Solid Wood Machining at WOODWEB's Knowledge Base

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Tear-Out Problems with Cherry

Tips on tuning up machinery to minimize tear-out when making end-matched wood strip flooring. May 16, 2008

Sawing utility poles

Is it safe and practical? Advice from those who've done it. August 25, 2003

Setting Up a Six-Head Moulder for Machining Tall Baseboard

Here's a detailed discussion of how to arrange the top knives for cutting of the flat and the profiled part of tall, highly detailed baseboard mouldings. March 31, 2008

Mounting a Ripsaw Blade on a Four-Head Moulder

Some moulders are set up to allow ripping, but there are safety issues to consider. March 31, 2008

Edge-Sanding Round Tops

Jigs and rigs for sanding the edges of solid wood round table-tops. March 31, 2008

Maple Hassles

Woodworkers kick Maple's reputation around on this thread — but there's plenty of good information here about how to get the best out of it. April 9, 2008

Mortising Large Timbers

Ideas about tools and techniques to efficiently cut lots of big mortises in 5x5 posts. April 9, 2008

Scalloping Marks Left by a Helical Jointer Head

Helical heads reduce tearout, but leave a scalloped surface that some find objectionable. Here's a long and detailed discussion. April 10, 2008

Finish and Feed Rates

Setup and operation tips for moulder operators. June 22, 2007

Radius Cabinet Job - Project Review

October 27, 2003

Accuracy of Planers

A woodworker looking for the finest piece of steel he can buy sets off an extended discussion of top quality planers. March 10, 2008

Pursuing perfect miters

Methods and equipment for achieving the highest quality. September 20, 2003

Milling Wood Flooring on a Shaper

Extensive advice on how to make hardwood strip flooring on a cabinet-shop shaper. April 19, 2006

Value added defined

Many definitions and interpretations are offered up. July 29, 2003

Radius Moulding Machinery Choices

Millwork pros discuss shopping for a radius moulder and the related knives. January 9, 2008

Fine-Tuning a Small Moulder

Less expensive equipment may need more attention to perform up to snuff. Here are some detailed tips on "tweaking" the machinery. October 14, 2006

Stroke Sanders and Wide-Belt Sanders

More thoughts on the choices in production sanding equipment. March 13, 2007

Purchasing a Helical Planer

Extended discussion of the fine points of various new and used planer options. August 21, 2006

Getting to Know the Jointer

A beginner has trouble his first time out with a new jointer, and learns a few things from the experience. April 27, 2007

Home-built moulder

Advice on the construction of a moulder, and encouragement to follow an easier path. November 18, 2002

Antique, unsafe shaper knives

Safety and operational issues regarding shaper heads. April 4, 2001

Straight-Line Rip Saw Operation

An extended discussion of safety and operating technique for straight-line ripsaws. May 28, 2006

Flattening boards with a planer

Methods for planing warped wood flat. September 25, 2002

Stupid Woodworker Tricks

With a nod toward David Letterman, pros discuss their least-best moments. January 24, 2005

Woodshop Waste Percentage

How much wood do you waste in the construction of your product? June 21, 2004

Tuning Up an Out-of-Whack Jointer Bed

Pros ponder what could be causing a jointer to create a "belly" in every freshly jointed board. (In this case, turns out it was a misalignment of the infeed and outfeed tables.) April 27, 2007

Moulder Purchasing Advice

A woodworker going into the moulding business gets advice on moulder choices and related issues. December 26, 2007

Three-phase motors 101

Three-phase power and converters; explained in layman's terms. June 19, 2003

Increasing production flow

Presenting to a boss the numbers that prove production flow could be improved. (Business Forum) May 17, 2003

Are Machinery Trade Shows Worth It?

A machinery supplier gets feedback from shop owners about the value of showing his equipment at national and regional shows. Bottom line: shop owners go to trade shows looking to choose and buy. August 29, 2005

Techniques and Equipment for Long-Grain Miters

Cabinetmakers who like to miter their face frames to their end panels discuss table-saw and shaper setups, joinery, and gluing techniques. September 28, 2006

Evaluating Industrial Shapers

Woodworkers discuss the characteristics that define quality in a heavy-duty industrial shaper. April 30, 2006

Crowns on Band Wheels

Why do crowns exist, and do they improve band tracking? January 29, 2004

Troubleshooting Planer Tearout and Snipe

An intensive discussion of the causes and cures of tearout and snipe in planing work. July 13, 2006

Are bone-dry biscuits necessary?

Questions about the dryness and size of biscuits. April 24, 2002

Cutterhead balance

Solving the problem of a vibrating planer/moulder. January 16, 2002

Machining raised panels

Addressing workpiece movement and tear-out problems. April 9, 2003

Radial Arm Saw Setup

Acheiving square, accurate cuts on a consistent basis. May 10, 2005

Troubleshooting Moulder Head Vibration

Many things could potentially throw a moulder head out of balance. Here, pros discuss the possible causes of excessive vibration. August 23, 2005

Nesting Bleeder Board Material

CNC users dissect the options. January 24, 2005

Choosing a Sliding Table Saw

It's wiser to buy quality used equipment than a low-end brand new unit. May 27, 2006

Troubleshooting Moulder Tear-Out

Tweaks to the knives, the feed rate, the drive belt set-up, or the bed board may help eliminate moulder chatter and tear-out. August 29, 2005

Better moulder finish quality

Eliminating snipe on mouldings. August 13, 2002

Feed rates and spindle speeds

Programming CNC machines at the proper feed rates. August 13, 2002

Pricing Puzzles (The Case of the Custom Corbels)

How do you explain to the customer why one-off woodworking products are so expensive? January 15, 2008

What's the Best Tool for Cutting Panels?

A start-up shop owner asks whether he should purchase a sliding table saw, a vertical panel saw, or maybe even a beam saw. Experienced hands offer thoughtful opinions. July 6, 2005

Tapering Bow Laminations

Thoughts on how to make tapered laminations for glued-up archery bows, using either simple or advanced equipment. December 28, 2006

Straight-line vs. gang rip

Which is better suited to this moderate operation? June 24, 2002

Troubleshooting problems when moulding MDF

A detailed discussion of challenges in getting a smooth finish when putting profiles on MDF material. February 13, 2001

Grinding Your Own Moulder Knives

Here's a long, rich thread covering many aspects of moulder knife grinding. October 2, 2005

Panel Goods and Cutter Life

A search for melamine-faced MDF leads to a long discussion on the way different types of panel materials wear out tools. February 14, 2006

Router Table Add-ons

With a router lift, precision fence, and some customizing, a router table can "kinda-sorta" stand in as a poor man's shaper. November 26, 2006

Tooling for Teak

Teak is hard and abrasive, and takes its toll on knives and blades. This long, informative thread delves into the heavy-duty tooling choices for handling extra-hard woods, and also touches on useful techniques for working with teak. December 1, 2005

Moulding on a Curved Wall

Installing trim work along a curved staricase. February 28, 2004

Figuring Out Woodshop Power Requirements

Amps, volts, watts, horsepower, and all that jazz: here's an instructive thread on how to figure out if a building's power supply will support your plans for shop equipment. July 9, 2007

Vertical panel saws

A comparison of speed and efficiency of vertical panel saws as opposed to sliding table saws. July 24, 2001

Troubleshooting Chatter And Snipe

Is it a knife grinding issue or a moulder set-up problem? April 10, 2005

Too-tight biscuits

Biscuit joining tricks and techniques. March 23, 2002

Moving Beyond Drying

A small drying operation wants to invest in planing, jointing, and ripping. March 18, 2005

Modifying a Multi-Function Machine

Is there a way to make the shaper on a combination woodworking machine spin fast enough to use router bits. January 27, 2007

Shaper and Moulder Choices

Observations on the relative capabilities of shapers and moulders. January 9, 2006

Planing Short, Thin Stock

A woodworker finds out why his planer's manual warns against planing too thin, or planing too-short pieces. It's doable, but risky... August 21, 2006

Troubleshooting a Noisy Moulder

Experts chip in to help diagnose a moulder that makes a growling sound for mysterious reasons. October 4, 2007

Equipment for Cutting Knife Steel

Cutting with plasma versus grinding wheels. January 16, 2004

Rounding Over Hardwood Block Ends

This week's "stump the chumps" puzzler: how to round over the ends of toy hardwood building blocks in a volume production setting. No answers, but an intriguing question. January 27, 2008

Shaper Cutter Choices

A small shop owner who has just purchased his first shaper gets advice on his cutterhead options. December 1, 2005

Ways to Machine Radiused Casings

Woodworkers discuss various methods of making curved mouldings, including CNC and moulder techniques as well as ways to join segments. December 2, 2006

Climb cutting and why not

Climb cutting on a shaper with feeder--safety and procedure issues. September 19, 2001

Value-Added Processing -- for the Sawmill

How to make sawing, drying and other processing operations profitable. March 22, 2001

Shaper Choices for Door Construction

Cabinetmakers discuss equipment selection and machining techniques for making raised-panel cope-and-stick doors. May 22, 2006

Moulder chatter

Moulder operators help troubleshoot the problem. January 16, 2002

Jointer Adjustment Problem

After replacing jointer knives, you sometimes need to re-set or adjust the outfeed table. May 28, 2006

Troubleshooting Jointer Chatter

A chatter problem in a new jointer sets off a discussion of knife types and maintenance issues. December 26, 2006

Troubleshooting Moulder Tearout

Pros help a shop owner figure out the problem with his moulder. October 8, 2005

Troubleshooting Wide-Belt Sander Chatter

Track down the cause of chatter marks in the wood before trying to fix the problem. Defects in the belts, the drums, or the drive are the usual suspects. April 30, 2006

Tooling Up with Your First Moulder

A woodworker gets advice on accessories to go along with his first moulder purchase. October 4, 2007

Getting a Square, Clean Edge on Face Frame Stock

Cabinetmakers discuss tolerances for face frame edges, and compare ways of prepping stock. April 6, 2007

Practical Lumber Tally Methods

A moulding manufacturer needs advice on a method for tallying lumber that his people can conveniently implement. January 27, 2007

Compression and Chatter

Pros discuss the meaning and causes of "compression" and "chatter" in moulder operation. October 4, 2005

Spiral cutters vs. knife cutters

Which type of cutters is best for this special application? July 24, 2001

Cutting crotch wood

Details on the right equipment and techniques to get the job done. March 4, 2002

Gang-Resawing Thin Strips with a Frame Saw

The "frame saw" allows rapid high-volume production re-sawing. October 12, 2007

Planing Painted Lumber

Machining recovered, previously-used painted wood is an exercise fraught with potential problems. June 28, 2006

Walnut Butcher Block Countertops

Techniques for creating a beautiful butcher block countertop are shared. May 10, 2005

Whether to Mill Your Own Cabinet Mouldings

Is it practical for a cabinetmaker to mill his own mouldings? Shop owners say that depending on your situation, investing in a moulder might be worth it. July 29, 2007

Router Table and Lift

Designs and ideas for a smoothly functioning router workstation. December 9, 2004

Sleds and Fences for Cutting Stiles and Rails

Extensive advice on how to set up a shaper for accurate and consistent coping and profiling for door stiles and rails. April 27, 2007

Changing Wood-Mizer from gas to electric

Process and parts involved in converting an engine. February 19, 2002

Keeping cutterhead balance

Number of knives and other factors in cutterhead balance. (From WOODWEB's Solid Wood Machining Forum) March 5, 2003

Cutting Steel Blanks for Custom Moulder Knives

Recommended cutoff saws, blades, and cutting techniques for sharp, clean cuts in tool steel. December 2, 2006

Cutterhead Knife Angle

Long and detailed discussion of knife grinding, focusing on back bevel and side clearance. February 19, 2006

Troubleshooting Finish Problems on the Through Feed Moulder

Checklist table of problems and solutions for moulder operators. December 1, 2006

Jointed Moulders Explained

Here's the rundown on what makes a jointed moulder different from a regular moulder, how it works, and what it's good for. October 4, 2007

Servo vs. stepper motors

What's the difference, and how does each work? April 17, 2002

Converting power to three-phase

Things to consider when converting power from single-phase to three. June 24, 2001

Moulding Cutters for a Shaper

A newcomer seeks advice on tooling up to make mouldings on a shaper. In a long discussion, pros explain some of the options. August 31, 2005

Stroke, drum and widebelt sanders

What sort of sander is most efficient for a small cabinet shop? July 24, 2001

Specialty Planer Heads

Pros discuss the options and their preferences. April 10, 2005

Minimizing Planer Snipe

Wood machining pros discuss the causes and cures for "snipe" at the end of planed boards. August 23, 2005

Machining S-Curved Crown Moulding

Woodworkers weigh in on a complex machining challenge: crown moulding with both an inside and an outside curve. September 5, 2006

Moving and Unloading Machinery

Practical advice for getting a large, heavy, and expensive piece of industrial equipment off the truck and into place in the shop. October 12, 2007

Home-built band blade sharpener

Plans and pictures. February 18, 2003

Grooving with a Shaper: Tearout Prevention

Solutions for a tearout problem encountered while cutting tongues and grooves. March 6, 2008

Electrical Problems with a Bandsaw

Most electrical problems are caused by loose connections, not bad parts. February 27, 2007

Setting Up and Using a Dual-Drum Sander

Some useful tips on drum-sander operation. January 11, 2007

Fine-Tuning a New Planer

Careful sharpening and adjustment will give better results, but sanding after planing may still be necessary. August 23, 2005

Ripping hardwood straight

Why do ripped pieces come out banana-shaped? July 9, 2002

Proper Grinding and Maintenance -- Will Increase Moulder Tool Life

Good grinding and maintenance help increase moulder life. February 23, 2001

Streamlining Moulder Set-Ups

Shop owners discuss ways to make moulder set-up and changeover smoother and more efficient. August 21, 2006

Best sawmill for exotic hardwoods

Bandmills vs. swing mills for a new operation. September 2, 2002

Eliminating Snipe on Mouldings

Looking for the cause of moulder snipe, an operator finds his solution in a custom-fabricated chipbreaker. March 13, 2007

Troubleshooting Shaper Tearout

Solutions for a tearout problem include slower feed speeds, climb cutting, and larger-diameter tooling. April 5, 2007

Tablesaw blade safety device

Does a new sawblade-stop product really protect your fingers? July 29, 2003

Mounting a Sawblade on a Moulder

It's a workable way to make multiple moldings at one pass, but it calls for special safety accessories. March 3, 2006

Moulder Tearout Problems with Hickory

Hickory is notoriously difficult to machine. Here's a discussion on how to deal with tearout while making hickory crown moulding. February 19, 2006

Static charge on wood

Troubleshooting and resolving static problems on freshly planed boards. October 9, 2002

Surfacing Thin Walnut Boards

What's an efficient way to re-saw and plane (or sand) quarter-inch thick boards? Pros share tips and techniques for reliably achieving a smooth surface. June 20, 2005

Producing Stable Part Stock

With little time and no system in place, can this shop produce parts that won't move over time? October 20, 2004

Planing on edge

Processing stock through planer to define parts' widths. January 3, 2003

Resharpening Bandsaw Blades

Arguments for and against sharpening your own bandmill blades versus sending them out to a resharp service. May 11, 2005

Four-Side Planer Versus Moulder

A discussion of the relative capabilities of four-side moulders and planers for straightening, smoothing, and cutting profiles. May 12, 2005

Acceptable Runout Tolerances for a Shaper Spindle

High-quality machinery has minimal runout. Excessive runout is a safety risk and a source of trouble. December 20, 2005

Modifications Cure Woodmaster 718 Chatter

Pictures, descriptions, and accounts of changes resulting in a finish as smooth as a baby's... well, you know. February 27, 2005

Climb Cutting on a Moulder

Molding manufacturers discuss the potentially dangerous but sometimes necessary practice of climb cutting. January 22, 2006

How to make a tenon

Accurately sized tenons without a tenoner. September 25, 2002

Brush Sanders, Cross-Grain Scratching, and Finish Quality

Brush sanding equipment is highly useful for some purposes, but it will not do away with hand sanding. February 24, 2008

Troubleshooting Planer Chatter Marks

A pressure bar set too high may be the source of chatter marks on planed boards. May 28, 2006

Milling Face-Frame Stock

Fastidious cabinetmakers find that S4S stock comes with too many imperfections. Here, pros discuss their methods for machining lumber that's straight, square, flat, and true. January 10, 2006

More Thoughts on Grinding Moulder Knives

Pros add to an earlier discussion about whether, when, and how to grind your own knives. October 2, 2005

Almost Cut My Thumb Off

A close call with the table saw sparks a conversation about safe equipment and careful practices. January 11, 2008

Rapid Dulling in Planer Knives: What's Wrong?

Trying to figure out why knives go dull so fast in a planing operation that handles both reclaimed and freshly sawn lumber. January 14, 2008

Radius countertop edge

Making a radiused wood edge without resorting to segments. January 3, 2003

Hand-Honing Tips for Cutter Knives

Remarks on honing and deburring cutterhead edges, and some thoughts on knife materials and performance. April 30, 2006

Regaining MC in overdry wood

Is machinability lost when lumber has been overdried, then had moisture put back in? May 17, 2003

Jigs for Elliptical Moulder Work

Aftermarket jigs let you do complex curved work on the moulder, especially if given additional shop modifications. May 21, 2007

Tablesaw blade guards

Choosing the best blade guard/dust collector. April 9, 2003

Tooling Up to Run Mouldings

Pros give advice on how to choose and use equipment for producing mouldings.

Template Routing -- with a Vacuum Clamp

March 19, 2002

Alternatives to Honduran Mahogany

A discussion of the qualities of some of the woods used as substitutes for Mahogany, plus an attempt to clear up some of the confusion around the much-misused "Mahogany" label. February 5, 2007

Small parts on P2P

Using a spoilboard to solve problems of no suction with small parts. March 20, 2001

Cutting dadoes in sawn logs

Tools and techniques to get the job done. October 20, 2003

Machining Dadoes into Door Jambs

Ideas for high-volume production methods for cutting dadoes in door side jambs to receive the header jamb. April 30, 2006

Cutterhead Options for a Five-Head Moulder

Shop owners who machine S4S mouldings discuss the relative merits of carbide versus high-speed steel knives, and 2-sided versus insert cutter heads. September 15, 2006

Avoiding Shaper Blow-Out

Various suggestions for achieving clean, sharp profiles without tear-out and blow-out when running moulding on a shaper. July 28, 2007

Table-Saw Power-Feeder Tips

Detailed advice on setting up and using a power feeder with a table saw. July 9, 2007

Single Knife and Counterweight Setup on a Moulder

Using just one knife rarely gives the best results. November 19, 2006

Steps for processing cabinets

Cabinetmakers share the methods they use for processing doors and cabinet parts. July 3, 2001

Turning Solid Wood Drums

Woodworkers discuss the problem of turning and hollowing out large logs. March 3, 2006

Machinery Layout Ideas

Shop owners discuss ways to arrange a straightline ripsaw, molder, and wide-belt sander, and how to efficiently move materials from one station to the next. March 6, 2008

Stick Profiles and Out-Feed Fences

Setting up the shaper to cut the stick pieces for cope and-stick doors. May 14, 2006

New turn on rosettes

Could cutting rosettes on a lathe reduce tearout problems? July 22, 2003

Machining and Tooling for Large Tenon Production

Woodworkers suggest workable setups for high-volume production of large tenons for heavy doors. April 24, 2006

Increasing moulder knife life

Increasing length of runs between sharpenings. March 21, 2002

Consistent curves

How to create a long, accurate curve. May 15, 2002

Miterfolds for clean corner joints

A sweet technique for classy corners. November 21, 2003

Sharpening Jointer and Planer Knives In-House

Machines with built-in knife grinders can be a good investment. October 30, 2005

Best Equipment for Tenoning Door Parts

Basic advice on machinery and cutters for making cope-and-stick architectural door parts. August 5, 2006

Custom pressure shoes for moulders

A discussion of home-made and custom-ordered pressure shoes for special profiles. August 12, 2001

Surfacing curly woods

The best machinery and tooling to handle the job. October 9, 2002

Improving Moulder Efficiency

Two guys have their hands full trying to satisfy a busy shop's moulding needs. Here, they get some advice on how to streamline their operation. March 29, 2006

Router Bits for Raised Panels

Horizontal versus vertical bits for cutting raised panels. January 28, 2004

Choosing and Setting Up Insert Cutters for a Shaper

A woodshop owner gets advice on how to make insert tooling work properly with his equipment. July 11, 2007

Drum versus belt sander

Pros and cons of two approaches to surface sanding. October 9, 2002

Tooling Considerations with a Moulder Upgrade

Shop owners and experts discuss the tooling costs and choices relating to a new moulder purchase. June 23, 2006

Upgrading a Shaper Motor

Should a woodworker beef up the motor on his shaper when the original one breaks down? It's a questionable call. May 5, 2007

Feed speed and knife life

How the former affects the latter. January 15, 2003

Slowing a Feed Motor with Variable Frequency Drive

Motor speeds can be adjusted with electronic add-ons, but there are complications. October 4, 2007

Dadoing techniques

Using a router to make dados. June 24, 2002

Setting Jointer Blade Height

Experienced hands go over the fine points of setting up a jointer for snipe-free operation. June 23, 2005

Preventing Rust When Milling Wet Material

A discussion of lubricants and cleaners for preventing rust on machinery. August 14, 2007

Milling Raised Door Panels

Should you run the pieces face up, or face down, asks a cabinetmaker? Opinions, and the reasons for them, vary. October 30, 2005

Shopping for a Shaper

Cabinetmakers give advice on how to select a good shaper for a decent price. September 21, 2005

Spiral Insert Cutter Finish Quality

Spiral insert cutter heads may leave faint lines on planed wood. October 2, 2005

Equipment to Rip Flooring Blanks

What's best, a straight-line or gang saw? Gang comes out ahead in this long discussion. October 2, 2005

Planing Very Thin Boards

Planing boards to a 1/8-inch thickness is tricky, but not impossible. Here, experts describe how it's done. December 1, 2005

Machining crown moulding

What's the best way to run crown moulding? May 2, 2001

One-Belt Versus Two-Belt Wide-Belt Sanders

Shop owners discuss wide-belt sander choices. March 13, 2007

Clogged Dust Collector Lines on a 5-Head Moulder

When dust collection lines plug up, the problem could be vacuum, wood moisture content, or other factors. April 10, 2007

Aligning an Older-Model 4-Head Push Through Moulder

It's hard to eliminate snipe on some older moulders. Here, experts supply some tips. April 19, 2006

High-speed jointing head moulders

Are these machines practical for a custom moulding business? June 13, 2001

Milling Flooring from Old Barn Boards

With carbide moulder blades, it's no big deal — but check carefully for nails. May 13, 2005

Outfeed Table Plan

Construction ideas for an outfeed table with mounted router. March 14, 2004

Humorous Tool Definitions

Do not read this while drinking, or your beverage may go up your nose and on your keyboard. December 28, 2006

Sliding Table Saw Tips

Sliders are a little different for those used to working on a standard table saw. January 24, 2005

An Antique Wood Scraper

Woodworkers puzzle over an old piece of shop iron and share some old-time lore. September 28, 2006

Working with Sapelle

Notes on the workability and machinability of this exotic tropical hardwood. January 8, 2007

Replacing Worn Bearings on a Planer

Changing out ball bearings may be a job for a specialist. Even so, here's a detailed description of how it's done. November 28, 2006

Curved Stairway Trim Job

Where chair rail meets moulding. February 28, 2004

Tolerance For Knife Stock Thickness

A discussion of thickness variations in moulder and planer knife blank material, and the attendant problems for custom-ground knives. April 27, 2007

Troubleshooting Moulder Head Movement

Pros help figure out the problem with a moulder's top head. September 28, 2006

Knife Steel 101

Here's a nice rundown of the various materials used to make cutter knives, along with some lively discussion. November 27, 2007

Buying a Used Shaper

A shop owner considers a second-hand shaper with a one-inch spindle, and hears advice from colleagues. May 28, 2006

Grinding Wheels 101

A description of grinding wheel characteristics, and some helpful tips on grinding tools. February 14, 2007

Training for a Moulder Operator

Hands-on professional training is vital for anyone setting out to operate ond of these complicated and powerful machines. May 12, 2005

M42 high speed steel

Information on M42 and jointer knives. April 2, 2002

To Nest or not to Nest?

A spirited discussion on which is more productive: nest-cutting parts with a CNC router, or using a beam saw and point-to-point machining center. June 30, 2005

Finger-Jointed Wood from 2x Scrap

A discussion about the practicality of turning off-cuts into useable studs by finger-jointing. July 30, 2007

Buying Shop Equipment at Online Auction Sites

Some people report satisfaction; others, not so much. So it's "buyer beware." February 9, 2008

Climb-Cutting for Stiles and Rails

Cabinetmakers suggest equipment and techniques for creating sharp-edged grooves with minimal tearout. May 22, 2006

Cutting M2 Knife Steel

Is burning the steel while cutting a concern? January 16, 2004

Making Templates from Existing Mouldings

Moulding shop pros discuss how to scan and import profiles of existing mouldings in order to make exact drawings or manufacture new knives. November 10, 2006

Radius Limitations when Machining Curved Mouldings

Very tight curves introduce shape distortions in moulding profiles. March 4, 2006

Slowing Planer Feed Rate

Advice and cautions on ways to slow down the feed rate of a planer. November 27, 2007

Hogging Blades on Gang Rip Saws

Equipping a rip saw with a hogging blade can have advantages. October 4, 2007

Whether to Make Your Own Moulder Knives

Info on how to grind moulder knives, and thoughts on whether it's worth the time and cost to do so. December 30, 2007

Hardened or Coated-Steel Knife Material

Use and value considerations of plasma-coated or hardened cutters. August 30, 2007

Helical cutterheads

Surface quality compared to other cutterheads. November 18, 2002

Manufacturing Pellet-Stove Fuel

Thoughts and information on how to process sawdust into fuel pellets. March 14, 2006

Squaring Up a Cross-Cut Sled

Getting a cross-cut table-saw sled jig squared up just right is a finicky and time-consuming process. June 30, 2007

Straight Lining Rough Lumber

Efficient methods for creating an edge. December 9, 2004

Shaper Decisions

Reasons to buy a good shaper (and a power feeder to go with it). April 10, 2007

Machine Design For Complex Carving

It's hard to do, and might not pay off. April 10, 2005

Mounting a Power Feeder to the Shaper

Drilling and tapping the shaper table, rigging a stand-alone mount, and other fine points of setting up a power feeder for the shaper. August 15, 2006

Making Curved Mouldings on a Shaper

General direction on the jig setup needed to run arched casings or other curved pieces on the shaper. October 4, 2007

Is It Necessary to Sand Mouldings?

Sanding equipment for your moulding operation shouldn't be needed if knives are sharp and well balanced and the machine is well set up. September 5, 2006

Breaking Loose a Stuck Shaper Spindle

Sometimes that sucker just doesn't want to come out. Here are a handful of proven ways to persuade it. September 10, 2007

Running Baseboard and Casing in One Pass

Can you run baseboard moulding or casing on a four-head moulder, using the first knife to create the necessary back-relief? October 14, 2006

Machining Small Radius Molding

The problem: holding a small, curved piece of brittle wood fixed while machining a small moulding profile into it. Here, pros offer various solutions. December 20, 2005

Moulder Operator Skills and Pay

Feedback on the going rate for moulder operators in different parts of the country, and thoughts on how to earn at the top of the scale. December 30, 2007

Sanding or Planing Edges

Ways to get drawer and door edges smooth while keeping them straight and square. March 3, 2006

High-Speed Router End Mills for Mortising

Thoughts on end mill bits for high-speed mortise cutting. January 11, 2007

Vertical Siding

Types of siding for "old barn" look. August 9, 2004

Sharing One Power Feeder Between Two Shapers

Photos and description of a swing-arm-mounted stock feeder that serves two different shapers. July 28, 2006

Increasing RPMs and Feed Speed on a Jointer Moulder

In theory, upping the RPMs and feed speeds at the same time will allow faster production with the same number of knife marks per inch. However, there are a few practical cautions to keep in mind. February 27, 2007

Truing-up rough wood

Planers will not remove the bow from rough stock; jointing is required before boards can be properly thicknessed. February 13, 2001

Infeed Systems for Moulders

A moulding manufacturer wants to set up a continuous infeed system for one of his machines. He gets tips and advice on what works and what doesn't. July 13, 2005

Machining Mullions for Glass Doors

Advice and a step-by-step how-to for making those pesky mullions. May 14, 2006

Helical Cutterheads and Clean Gluelines

Will a helical cutterhead leave little lines that may compromise glue joints? Professionals discuss finish quality, sharpening, and setting. March 26, 2007

Using jointing attachment on moulder

Proper methods for jointing knives on a moulder, and myths concerning their sharpening. February 28, 2001

Rounding Board Ends for Pallet Production

Equipment and methods for high-volume rounding work. May 4, 2005

Truing Up a Jointer Outfeed Table

Gib screws on the back of some jointers allow fine adjustment of the infeed and outfeed table positions. May 14, 2006

Planing a Tapered Timber

Ideas for surfacing a 13-foot tapered redwood timber — while keeping the taper. June 12, 2006

Tapered Stop Flutes

The search for a simple, efficient method. December 26, 2004

Snipe Problems on a Through Feed Moulder 3: Left Side Snipes

A troubleshooting checklist table for moulder operators. December 1, 2006

Square-trimming face frame stock

Woodworkers share their secrets for getting dead-square cuts on the ends of face frame members.

Troubleshooting an Out-of-Whack Jointer

Woodworkers discuss what could make a jointer create taper on boards. January 10, 2006

Sanding face frames properly

The proper tools and techniques to avoid rounding edges. October 30, 2002

Tooling Up for Door Production

A discussion of the ideal machinery setup for efficient production of cabinet doors on a regular basis. February 26, 2007

Glue Line Failure in Cherry Panels

Are these joint failures due to product or process? May 10, 2005

Uses for an Edge Sander

It's a handy machine for all sorts of things, if you know how to use it. October 2, 2006

Taper-Cutting Parts At High Volume

Pros discuss equipment, set-ups, and jigs. April 10, 2005

Moulder Feed Problems 1: Caused by Machine

A problem-solution checklist chart for correcting moulder feed problems. November 27, 2006

Snipe Problems on a Through Feed Moulder 2: Top Snipes

Checklist table of problems and solutions for moulder operators. December 1, 2006

Jointer Stones 101

A basic rundown on knive jointer stone types and preparation. February 14, 2007

Climb Cutting with a Moulder

A shop owner considers the pros and cons of climb-cutting cedar and redwood on a moulder. May 28, 2006

Setting Up Three-Phase Power

Owners share advice on ways to upgrade the shop's power supply. June 12, 2005

Glue Line Rip Saw

Will a straight-line rip saw make cuts clean enough for glue joints? November 18, 2006

Mortising fenceposts

A few methods for cutting holes in split rail fencing. July 29, 2003

Straight Line Rip Saw Accuracy

A discussion of ripsaw cutting tolerances (most variation is caused by natural variation in the wood). June 28, 2006

Zero Clearance Table Saw Inserts

Buy 'em, or make your own? June 28, 2005

Finishing the Ends of Cedar Chair Slats

Woodworkers suggest ways to automate end finishing of pieces. October 4, 2007

Straight Edge Options

Jointer bed too short to handle that long piece? Here's a grab bag of jigs, rigs, and tricks for making long straight edges. July 21, 2005

Upcut, Downcut Or Compression Tools

Which is better? It depends on the use (and your technique). April 10, 2005

Snipe Problems on a Through Feed Moulder 1: Bottom Snipes

Checklist table of problems and solutions for moulder operators. December 1, 2006

How I cut a 5-sided beam

Fully illustrated details. October 30, 2002

A Small Power Feeder for a Router?

It can improve control and precision, especially for climb-cutting. February 25, 2005

Tolerance for Moulding Dimensions

Moulding manufacturers discuss the limits of perfection in wood machining. January 13, 2006

Running Radius Moulding: Shaper Technique

Tips for a newbie on making curved mouldings for an arched door jamb casing. January 26, 2008

Fix for a Slipping Planer Table

A shop-expedient modification locks down the table on a rebuilt old planer. December 1, 2005

Machining Curved Base and Crown for Applying Over Bullnose Cornerbead