Popular Woodworking – Issue 286, December 2025
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Overview: Whether it’s a solo or group project, a home-improvement undertaking or a simple piece of art, Popular Woodworking lets you into the world of woodworking crafts. Each issue of Popular Woodworking features numerous projects for the expert craftsperson and the interested beginner.
Popular Woodworking Magazine: December 2025 Issue Summary
This issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine (December 2025, Vol. 45, No. 6) features a variety of woodworking projects, tips, new tools, and historical insights, catering to both amateur and professional woodworkers .
Featured Projects
- Shaker Workbench: Steven Bunn’s Shaker-inspired workbench is highlighted, offering generous storage and a spacious worksurface. The editor, Logan Wittmer, also built his own version of this bench, incorporating personal modifications like a cherry build, a thick maple top, and a quick-release tail vise . The design emphasizes functionality and ample storage, with the base frame modeled after a New England barn timber frame .
- Serpentine Chest: Glen D. Huey’s classic serpentine chest is presented as a project to test woodworking skills. This piece features a curved front with concave ends and a convex center, showcasing unique wood grain patterns . The article details the structural aspects, including hidden dovetail joinery and the process of creating the curved drawer blades .
- Dovetailed Box: Albert Kleine provides step-by-step instructions for crafting a simple dovetailed box, an excellent project for practicing dovetails and hand tool skills . The process includes milling stock, laying out dovetails with marking gauges and dividers, cutting tails and pins, and assembling the box .
Techniques and Tips
- Double Bevel Marquetry: David J. Marks explains his double-bevel marquetry technique, which involves precise cutting and gluing of inlaid wood pieces to create realistic images . This method uses a tilted scroll saw blade (e.g., 6º for 1/16″ veneers) to create a perfect, gap-free fit .
- Workshop Tips: The issue includes practical advice such as making a plane blade lapping jig , using white paint to make framing square markings readable , and closing miter gaps with a rounded object before glue dries . Additional tips cover using a soda-straw pipette for stain mixing , solo cabinet hanging with a 2×4 support , honing scrapers with diamond paddles , and using a brad driver in reverse to remove errant nails .
New Tools and Products
- Harvey Alpha A-15 Intelligent Bandsaw: This new bandsaw from Harvey Industries features a network of sensors, a touchscreen display for real-time statistics (blade tension, table angle, RPM), and upgraded components .
- Milwaukee M18 Dust Extractor: A portable dust extractor with dual power sources (M18 batteries or extension cord) and features like sealed buttons, hose storage, and high continuous airflow .
- Oliver Machinery 15″ Helical Head Planer: A benchtop planer with a helical cutterhead and 220V power, praised for its performance and quiet operation .
- BenchPilot by Shaper: An autopilot system for Shaper Origin, designed for hands-free CNC cutting, suitable for batch work, signmaking, inlays, and joinery .
- Bent Rivers Marking Knife: A high-quality marking knife holder machined from solid brass with carefully selected wood fittings, designed for precision and durability .
- Hovarter VX21 Wagon Vise: A wagon vise featuring a quick-release mechanism and a patent-pending sliding block, offering smooth action and solid clamping for workbenches .
- Woodworker’s Straightedge by Blue Spruce Toolworks: A precision-milled 12″ straight edge for accuracy and versatility in various woodworking tasks .
Other Content
The magazine also includes advertisements for various woodworking tools and supplies, a holiday sweepstakes, and information on Gustav Stickley’s timeless aesthetic and the Arts & Crafts movement .
In summary, the December 2025 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine provides a rich collection of content for woodworkers, blending detailed project guides with practical tips, reviews of innovative tools, and a touch of woodworking history.
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