Follow our Facebook page for free woodworking goodness! - Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal is a multi-media publication designed for weekend woodworkers of all skill levels. Each issue contains a selection of articles and videos about woodworking techniques (hand and power tools), jigs and shop improvements, unique projects, skill building tutorials, tool reviews and quick tips.
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This band saw is BIG on everything except size. It features a full 24" of throat capacity, yet it's small enough to fit on a bench. It's loaded with features that even the commercially made saws lack, like a built in sliding crosscut table, ball bearing blade guides, and a unique dust collection manifold. You can use common 104"-105" blades and the best part is, it's made almost entirely from wood!
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Andre Roubo was among the oldest of the old-timey woodworkers, and the unique drawings found in his eighteenth century book have inspired woodworkers for over 200 years. Stumpy has designed a version of this bench which is by far the easiest, least expensive version to make. You can build one without difficult joinery, and without compromises in strength and features, all from cheap construction lumber! It's big, beefy and full of all the features a hand tool woodworker, or even a power tool woodworker, would appreciate.
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This rack was created with that in mind. It is designed to evolve with your collection. Not only can you move the bits around, you can also move the holes! This makes it possible to group bits by type, to add more places for 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch shaft bits, and each bit holder is removable so you may keep the bit protected when you take it to your bench or router table. This may be the last bit rack you ever build!
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This little tool rest was one of our first projects, way back in the old Blue Collar Woodworking show days. Since then it has become one of our most popular, with so many requests for plans that we decided to give in and make some! It is fully adjustable and designed to be used with the Veritas grinding jig- (though it can also be used on its own). There's a slot in the top platform that allows you to move the jig side-to-side as you grind, and the whole platform also advances forward and back, a handy feature that no other tool rest I have seen has!
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This is a new take on an old-timey tool that every modern woodworker should have. A bench hook is essential for making crosscuts by hand, and with the addition of shooting board features (both for 90-degree and miters cuts), it becomes an ultra-precise cutting jig for fine tuning project parts to a perfect fit. The Stumpy Nubs version includes features we've never seen before, including multiple fence options, hardwood reinforced tracks, and replaceable vital parts to ensure it will last a lifetime.
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This machine was born out of frustration! Stumpy had a cheap hand-held biscuit joiner that he picked up on a whim at Harbor Freight. The problem with cheap units like that is the difficulty that comes with making an accurately placed slot without the tool rocking out of position during the cut! So, like any good woodworker, Stumpy set out to find a solution. And the result is a bench top unit that can make a cheap tool into something easier to use than even the expensive hand-held versions. The Bench-top Biscuit Joiner is fast and accurate, inexpensive to build, and has dozens of uses. It's great for edge gluing boards, strengthening any butt joint, cutting slots for raised panels and picture frames... you name it!
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Building box/finger joint jigs has become a bit of a hobby among some woodworkers, like marble machines or complex mouse traps. They are admittedly complicated, but fun to build and really useful tools. I've designed several, but this one is my favorite. It will cut any joint configuration you can imagine, without any complicated setup or attachments to swap around. You don't need a dado set to use it, though using one will speed up the process. It will cut a joint up to 18" wide, and is compatible with any 10-inch table saw.
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Stumpy's amazing x-y sliding drill press table is a little big for some drill presses, so he got to work on a more compact solution- smaller, easier to build, but still loaded with features, like replaceable inserts, slide out trays for drill bit storage, a unique fence based dust collection system, and a t-style fence locking mechanism.
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This amazingly accurate and versatile router table fence is patterned after the very expensive Incra LS system. It features a set of interlocking teeth creating positive stops every 1/16". You can't miss your mark even by the tiniest fraction of in inch! And when combined with Stumpy's "sliding router table" you can create precise joinery! It also works on any router table and is the most accurate homemade router fence out there.
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Have a lot of shelf pin holes to drill? Want a large, bench top machine that allows you to drill two rows at once, without messing with clamps to keep it in place? This is a jig unlike any other!
The work piece slides inside the jig, rather than clamping the jig onto the work piece. A turn of a crank is all you have to do to secure it in place. The template on top allows you to drill a hole every second in stock of any thickness and up to a foot wide. Jobs like cabinets and small bookcases won't require re-positioning at all, you can do both rows of holes at once. Longer work pieces are easier than ever to do because you don't have to remove the jig to re-position, you simply loosen the crank and slide the board!
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This is a tool Stumpy has wanted for a long time, but just couldn't justify the $1,000 price tag for the commercial version! It's a hand held mortising machine designed for loose tenon joinery- which is a lot like traditional mortise and tenon joinery- but WAY faster and easier! Inspired by the Festool Domino, this homemade version is a lot easier to make than you'd think, and it has more uses than you'd imagine!
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This is a detailed guide for cutting dovetails with a router table. It includes instructions for building the jig and for every aspect of the dovetailing process from layout to the final cuts, even how to fix your mistakes. (The pins are cut at the router table, and the tails are cut with either a band saw or a handheld jig saw.) It's eight pages of photos, drawings and detailed instructions that you can take to the shop with you!
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I designed a dovetail machine that can be made from wood, and has more features than most of the top of the line commercial versions. This machine is designed to be used with your router to make fast, even, beautiful through dovetail joints that look like you made them by hand. It is micro-adjustable so you can set how tight you want the joint to be, and it allows you to easily change the spacing and size of the tails and pins. It will also make sliding dovetail joints and router dadoes!
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Traditional workbenches are great! The problem is that planning and project assembly tasks are best done at a low bench, but cutting joinery such as dovetails is more comfortable at a higher bench. Most shops don’t have multiple benches for multiple uses, so we bend down for our dovetailing.
This workstation seeks to solve that problem! When placed on a standard bench top it raises your work up so you can stand erect and work more comfortably. It includes work-holding clamps so it may be used on any work-surface, no vice required. And other clever features, such as a drawer to hold all your dovetailing tools and a replaceable chopping surface, make it very versatile.
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This drum sander design is unlike anything you've ever seen before! It is a "dual stage" machine, meaning both the top and the bottom of the sanding drum may be used. This enables you to sand any flat work piece to thickness by feeding it through the machine via a hand-cranked feed belt, OR you can pass your work pieces over the top of the machine for fast sanding of flat surfaces and even edges! There isn't another drum sander with this capability ANYWHERE! It's also designed to use inexpensive, easy to find 6" sanding belts, and rather than peeling off the paper to change grits, you swap out the whole drum via a quick-release system!
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Got a lot of electronic gizmos and do-dads laying around? So does Stumpy- so he decided to build one of those fancy "valets" to organize them. It holds a bunch of stuff, from digital cameras to cell phones to tablets and more. But the best part is, all the mess of wires stays hidden inside. A secret compartment contains both a power strip, and a USB hub for those gadgets that charge that way. It's about a foot wide and fits nicely on any desk, end table or counter top- wherever your stuff piles up!
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This workstation does it all. It begins with the t-track embedded top (which you can buy or make) that provides endless possibilities for work holding, tool mounting and more. Lift the top and slide it behind the cabinet using the innovative, spring-loaded tracking system and you reveal a downdraft sanding station. When you aren't using the workstation it is designed to serve as a table saw out-feed table. Did I mention the pull-out platform that nearly doubles the work surface, and the ample storage?
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Ever consider making a bed? This heirloom-quality bedstead is built to last for generations! It features a slab-style headboard which appears to have cracked down the middle and been rejoined with dovetail-shaped ties. The bed as designed is queen size, but may easily be modified to make it smaller or larger. It is a platform style which incorporates a flexible system of slats to support the mattress and add extra comfort without a box spring. And it features knock-down joinery that makes it easy to disassemble and move. The frame also features dovetailed corners- but don't worry, there is a very simple way to cut this beautiful joinery! In fact, these plans will walk you through everything step-by-step, including showing you how to fix any mistakes and build new skills!
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This project is specifically designed to help new woodworkers improve their skills. It's engineered around common board widths found in home centers so it may be built without a table saw to rip boards to width. Every cut can be made with a handheld circular saw and a router. But no matter your skill level, you'll appreciate this sturdy, fully featured storage unit with compartments for all your gear, including a pair of drawers beneath the seat.
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This is a hand plane till for the ages! It's designed to hold the planes you have now, and those you will acquire in the future as your skills and collection grow. It can hold 8-12 bench planes including a full set of Stanley sizes #3-8, plus a couple of extras (scrub plane, extra smoother, etc) AND several block or specialty planes! Or it can be customized to hold your favorite selection. It also includes a large drawer for other tools or sharpening accessories.
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This lift features an improved tracking mechanism, adjustments are made from above the table using a 1 1/8" socket or wrench, it attaches to a homemade router plate, and will go into almost any router table that has a removable plate. Or you can use it by itself as a stand-alone mini router table! The plans are designed for a standard 3 1/2 - 3 3/4" round, removable router motor.
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This horizontal router has a few unique twists that make all the difference, like a tilting table, a micro adjustable router lift, a sliding table and much more. The machine is great for making raised panel doors, cutting miters and bevels, making splined miter joints for boxes, locking miter joints, half lap joints, rabbets, tenons... the list goes on and on. Plus it has excellent dust collection, and the tilting table makes it possible to cut unique, one of a kind profiles with ordinary router bits!
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This tenon jig is yet another example of how you can use a homemade incremental positioner in amazing ways! It provides a positive stop every 1/6" (which can be micro-adjusted to the tiniest amount), making it impossible to set up the jig wrong, and making it easy to make many tenons that are all exactly the same size without laying them out individually. The accuracy and repeatability of this jig is unique in any homemade or even store-bought version- just check out the video below to see! But the best part is, it's inexpensive and easy to make using our detailed plans, complete with lots of photos and step-by-step instructions!
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This is a great machine for cutting curves and large holes without having to cut from the edge of the work piece like with a band saw. In fact, it can replace a band saw in a budget-minded shop. PLUS, it can cut plastic, metal, even tile! Rockwell calls theirs a Blade-runner, but this one has features that even theirs doesn't have. For one thing, it makes beveled cuts. It has a storage drawer at the bottom, and it can be made from scraps and a cheap saw.
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Stumpy uses his laptop computer in the workshop a lot, so he wanted a way to protect it in style! What he came up with is not just a case, it's a workstation- with drawers for storage, trays for pencils, paper clips and all his other junk, and a place to stow his mouse and power cord when he wants to take it with him. All in a compact, beautiful maple workstation!
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These two jigs are easy to make, and simple to use. One is for the router table, the other is used with a hand-held router. Both will cut through-dovetail pins (the tails are cut with a band saw, scroll saw or jig saw). The hand-held router jig will also enable you to cut half-blind dovetails as well. Both jigs are demonstrated in the videos below, and there's another video about laying out your joints.
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It's true- you can NEVER have enough clamps. But it's also a little known fact- you can never have a big enough clamp rack! The problem is, a lot of small shops don't have the wall space for a large selection of clamps. So Stumpy set out to make a compact solution that would hold a lot of clamps in a little space.
This clamp rack has three layers which open like cabinet doors. It will hold 48 clamps, enough for even the biggest glue-ups! But the best part is that those clamps can now be stored in just a 3X2' space on your shop wall! It will fit regular twist bar clamps as well as the one handed ratcheting bar clamps. The same principal can also be adapted to hold pipe clamps.
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These ten picture frames (inspired by an old magazine) have been modified so you can make them with common router bits, using standard 3/4" thick stock. Add some contrasting wood or a little color, and you will be amazed what you can do with a few bits! Take the skills you learn from these frames (and the video below) and make your own designs, as well!
A fair amount of work went into modifying, digitally modeling and diagramming these profiles, so I am charging a few dollars for that effort. I also recommend you watch the free videos below for additional tips.
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If you use a lot of plywood or if you just like to keep a few sheets on hand, this is the project for you! It's a storage cart that organizes both full and partial sheets. But it also includes a clever feature that holds large panels upright so you may break them down easily with a circular saw and an edge guide. No more carrying and flipping big, heavy sheets around the shop. Do it all right on the storage cart! The whole thing is mobile so you can roll it around and tuck it in a corner. And it's built from inexpensive construction lumber.
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Stumpy was inspired by a particularly enjoyable ride in a Ferris wheel with his mother-in-law to build a tool stand that takes the "flip top" idea to places it never dreamed of! Instead of holding two tools or machines, this one holds FOUR, and none of them flip upside down! He made his to hold a bench grinder, a couple of sharpening machines and a hand sharpening station, but it can be easily modified to hold any kind of small to medium machine you like.
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Router planes are amazing tools, but they are also largely misunderstood. And that's a shame, because they are extremely useful in both a hand-tool and a power-tool workshop. Rather than cutting profiles, as a modern router does, a router plane is for cutting to depth with precise accuracy. They can be used to make the bottom of a table saw dado perfectly flat. They can fine tune a rabbet or a tenon. They are the perfect companion to many power tools with nearly unlimited uses.
My version of the router plane is easy to make from a scrap of wood and some easy to find hardware. And unlike other homemade versions, this has a micro-adjuster to set the depth and shaving thickness.
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What started out as a way to safely hold small parts while working at the router table, became a multi-functional sled that will accomplish several tasks safely and accurately. It's a small parts holder: it's a coping sled for routing on the ends of narrow work pieces (rail and stile construction, tenons, half laps, etc.); and it's a circle cutting jig capable of diameters up to 10-inches.
This sled is surprisingly easy to build, and the plans give you all the information you need, including step-by-step instructions complete with photos. Enjoy!
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This easy to build jig makes it possible to create traditional raised panels on the router table without any special bits. All you need is a simple straight router bit, and the results are quick, easy and repeatable.
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Every workshop should have at least one saw bench. Not only is this an indispensable tool for sawing, it’s also a comfortable and portable workspace for chopping, boring and all sorts of other tasks. This version of the classic saw bench includes some extra features. For one thing, there’s a split that runs down the center to support both sides of the board while you rip down its length. There are holes for holdfasts to secure your work while you drill or chop sitting down. And it’s large enough to use as a step stool or an extra seat while shooting the breeze. But the best part is it can be built with some old construction lumber!
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A mini cyclone designed to keep your filter clean and your vacuum working hard! There are commercial versions on the market, but ours is easy and inexpensive to make, and will mount directly on your vacuum so you don't have to pull a separate bucket around. Vacuum surgery is optional, and we walk you through the whole thing! This project was featured on episodes 51 & 52 of "The Stumpy Nubs Workshop".
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This jig is simple and inexpensive to make, but well thought out to provide a surprising level of functionality. It may be used with a plunge router and an edge guide to create accurate, repeatable mortises. You can cut tricky ones too, such as double mortises, parallel mortises and even mortises in round stock.
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It may look like a regular router table, but it has a feature that very few have! The front of the table surface slides in a precision track, and that makes all the difference. It's like having a built in coping sled for safely and accurately routing small parts or routing the end of narrow stock. You clamp your work piece right down to the table, then slide the carriage past the bit. It adds a level of safety and precision that no standard router table can match, and the uses are endless. Add to that the six drawers for bit and accessory storage and you have a router table that will do more things and last longer than any you've ever owned!
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These homemade spring clamps are easy to make, and cost almost nothing (assuming you have some scrap wood and rubber bands laying around.) They're great for light duty clamping, and make an excellent project for kids- just be sure to supervise while they use the band saw or scroll saw. The link below will provide you with patterns for a large and small version.
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Stop sawdust boogers forever! This downdraft table is an all in one solution for a small shop with a big 20" X 30" work surface complete with an embedded t-track holding system. Not only will it tame the sawdust, it has countless other uses for securing your workpieces with clamps, stops, risers and hold downs for sanding, cutting, routing carving... the list goes on and on!
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There are lots of ways to cut miters, but most involve setting the angle of a guide or jig. If you set it imprecisely, you'll have problems. Why not have a sled dedicated to the most common miter angle you use, 45-degrees?
This precise miter sled excels at cutting the parts for frames and boxes. The dual fences are reliably fixed at 45-degrees and they extend for long workpieces. There is a system of stops to make repeated cuts accurately, and a micro-adjuster to fine tune your project parts. It's the best miter sled out there, in my opinion!
NOTE- You may also purchase this as part of our three-sled set at discounted rate in the "table saw jigs" catagory of our project plans store.
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This fence is truly unique with an innovative locking system that self squares to the blade, a micro adjuster for fine tuning your cuts, and an anti-kick-back European style with detachable extensions. Even the rails are made from wood! It's designed to fit any saw from small, bench top units to large cabinet saws, with or without side tables. There's even a built in pencil & accessory holder! (This project can be used on its own, but it is also designed to fit our deluxe table saw workstation)
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This set includes ALL THREE of our deluxe table saw sled plans, including the large "Mega Sled," the more compact "Mini Sled," and the deluxe "Miter Sled", plus all the joinery jig attachments including a finger joint jig, a pair of dovetail jigs, a tenon-cutting jig, a jig for cutting spline slots to reinforce frames and boxes, and spring activated micro-adjusters to fine tune your cuts. It is by far the most capable table saw sled system around!
NOTE: The three sleds may also be purchased separately in the "table saw jigs" catagory of our project plans store.
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This is the larger of three table homemade saw sleds I use in my shop. I call it the "Mega Sled" because it will do it all including crosscutting large panels and cutting various types of joinery. It includes plans for a clever system of joinery jig attachments including a finger joint jig, a pair of dovetail jigs, a tenon-cutting jig, a jig for cutting spline slots to reinforce frames and boxes, and spring activated micro-adjusters to fine tune your cuts. It is by far the most capable table say sled system around!
This large sled will work on any contractor's table saw or cabinet saw. It will also work on many portable jobsite saws. It may be too large for some small benchtop saws. We offer a smaller version of this sled, complete with all the same attachments in our web store.
You may also purchase this sled, our smaller version (for day-to-day work) and our special miter sled (for 45-degree frames and boxes) as a 3-plan set at a discounted rate in the "table saw jigs" catagory of our project plans store.
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This is the every-day user out of of three homemade table saw sleds I have in my shop. I call it the "Mini Sled" because it it is a smaller, easier to pull out and stow away version of the big "Mega Sled" - but it is almost as capable. It includes plans for a clever system of joinery jig attachments including a finger joint jig, a pair of dovetail jigs, a tenon-cutting jig, a jig for cutting spline slots to reinforce frames and boxes, and spring activated micro-adjusters to fine tune your cuts. It is by far the most capable table say sled system around!
Note- the dovetail jig attachments are a little large for this sled. They will work, but they will hang off the edge. They work best on the larger version of this sled, which is available in our web store.
You may also purchase this sled, our larger version (for larger work) and our special miter sled (for 45-degree frames and boxes) as a set at a discounted rate in the "table saw jigs" catagory of our project plans store.
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The Europeans have had a secret for years- their saws have sliding tops for easy and accurate crosscuts! We can buy attachments for our saws in the US, but they are EXPENSIVE. So why not make your own? This one mounts to the side of your contractor or cabinet saw (for smaller saws, use with the TS Workstation) and includes an adjustable miter fence, even a storage drawer. Great for working with plywood panels!
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This is my version of an idea first presented in Fine Woodworking Magazine (Issue #178) by Richard Beebe. This taper jig works like a sled, securely holding your workpiece and keeping your hands safe throughout the cut, even for narrow tapers, such as chair legs. My version is a little different that his. It adjusts equally from both ends of the fence, and will cut wide panels as well as narrow stock.
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This is the ultimate table saw improvement! Not only does it add a giant work area to your bench top or contractor style saw, it can be combined with some of our other homemade tools to create an entire workshop in a 4X8 foot area! There are also sixteen drawers, several storage shelves, and room for various other small machines. Add a bench top drill press and a mini lathe, you name it! (There's even a built in lumber rack, for goodness sake!)
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This is a great project for a beginner because it requires only a circular saw and utilizes materials you can buy in a home center. (Though I highly recommend the Bora edge guide system to make accurate cuts.) But no matter your skill level, you'll appreciate this sturdy, fully adjustable book case with a hidden secret compartment on top. These plans include a dimensioned cut list, plywood diagram, and simple drawings so you can see how it goes together. I recommend you also watch the free video below for tips.
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Stumpy wanted a new place to do what he does, and this is the result: A mobile workstation with more features than you've ever seen in one place. It has five roomy drawers, a clamp rack, built in nail and screw bins, an innovative power tool storage area, organizer bins for parts and accessories, a special top with built in T-Tracks, even a pull out sharpening station! It's easy to see why he calls it "ultimate"!
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This may be the only clamp rack you ever need. It will hold between 20-40 clamps, depending on the type, including F-clamps, parallel clamps, pipe clamps, bar clamps or pistol grip clamps. Set up the rack according to the types you own now. If you get more of a different type later, the rack adjusts to always efficiently use the valuable wall space. And it only requires a half sheet of plywood!
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This idea came from a trip to a home center to buy one of those pedestal drawer units that go beneath front-loading washers and dryers. They cost about $250+ for each machine, and they're little more than poorly designed junk! I knew I could do better! This one is designed for both machines. It has a lot more drawer space than the commercial versions, it's on wheels so it can be moved, and it was carefully engineered to support the tremendous weight on top for years and years to come. Best of all, it'll cost you just a fraction of price of the store bought units! This is a great project for a beginner because it requires only a circular saw and utilizes materials you can buy in a home center.
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Turn your Worksharp sharpening system into a super-sharpener for all of your woodworking needs. These modifications include replacing the glass discs with inexpensive alternatives, using buffing compounds instead of the pricey sandpaper, and a stand that not only includes storage for all of your discs and accessories, but includes a large platform to make it possible to sharpen wide plane and chisel blades with a simple honing jig! These changes are easy to do and will make your Worksharp do a lot more, plus save you a bundle!
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This is a drill press table unlike anything you have ever seen before. Despite its compact profile, it is PACKED with features, including two drill bit storage drawers, a quick-release T-style fence, built in dust collection, replaceable inserts and a clever mechanism that allows the table surface to slide forward and back, as well as left to right! When combined with the built in stops, or simple layout lines on a piece of tape, this mechanism can make your drill press do a LOT more! Use it to make rows of holes for shelf pins, etc., all with easy repeatability. You can even put a router bit in the drill press and use the table for milling shallow mortises and inlays. You're bound to find even more uses for this unique table!
A truly unique digital publication for the everyday woodworker
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