors because it is waterproof and hard but is fine in indoor situations too. It’s suitable for metals, ceramics, stone, Corian, most plastics and both porous and non-porous materials. A quick drying glue, it needs mineral spirits to clean off any excess.

Cyanoacrylate Glue

Commonly known as super glue, cyanoacrylate glue can bond to just about anything. It is ideal if you have a few items that need gluing or repairing because the shelf life is just one month after opening. There are four kinds of cyanoacrylate glue. Thinis suitable for most materials including Balsa and other soft woods but also jewellery making, furniture refinishing, antique and ceramic repairs, even taxidermy. The bond only takes 1-5 seconds for the thin glue.

The medium formula is good for harder wood such as bass and spruce and can fill and bond cracks in expensive hardwood. The bond takes 7 to 10 seconds but you can use an accelerator.

The thick formula should be used on high-stress areas and hardwoods like maple or oak. This formula gives you 30 seconds to position and cures in 60 seconds or less.

A rubber toughened formula is strong and flexible for wood, plastic, composites, and rubber.

No matter what joinery project you are working on, we have the right adhesive for the job. If you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us online.

The Ultimate Guide to Maintaining your Table Saw

Maintaining your table saw pays dividends in the quality of cuts and safety. With a small investment of time you will see the results in your work and possibly extend the life of your table saw.

Maintaining your Table Saw - Getting Started

Table saws are one of the messiest tools in the workshop so cleaning them is an important job. Saw dust and tiny shavings can become trapped inside the motor reducing its effective working life.

Before you do any maintenance, make sure your table saw is off and unplugged from the power. Remove the blade, throat plate and blade guard. Read your owner’s manual to find out how to gain access to different parts of the table saw and how they should be cleaned and maintained.

Cleaning a Table Saw

Inspect the blade for signs of damage and residue on the teeth. If it needs cleaning, use a brass brush. If the residue is proving difficult to remove, dip the brush into paint thinner but keep it away from other parts of your saw.

Clean the motor by vacuuming or brushing off any dust or debris. Next, you need to lubricate the gears and trunnions. But don’t reach for any oil you have in the workshop as most types of oil will attract the dust. You need a dry lubricant that is silicone free.

For any plastic parts on your machine, use a small amount of dishwashing liquid in warm water to clean. Don’t be tempted to use a chemical or solvent you may have nearby as they can cause damage.

After you have finished with the lubrication, align the tension of the motor and pulleys. Check the belts and replace any that are showing signs of wear and tear. If you have no experience in replacing parts on your table saw, you may need to have an expert show you how.

Removing Rust on a Table Saw

If it has been a while since you gave your table saw love, you may notice rust spots that need removing. Use a kitchen scourer and mineral spirits to scour away the rust and any wax or tarnish. For heavier rust you may need wet or dry sandpaper or even an orbital sander to remove. Wipe the surface and mitre slots with a clean cloth and more mineral spirits as needed to remove all traces of dirt, rust and wax.

Use a dry, silicone-free surface lubricant or vinegar to keep the rust at bay and your table top looking good. Spray and leave for a few seconds before buffing with a paper towel. Spray and buff every few months so the table top doesn’t tarnish. Try to avoid using paraffin wax as it can leave a sticky residue.

Apply a silicone-free top coat protectant to give the top a slicker surface so your work piece will glide along. For added protection of your tabletop, cover with a piece of plywood whenever it’s not in use.

Table Saw Alignment

Alignment isn’t something you do only when you maintain your table saw but every time you use it. If you are having problems getting the saw properly aligned or you want to change the depth of the cut limit stops, you may need to disassemble the saw. If you fail to align it properly, you will get poor quality cuts, the saw is more likely to kickback, burn the wood and be unsafe to use.

Check the blade is in alignment then check the throat is flush with the surface of the tool and the riving knife is in line with the blade. The mitre slots should be parallel to the blade. Align any other parts or accessories such as a rip fence and gauge slots to check they are parallel. While you are looking closely at the blade, check the blade’s raising and tilt mechanisms for looseness or binding.

How Often Should you Do Maintenance?

This depends more on how often you use your table saw and less about the time between each maintenance sessions. Try to keep a rough track of how many hours you have used the table saw. Write the start and finish time for each session rather than trying to remember how often you have used your table saw.

The tasks also impact the maintenance schedule. If you only do light cutting jobs, you won’t need to do as much maintenance as someone who uses the saw for heavy cutting. For a mix of heavy and light cutting, aim to do maintenance every five hours of operation.

Also, the model of the table saw you own will determine the frequency of maintenance required. A high quality table doesn’t need as regular maintenance as a cheaper model.

If you aren’t sure if your table saw is due for maintenance, then you are best to show it some TLC rather than wait too long. You risk damaging your work, the table and put your safety at risk if you leave the job too long.

If you are looking for a good quality table saw, check out the range and don’t hesitate to contact us online.

A Simple Guide to Wood Turning - Beginners Projects

The road to becoming an experienced wood turner can be a frustrating one. The trick to ensure you don’t give up in frustration in the early days is to choose a project that interests you. You will also want to pick a project that is not too difficult and gives you a range of skills, rather than choosing several projects that are all similar.

Presenting friends and family with beautifully turned gifts is a rewarding hobby. The little gifts are a good opportunity to learn the skills you need to tackle bigger projects.

Wood Turning Beginners’ Projects

Here is a list of easy to complete, small projects:

Bowls

It’s one of the projects that many new wood turners start with. But don’t be lured into thinking they are simple to do. It may take a few goes to get it right. A bowl gouge allows you to turn on the grain and also turn on end grain. The straight profile of the tip works by scraping rather than peeling off the wood. While the deep flute supports the cutting edge and removes large quantities of waste. A bowl finishing scraper gives a smoother finishing scrape to the inside edge of the bowl for a more professional touch. If you intend to put food in your finished bowl, use a food safe finish.

Spoons

Whether you make a small spoon for mixing, a large salad server or a decorative spoon for display, making a spoon gives you plenty of experience using your lathe. Join different types of wood together for interesting patterns on your spoons. Design your own spoon template or do an internet search for templates you like.

Candle Holders

A candle holder is an ideal beginner project. You don’t need to stick to a template and mistakes are easy to cover. Let your imagination run wild when you are thinking about the design or check out YouTube if you need some inspiration. Use small or even scrap pieces of wood and make a variety of candle holders in different lengths and shapes. Practice your finishing skills and give them away as gifts.

Boxes

A trinket or jewellery box with a domed lid gives you the opportunity to master a curved lid and a collar to fit the lid. The three most common styles of box lids are:

1. The loose fit where there is no resistance to take the lid off.
2. The suction fit which has resistance but the lid goes on and off easily.
3. The snug fit means you can travel without risking the box’s lid coming off.

Tea Light Holders

Another inexpensive project that can use up your scrap pieces of wood. Make a series of tea light holders to practice your turning and finishing skills. Make individual tea light holders for beautiful, handmade gifts that will fit any space and décor or make a larger holder for multiple tea lights.

Spinning Tops

Make an old-fashioned spinning top to keep the young and not so young entertained for hours. Make the tops in a range of different shapes and sizes. They look great grouped together on display. Make your spinners entirely from wood or add a brass top to make it spin longer.

Honey Dippers

Long or short-handled honey dippers are quick and easy projects for the novice wood turner. They make the perfect gift or market stall sellers. Finish with a food-safe mineral oil.

Wood Turning Projects that Use Other Parts

The whole project doesn’t have to be made from wood. You can make fun trinkets that have turned wood as the hero attached to another part to make it functional. You can buy kits for the other parts to make beautiful bottle openers and stoppers, pens, a secret compartment, magnifying glasses, clocks and basting brushes.

Check out the full range of wood turning products and accessories and if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact us online.

8 Wood Carving Tools and Accessories to Support your Main Kit

When you think of essential wood carving tools, the faithful chisel comes to mind, but there are a few other tools you will need to invest in for your woodcarving. Find out what tools are essential now and what you can add to your wish list for the future.

#1 Planes

When you need to level large surfaces, pull out the bench plane. For smaller planing jobs that are either end grain or on the delicate side, use a block plane. A micro plane is more like a rasp than the other planes. It’s a cheap alternative if you don’t want the expense of buying high-quality rasps.

#2 Rasps

Rasps are available in varying degrees of coarseness and style. A concave rasp is suitable for shaping surfaces that are (no surprise) concave. A needle rasp is small and ideal for defining details. Another fine finishing tool is the riffler which can get in to do delicate sculpting work.

#3 Carpenter’s Mallet

Designed not to damage the end of metal tools when striking, the wooden carpenter's mallet also has an angled face for better control and reduced driving force. The oval face of a cylindrical carver’s mallet won’t slip when struck on a narrow spot.

#4 Clamps & Vices

You will need something to hold your piece while you carve but your standard F-clamp isn’t going to work. Depending on your project you will need to choose between a few different styles of vices and clamps.

Special carver’s vices are designed to hold your workpiece from the bottom, so it doesn’t damage your carving work.

Bench dogs will hold your piece in position on the workbench. The bench hold down fits into a bench dog. A hold-down clamp can be bolted to a work surface to secure your carving block. For times when a clamp is going to get in the way, a carving bolt allows you to fasten your workpiece from underneath.

#5 Knives

A draw knife has a handle at either end and is used for roughing and shaping work on either dry or green wood. Less clamping is required with a push knife which allows you to work with the stock while it’s butted against a solid surface.

#6 Spokeshave

When you need to shape and smooth small pieces of wood, a spokeshave can get into the tight spots to the job. Use with one or two hands, a spokeshave can produce fine, smooth surfaces.

#7 Wood Burner

If you want to add interest and depth to your piece a wood burner with different shapes of tips will allow you to create decorative effects from light brown to black.

Patterns and delicate textures can also be added to carvings with punches.

#8 Sharpening Accessories

The number one rule in wood carving is to only work with sharp tools. So you’ll need some sharpening accessories to keep your carving tools sharp and working as they should. An electric grinder with a rubber grinding wheel uses tiny pieces of diamonds for sharpening carving tools. A cotton polishing wheel is the electric version of a strop. An oil stone or water stone is placed on the bench and used for sharpening carving tools. If you need something coarser and more durable than a bench stone, a diamond hone will do the job. A honing cone is used to sharpen gauges while an auger file is ideal for small or hard to reach cutting edges.

A leather strop is used for polishing the edge after the tool has been ground and sharpened.

Maintain and store your wood carving tools and they will last a lifetime and most probably your next generation’s life too.


If you have any queries about the right wood carving tools and accessories, don’t hesitate to contact us online.