rmason

I think trying to match tools is ridiculous. It would only be possible if you bought them all at once. I have tools that I acquired over a lifetime, actually several lifetimes if you consider I still use some of my Dad's tools. Plus I like to dabble in vintage planes and chisels. Matching tools seems like a fool's errand, there has got to be things that are way more important to worry about.

I think that using the router table will be the easiest way to do this. It saves clamping and then moving the clamps to get completely around the work. I always use the router table whenever I can. Use a bearing bit and rout the endgrain first. Take small bites in several passes.

If you look at the end grain, it is made from a single log. By quartering it they eliminated the major cracks that would develop if they had not. Sure there are some cracks in the piece but they are minor compared to what would have occured if they had left it whole.

They work fine, but you can get the same thing at the dollar store by buying a silcone bbq basting brush and cutting the bristles a bit shorter.

I use them as a outfeed support on my lunch box planer.

Read, read, read. There are tons of books and magazines out there with lots of good information and plans. Subscribe to a magazine, most have beginner plans in every issue. Start out easy with a simple set of plans and acquire tools as you need them.

It seems I keep them for a while but in the ultimate battle for space in my workshop they lose and I take them to the dumpster. I just can't accomodate stuff that I don't use in my tiny shop. The only case I have retained is for my sawzall. That is a tool that I transport more than any others and the size and shape of the case fits well under my bench.

You can only work as fast as your skill alllows you to. It is better to work slowly and build your skills and make less mistakes and work safely than to rush through projects trying to improve speed. You will get faster w/ as your skills progress through repetition, so be patient and not worry about speed but rather quality work.

Tables are great beginner projects. You have edge joining, leg tapering, and mortise and tenons. All great skills. What you tackle depends on what tools you have. I also would start out with a good set of plans for most projects before you try to design your own.

Simple, but not simple to make. That is not your everyday workshop,

I just use ps sandpaper. It has plenty of grip and I have lots of it around for easy repalcement.

I would drill all the way through otherwise they will fill w/ sawdust and you will be able to use a holdfast in the hole also. I would make sure they line up w/ the vise and I would probably not drill the holes until after the vise is installed.

I see 2 possibilities. One would be to temporarily attach a board lengthwise between the 2 corner pieces and then run a contractors saw along that edge to make it flush. The other is to pop a chalk line between the corners and cut to the line with a hand saw.

Make a stopped dado on the end pieces on the router table, it is easy to do. Another less elegant solution, that you could use for the box you have in your hand. is to cut some short plugs to fill the gaps.

I sharpen both faces on opposite sides of my scrapers. I like to flip them over when one side gets too warm for my fingers. I like having both faces sharp so I can pick it up and go to work w/o having to worry about which side has the burr.