When you start exploring the world that exists outside of 90°, it helps to have a couple tools to help you navigate the journey. One of those tools is a sliding bevel. The other nice one is a “tilt box” or “digital inclinometer.” These little boxes allow you to set your machinery to a precise…
Read moreCall me Roman, but I use a lot of circles and arcs in my work. And while I have a bunch of compasses, they aren’t great for the small stuff – like a 1/8″-diameter circle. I also have some plastic circle templates, but they aren’t easy to center on my drawings. Enter the Helix Angle…
Read moreI’m no hippie, but I’ve never liked waste. It offends me to throw away something because it can’t be repaired. But that’s the norm in our society. Take three-ring binders, for example. We use binders all the time to keep manuscripts organized as they move through the publishing process. But I also use binders to…
Read moreSeveral readers asked how to use a laser for drilling compound angles in chairmaking after I posted my love letter to green lasers. Here it is with some important caveats: Yes, you can use two lasers like Greg Pennington does. If you have two lasers, go for it. I have only one. I use lasers…
Read moreWhen Leatherman released its first multi-tool, I immediately bought one. I can’t tell you how many times I have been stuck somewhere without a set of tools. The Leatherman seemed to be a great stop-gap for when you needed some makeshift pliers, or a screwdriver, knife or file. But after using it a few times,…
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