October 1992
Issue 83

Six great tips. 1) Trimming Laminate. 2) Making a Marking Gauge. 3) Cutting Plywood. 4) Checking a Miter Gauge. Plus Quick Tips.

This solid wood Chess Board looks like it's built from little squares of wood. It's not -- there's an easier way.

The train is assembled like a jigsaw puzzle. Long axles and big wheels serve as clothes hooks. Who knows, this may be one clothes rack the kids will like well enough to use.

Four tips from our shop. 1) Cutting a Lid Off a Box. 2) Sanding Mitered Corneres. 3) Keyhole Hangers. 4) Routing a Smooth Edge.

Laminated Runners and detailed joinery make this Sleigh Centerpiece an heirloom. The polished brass springs add a note of authenticity.

Here's an interesting small box with a secret -- a hidden drawer. The illusion is in the joinery: tight miters and a sliding panel.

Answers to questions from readers. 1) Redwood Trees. 2) Hard and Rock Maple. 3) Carbide Cutters. 4) Multi-Purpose Tools vs. Stand-Alone Tools. 5) Glue Strength.

The results are in for our Shop Tips Contest. The Winners: Using One-Step Finishes, Finishing Large Surfaces, and a Finish Scraper.