Problem-Solving Products

Problem-Solving Products
Multi-Gauge maximizes machine accuracy
Oneway Multi-Gauge
As far as machine-setting jigs
go, Oneway's Multi-Gauge isn’t
new, but its problem-solving
promises still turn heads.
Somehow, this simple castiron corner can maximize the
accuracy of your shop’s stationary
®
tools not only by checking and
adjusting your jointer’s tables,
knives, and fence, but also by
helping replicate table saw and
router table setups and checking
stock thickness and joinery.
To determine if the MultiGauge is more workshop Swiss
Army knife or just some onetrick pony, I agreed to bring
one into my shop to find out.
The setup
The gauge is a substantial 31/4
lbs. of cast iron that, like most
rust-prone tools, comes slathered
in grease. You’ll want to clean it
Corrosion Inhibiting
Vapor Capsules
Zerust® Vapor Capsules provide
easy-to-use corrosion protection
inside any type of enclosure.
The capsules release an invisible,
odorless, non-toxic rust and
corrosion inhibiting vapor into
the air. These Zerust® vapor
molecules will settle on exposed
metal surfaces in an enclosure
and protect them from rust and
corrosion for up to 1-2 years.
Liner Sizes: 12" x 72"
or 22.5" x 118"
(A) VC6-2
(B) VC2-1
(A) VC6-2 Covers a 6'- radius from
capsule placement up to 2 years.
Great for larger areas like cabinets
and closets.
(B) VC2-1 Covers a 2'- radius from
capsule placement up to 1 year. Great
for tool boxes, safe deposit boxes,
small safes and drawers.
Non-Slip
Drawer Liners
Zerust® Non-Slip Drawer Liners
do double duty: keeping shelves,
drawers and tools from damaging
each other while protecting the
store items from corrosion for up
to 5 years. Liners can be trimmed
to fit, washed and reused.
Available At Woodcraft. To Find Your Local Woodcraft Store,
Visit woodcraft.com Or Call 800-225-1153.
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woodcraftmagazine.com
09WD06Q Zerust ad.indd 1
June 2009
4/27/2009 11:08:00 AM
Photos: Robert J. Settich
and give it a protective coat of
wax before putting it to use.
The body has three reference
surfaces ground at 90° to each
other, so the casting itself serves
as a precision gauge to check
adjacent surfaces for square.
There’s also a hole drilled through
the casting at 90° to the base so
you can attach the dial indicator
(included) to expand the gauge’s
versatility. The indicator has an
interchangeable round and flat
foot to match the measuring
task. The 2"-diameter dial is
Continued on page 72
A STRONG CASE FOR
AMERICAN
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Basic 7 pc.
Router Bit Set #401
Tested #1 by Fine Woodworking Magazine in a head to head router bit test of 17 different brands.
Whiteside Machine Co.
•Made from solid alloy steel
•Precision ground for proper balance at high rpms
•Uses the highest quality American made micrograin carbide
•High hook and relief angles make for better chip ejection
•Made with thick carbide for extra sharpenings
•Superior edge quality compared to other manufacturers
•Made with only high quality American made grinding wheels
•Even the storage cases are made in the U.S.A.!
Claremont, North Carolina
800-225-3982
whitesiderouterbits.com
“American Made for the American Woodworker”
Problem-Solving Products
Continued from page 70
graduated in .001 increments
and has a 11/32" travel range.
Trial run
Despite, or perhaps because
of, its simple design, the gauge
performs an impressive array of
tasks. The most basic function—
essential for table saw and jointer
fences—is checking adjacent
surfaces for square shown at
right. Insert the dial indicator
to set the height of your jointer
knives and to check the infeed
and outfeed tables for parallel.
At the thickness planer, you’ll
use the indicator upside down
to ensure an identical setting
and parallelism of the blades.
Reposition it right side up, and
you can set the roller heights.
Once my tools were set, I found
myself reaching for the gauge
to measure the height of bits
and blades, as shown on page
70. You can also measure the
thickness of lumber and sheet
goods and confirm the depth of
grooves, rabbets, and dadoes.
Best applications
The Multi-Gauge really excels at
jointer tune-up. It enabled me to
measure the height of the knives
and check the parallelism of the
infeed and outfeed table. This
helped me find a problem that had
gone undetected until this test.
The exact-height function is
also useful for duplicating setups
at the router table, such as copeand-stick door-making bits.
Tester’s take
The Multi-Gauge earned its keep
at the jointer, but the quantifiable
accuracy it provided my other
machinery makes it a smart buy.
Woodcraft #126979 $94.99
Tester:
Robert J. Settich
“Your blades are without question
the best by miles, and I have tried
them all.”
Bob Jensen, Fridley, MN
Order from any Forrest dealer
or retailer, online, or by calling
directly. Our blades are manufactured in the U.S.A. and
backed by our 30-day, moneyback guarantee.
Forrest Quality Shows
Duraline Hi-AT—Great for cutting
two-sided veneers and low pressure laminates.
Woodworker II—Best rated, allpurpose blade for rips and crosscuts.
Woodworker II
Fine Woodworking
72
woodcraftmagazine.com
June 2009
Chop Master
Woodshop News
www.ForrestBlades.com
1-800-733-7111
(In NJ, call 973-473-5236)
Duraline Hi-AT
Woodshop News
Dado King
Wood Magazine
© 2009 Forrest Manufacturing
Forrest blades deliver smooth,
quiet cuts without splintering,
scratching, or tearouts. Our
proprietary manufacturing
process, hand straightening, and
unique grade of C-4 micrograin
carbide are perfect for cabinets,
countertops, and flooring. In fact,
independent tests rate us #1 for
rip cuts and crosscuts.
Code WC
Experienced woodworkers know
that Forrest blades are ideal for
remodeling high-end kitchens
and baths.
Get an Edge
The Tormek T-7 sharpening system will sharpen virtually
every edge tool in your shop and home to a razor’s edge.
Tormek jigs and accessories deliver exactly the same profile
on your tools every time you touch them up. Even complicated
shapes like woodturning gouges and skews can be easily
sharpened to exactly the profile you choose, time and
time again. Tormek’s utility isn’t limited to the work shop.
You can also sharpen your cooking knives, scissors,
gardening tools, and camping equipment.
SPECIAL OFFER
Purchase a Tormek T-7 between May 1 and
July 31 and get a free hand axe from the famous
Swedish axe maker Gränsfors ( value $ 110 ).
Visit www.tormek.com for details.
Available at www.woodcraft.com
and participating stores.
Problem Solving Products
More than a dowelling jig
Dowelmax
Every woodworker lucky enough
to remember high school shop
class has wrapped his or her hands
around a dowelling jig. These
power drill partners worked well
enough for a dowel or two, but
minor inaccuracies stemming from
jig placement or the jig itself would
multiply with each successive hole,
making assemblies impossible
to pull together. Struggle with a
few multi-dowel glue-ups, and it’s
little wonder that fudge-factorfriendly biscuits and loose tenons
have gained such popularity.
The Dowelmax costs more than
other jigs, but it promises not only
that it can produce perfect joints
74
woodcraftmagazine.com
June 2009
and but also that the resulting
joints are stronger than those
produced by other popular (and
more expensive) joinery systems.
The setup
I assumed that all I needed to do
was open the box, grab a drill,
and put the tool to work. The
Dowelmax does come ready to
center 3/8"-diameter holes across
the width of 3/4" stock, but the
collection of spacers, brackets,
gauges, and pins indicated
that this was less “jig” and
more “joinery system.” Luckily,
the kit comes with a manual
and an instructional DVD. To
avoid information overload,
I suggest skimming the book
and making a few test joints
before watching the DVD.
The Dowelmax didn’t miss
any details. Starting from the
carefully-machined jig core unit,
all of the parts attach using
comfortable, knurled brass
knobs. The only time you’ll
need to use the included Allen
wrench is when setting the
drill stop and distance gauge.
Trial run
I used this jig to make every
kind of butt joint I could
think of (edge-to-edge, edgeto-end, miters, offset).
I wasn’t surprised that the
joints fit perfectly, but was
impressed by how fast and easy
the jig was to use, especially
with multi-dowel joints. The five
hardened-steel bushings enabled
me to drill a row of holes without
repositioning the jig. The other
winning detail is the
engraved
into the fence and core of the
jig. Simply make corresponding
checks on the reference faces
P
of your stock and match up
the marks to position the jig.
In terms of strength, I support
common sense over small-sample
scientific tests. Strong glue joints
are dependent upon just a few
basic factors: surface area for
glue (minus the sloppiness of
the joint), the amount of wood
removed, and the strength of the
fastener. It’s easy to appreciate
that dowel joints are stronger
than biscuit or stub-tenon joints.
For more demanding joints, I'll
bet that two or more rows of
dowels would be as strong as
a loose or traditional tenon.
Best applications
Face frames, drawers,
cabinet and interior/exterior
doors...you name it.
Tester’s take
They say, “you
get what you pay
for,” and the Dowelmax
is no exception. Compare it
to other loose-tenon systems
and the price falls right in
the ballpark. But without a
motor, there’s little doubt that
this tool will outlive me.
I’ll keep my biscuit joiner for
quick joinery, but I no longer feel
the need for some other plug-andplunge tool. I’m convinced that
dowels can serve as a suitable
solution for substantial joinery.
Woodcraft #412425 $309.99
Tester:
Joe HurstWajszczuk
Thomas Flinn & Co.
“Manufacturers of the finest saws since 1923”
The Lynx Saw Range...
Made Exclusively for Woodcraft
by Thomas Flinn & Co.
Thomas Flinn & Co.
114 Harvest Lane
Sheffield, S3 8EG, England
Tel: +44 114 2725387 • Fax: +44 114 2725389
www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk • [email protected]
June 2009 woodcraftmagazine.com 75