2 Attachment(s)
Tiny parts on the miter saw
I needed to cut a dozen small wedges or keys for my pool table base through-tenons. I found some contrasting black walnut and milled it to 5/8" thick to match the size of the mortises in the tails. I knew the easiest way was to cut the 5 degree angle was on my miter saw but I didn't have a safe way to hold them as my walnut stock was only 2" wide. So I ripped the stock to 7/8" and cut it into 3" lengths. I then cut a small scrap piece and ran a sharp pointed Kreg screw through it near the end and ran the screw through the scrap just far enough to catch the work and keep it from being pulled into the blade. It worked so well I am keeping the little piece to act a a finger to hold small pieces for cross cutting. No need to run the screw into the work, just enough for the point of the screw to catch the work. Click on the image to enlarge.
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tip for - Eliminating tear out on crosscuts
Many of us use zero clearance inserts on our saws to eliminate or at least significantly reduce tear out when cross cutting. However, we still get some tear out where the blade exits the side of the board that is against our cross cut guide's fence. I have found that you can eliminate that tear out by mounting a sacrificial piece of wood to your cross cut guide to create a zero clearance opening against the back edge of the board. Some crosscut sleds do this by nature of their design. With a well tuned saw and most modern carbide tipped blades you can all but eliminate cut line tear out on both sides of your cross cut while getting a burn and tooth mark free cut.
Steaming a dent out of Walnut
I wasn't certain where to post this, I don't see a 'Tips' subforum so moderators please move this if it doesn't need to go here - thanks! David
This certainly isn't anything new but since I dented a piece today I thought it would be a good time to video the little tip for those who may never have tried this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD2_Wrs6YDM (not sure why the video isn't showing up so the link should work)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD2_Wrs6YDM