Features
Without regrets
Brian Clancy, an Irish native who immigrated to America in his 20s, pursued several career interests before taking the leap to open Clancy Woodworking, a custom cabinet shop in Sherman, Conn., in 1999.
Let There Be Light, Heat and Storage
Perhaps the most obvious aspect of the workshop environment is lighting.
Picking a panel saw
Panel saws let a shop break down full sheets of material into manageable pieces such as door and case panels and other flat parts such as shelves.
Collaborating for a cause
In early September, 14 woodworkers gathered at Rubio Monocoat’s headquarters in Izegem, Belgium for the Rubio Monocoat Atelier event.
Leading the charge
Portable power tool innovation continues with better batteries, brushless motors and improved ergonomics
The cherry on top
Picking a surface material can make a break a project, so it’s important to consider the pros and cons amongst the myriad of choices
Two of a kind
Jeff Headley and Steve Hamilton carry on building period furniture at their century-old business in Berryville, Va.
Next-level design software
A survey of the latest CAD programs shows an array of features and functions
Outsourcing options
There can be a lot of upside to outsourcing. It lets a cabinet shop fill orders on schedule, expand its catalog of offerings, and keep labor costs under control.
Lessening the learning curve
Taking the leap into CNC machining can be a bit unnerving because, unlike other shop machines, digital fabrication requires an entirely new skill set.
Built from scratch
Castleman Carpentry started as a small operation in 2003 and is now a mid-sized company offering custom residential cabinetry and general contracting services.
Challenge accepted
Shaper Tools, manufacturer of the Shaper Origin hand-held, self-guiding router, has announced the winners of its online contest, the #shaperbox challenge, where entrants designed and built unique boxes.
Where the busy shops shop
Increased CNC automation is one way through the hiring crunch, but it can also cut costs over time, ramp up production (sometimes dramatically), increase throughput speed, save floor space, improve accuracy, and open new design options.
Cabinet Assembly Options
Traditional assembly still makes sense for small shops that neither build a lot of boxes nor own a CNC.
Doubling down
Kerf & Burled designs and builds custom furniture for homes, offices and restaurants nationwide with a heavy focus on bars and breweries.
Controlling dust, spray and fumes: September 2022
The biggest environmental challenges to a woodshop are fine dust, spray booth exhaust, and chemical emissions from adhesives, but addressing them will almost always improve profitability.
Free to a good home
There comes a time when you have to get rid of perfectly good tools for whatever reason – you never use them, you already own one (or more) that you prefer to use, you don’t need backups, or you somehow acquired too many. Who really needs five nearly identical circular saws?
Cabinet hardware trends
Getting a handle on what’s hot with pulls, knobs, hinges, drawer slides, lighting, and more
For the finishing room
New equipment for applying and drying, moving parts around the shop, and automating the process