Woodworking Tools — handheld

Comparing Restorer to Makita 9741 Brush Machine

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Comparing Restorer to Makita 9741 Brush Machine

When I have 2 machines that accomplish the same task in the shop it's only natural to compare the differences.  Here I have Makita and Restorer - both with hours of use and ton of completed projects.  From my point of view there are some advantages to both, depending on the work to be done.  Let's narrow in on the main differences to help you choose which sander is the right one for your woodworking shop.

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Why I use a Prazi Beam Cutter instead of a chainsaw

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Why I use a Prazi Beam Cutter instead of a chainsaw

I grew up in Northern British Columbia so I know how to use a chainsaw - then why do I prefer a Prazi Beam Cutter for my woodworking shop?  I'll quickly go over the reasons I love this circular saw attachment.

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The Slabstitcher

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The Slabstitcher

One of the expected challenges when working with reclaimed wood is CRACKS.  When working on my projects I thoroughly inspect all the wood both for it's character and it's strength.  If the existing cracks can be worked with then I pull out my top secret weapon for crack stabilization.... the SLABSTITCHER!

 

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How I use the RESTORER to age new wood

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How I use the RESTORER to age new wood

I am a huge advocate for reclaiming lumber and using it to build modern furniture with a rustic farmhouse style.  However, there are times that I must use new wood from the store!  Giving new wood the look of natural barn wood takes a few steps to replicate both the texture and the color.  I'm sharing with you my tried and true process during a faux beam build.  These beams were getting installed near some of my barn wood furniture and they needed to match.

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Top Woodworking Tool Recommendations for Small Shops

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Top Woodworking Tool Recommendations for Small Shops

Looking at my shop these days everyone sees my walls covered in tools and my floor filled with machines.  It wasn't always this way.  In the beginning my woodworking business started with a budget friendly box store router.  These days, when I'm approached by beginner woodworkers looking for tool suggestions I give them these five.

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