Shop Notes
Guides from the workshop
Practical woodworking guides on choosing and setting up precision jigs, measuring tools, router accessories, clamps and sharpening gear.
Joinery · 8 min read
Pocket-hole joinery: setup, bit depth and clamp pressure that hold
Pocket screws are fast and strong when the drill depth, bit and clamp pressure match your stock. Here is a setup that holds up in cabinets and face frames.
Read the guide →Layout, Angles & Rule Tech · 9 min
Calibrating a table saw blade to 0.1°: a repeatable method
A blade that reads 90° on the factory scale can still be off by a degree or more. Here is how to true it up with a digital angle gauge and keep it there.
Updated Sep 2026Layout, Angles & Rule Tech · 7 min
T-ruler marking accuracy: why a fence beats a tape measure
A T-square style marking ruler registers off the edge of the stock, removing the parallax and hook-slop errors that creep into tape measurements.
Updated Sep 2026Router & Table Outfitting · 8 min
Router lift setup: zeroing bit height and reading the dial
A router lift only pays off once it is set up right. Here is how to zero the height gauge, read the dial accurately and get repeatable bit changes.
Updated Sep 2026Benchtop & Workholding · 8 min
Bench dogs and workholding: laying out holes that actually line up
Bench dogs only work if the holes across the top and the vise line up on the same row. Here is a layout method and the spacing that suits most benches.
Updated Sep 2026Dust Management & Shop Ecology · 9 min
Cyclone dust separator sizing: airflow, drum size and hose diameter
A cyclone separator only works as well as the airflow feeding it. Here is how to size the cyclone body, the drum below it and the ducting to match your dust collector.
Updated Sep 2026Joinery · 7 min
Dowel jig vs. pocket hole: which joint suits your build
Both join panels fast, but they behave differently on show faces, in shear and under seasonal wood movement. Here is how to choose.
Updated Sep 2026Layout, Angles & Rule Tech · 6 min
Squaring a cabinet box: measuring the diagonals before you fasten
A cabinet that looks square can still be a fraction out. Measuring both diagonals catches the error before the back panel locks it in place.
Updated Sep 2026Router & Table Outfitting · 7 min
Featherboard setup on a router table: pressure points and safety
A featherboard keeps stock tight to the fence and table without pinching it against the bit. Here is where to mount it and how much pressure to use.
Updated Sep 2026Layout, Angles & Rule Tech · 6 min
Digital angle gauges: resolution, magnets and what to check before buying
Not every digital angle gauge holds its zero. Here is what separates a shop-grade gauge from one that drifts after a few uses.
Updated Sep 2026Benchtop & Workholding · 6 min
Track saw clamping: keeping the rail from creeping mid-cut
A track that shifts even a hair mid-cut ruins a panel. Here is how to clamp a guide rail so it stays put through a full sheet.
Updated Sep 2026Joinery · 8 min
Mortise and tenon by router: template guides and stop collars
A router with a template guide and a stop collar cuts consistent mortises without a dedicated mortiser. Here is the setup and sequence.
Updated Sep 2026Joinery · 8 min
Dovetail jig setup: template alignment and test-cut fitting
Most dovetail jig frustration comes from template alignment, not the router. Here is how to dial in the fit before cutting good stock.
Updated Sep 2026Layout, Angles & Rule Tech · 6 min
Marking gauge precision: setting a fence and scoring a clean line
A marking gauge lays out joinery more accurately than a pencil and ruler, but only when the fence is locked tight and the cutter is sharp.
Updated Sep 2026Layout, Angles & Rule Tech · 6 min
Center-finder tools: locating centers on dowels, rails and round stock
Finding a true center by eye is unreliable on round or odd-shaped stock. A center finder registers off the surface geometry instead of guesswork.
Updated Sep 2026Router & Table Outfitting · 7 min
Router insert plates: getting the surface truly flush
A high or low insert plate throws off edge cuts and snags stock at the seam. Here is how to level a plate and keep it that way.
Updated Sep 2026Layout, Angles & Rule Tech · 7 min
Height gauges for blade and bit height: faster, repeatable setups
A dedicated height gauge sets table saw blade height and router bit height faster than trial cuts, and repeats the same setting weeks later.
Updated Sep 2026Dust Management & Shop Ecology · 7 min
Shop dust collection fittings: blast gates, Y-fittings and reducers
The fittings between your tools and the collector matter as much as the collector itself. Here is how to lay out gates and reducers without starving airflow.
Updated Sep 2026