Welcome to the pilot issue of This Old Workshop's email eZine. It is our intention to bring you the latest in woodworking information, tool reviews and resources. We welcome your input and invite you to visit our discussion group and woodworking web page . If you are recieving this eZine by mistake we appologize and will remove you simply by emailing us. mail@thisoldworkshop.com

A Day With a Master Craftsman

For many years, people have asked Andrew Crawford if he offered courses on box making. Andrew reports his constant reply was, "No!" Fortunately, for the literate among us, Andrew has published several books on box making. These books are well respected by the woodworking community at large for their quality content. Andrew's latest venture, Celebrating Boxes, has him teamed up with fellow UK box maker, Peter Lloyd. United in this project, they have developed a mutually strong belief that boxes are undervalued in the 'Art' world. This project, conceived in 1994, had become a reality in February 2000, with the selection of around 80 craftsmen for the Celebrating Boxes exhibition, which opens in Tullie House, Carlisle, September 22, 2001. The exhibition is to tour nationally, then internationally. A companion book includes a foreword by David Linley and includes work by most of the artisans selected for the Celebrating Boxes tour. For the rest of the story click here...

Featured Links

Featured Downloadable Seminar

When your car acts up, you know it’s time to open the hood and make some adjustments. Likewise, if you don’t keep your power tools in tune, the quality of your woodworking almost certainly will suffer. Click here to purchase seminar

This Month's "Cool Tool"

Craftsman Easy Fire Stapler/Brad Nailer.

This tool’s Forward Action makes it easy to use. Even my little girl (who is used as an example because she is very petite, NOT because she is female) can handle the Forward Action(tm). The operator holds the stapler directly over the work surface, which allows for more consistent pressure and ease of delivery of the projectile. This tool is ideal for the do-it-yourselfer for insulation, picture frames and other home maintenance. click here for the complete review

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Woody Tool Workout:

BladePoint Laser Guide

For several years now, I have looked to Norm Abram as a source for new and innovative tools. I am seldom disappointed with his view on a tool. Many of you are left with a case of tool envy when it comes to Norm's Power compound miter box, as am I. The ease at which he is able to make one-off cuts for projects had me searching the 'Net for any of the remaining Porter Cable laser-guided saws. It never seemed to fail that when I would find one in an ad or auction, it would be gone.

My quest for a laser-guided saw led me to BladePoint Corporation and The BladePoint Laser Guide. Their ground-breaking design allows a woodworker to make safe, accurate and fast cuts on their own saw without any major modification. For the rest of the story click here

CPSC, Emerson Tool Co. Announce Recall of Craftsman® Radial Arm Saws Sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Emerson Tool Co., of St. Louis, Mo., is recalling about 3.7 million Craftsman® radial arm saws for repair. These radial arm saws were sold without a guard that covers the entire blade. Consumers have come into contact with the blade or have been hit by pieces of wood kicked back by the saws, resulting in severe injuries.

CPSC and Emerson have received about 300 reports of injuries while using these saws. Injuries include hand and finger amputations; lacerated hands, arms and fingers; fractured hands and fingers; and facial injuries. read more about this

Featured Plans

Lance is currently building this beautiful bookcase. Why not dress up your home with one of your own. Build one and send us a picture of your finished bookcase. Look for pictures of the one Lance is building in an upcoming issue and see how he did.

click here to order the plans

Tool Review

Porter-Cable 1-1/2 HP Router Kit, Model #693PK

Once you get into woodworking one of the tools you MUST get is a good router. Several questions then must be answered. What size motor should it have. Should I get a plunge router, or a fixed base router?. What brand should I buy?

Porter Cable has a great answer to those questions in the form of its 1-1/2 HP Router Kit, Model #693PK. The pack includes the 10 Amp router motor, long recognized as the standard of the industry. Also included is a fixed router base and plunge router base. Click here for the complete tool review

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