Michael Kampen

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A 1970’s era dining room set cabinet and chairs refinished with milk paint and a red cedar harvest table finished with hemp oil,

A good start is key for a good finish

Getting a great finish on your project is the result of careful planning and preparation.

A 1970’s era dining room set cabinet and chairs refinished with milk paint and a red cedar harvest table finished with hemp oil,
Digital calipers give exact readings in three different measurements, taking the guesswork out of measuring in the wood shop.

No excuse for wrong measurements

Measurements can make or break your woodworking project.

Digital calipers give exact readings in three different measurements, taking the guesswork out of measuring in the wood shop.
Tapered plug cutters cut cone-shaped plugs.

A sharp drill is a happy woodworking drill

Drilling holes is an essential part of woodworking.

Tapered plug cutters cut cone-shaped plugs.
Dowel joints are one of the oldest methods of joinery in woodworking. Columnist Michael Kampen uses a Dowelmax dowel jig with indexing pins and spacers to create precision dowel joints.

Joints make or break woodworking project

In last month’s Shop Talk column, we took a look at the proper way to prepare rough lumber for use in a project.

Dowel joints are one of the oldest methods of joinery in woodworking. Columnist Michael Kampen uses a Dowelmax dowel jig with indexing pins and spacers to create precision dowel joints.
Preparing rough stock lumber requires three machines, starting with the jointer, then the planer, above, and finishing up with a table-saw or miter saw. You can remember the order of machines to use with the acronym FEE — Face, Edge and Ends.

Good lumber starts with solid foundation

You can purchase lumber that has been dressed on all sides but the cost of this additional processing is reflected in the higher price.

Preparing rough stock lumber requires three machines, starting with the jointer, then the planer, above, and finishing up with a table-saw or miter saw. You can remember the order of machines to use with the acronym FEE — Face, Edge and Ends.