Although Robert Bosch GmbH is the world’s largest supplier of automotive components, the company name is much more familiar to consumers for their wide range of quality power tools. Bosch Tools are highly regarded among wood workers for their durability as well as their engineering quality. The company has been an innovator in the woodworking industry throughout its history and continues to make improvements today. In 2010 alone, the company spent 3.8 billion dollars on research and development and applied for over 3,800 new patents.
Despite their worldwide presence (including over 350 subsidiaries in 60 countries) the company is still headquartered near Stuttgart where Robert Bosch started it all in 1886. The Bosch family still maintains control over company operations. Remaining true to Robert’s original vision, the company maintains its top spot by focusing on quality products and efficient manufacturing.
Robert Bosch began his ‘Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering’ in Stuttgart in 1886. He was inspired by a visit to the United States where he was witnessed a hotbed of technological activity led by famous men like Tomas Edison and Henry Ford. He saw huge potential in the young country and focused his efforts on designing products that would be useful to burgeoning technology. His first big success was the magneto ignition system that produced a reliable spark for starting up internal combustion engines. Hand in hand with the growing automotive industry, the Bosch company experienced immediate success. Besides functioning well, this product was greatly aided by a hugely successful advertising campaign in the US.
The first US sales branch of the company was opened in New York in 1906. Branches in Chicago, Detroit, and San Francisco followed within a few years. In 1912, Bosch opened its first US plant in Springfield, Massachusetts. This plant foreshadowed many technological and social reforms by several years. The plant was considered more sanitary and orderly than other automotive factories, and Robert Bosch was one of the first industrialists to introduce the 8 hour work day in 1906. The Bosch company increased in size and influence as the automotive revolution swept the world. Regardless, constant innovation and an emphasis on quality have been essential to the continued success of the brand.
Most people know the Bosch name because of their power tools. In the US, the majority of these are produced by the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation based in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Popular products include drills, sanders, saws, and planers, as well as drill bits and saw blades. Other familiar subsidiary names include Hawera, Skil, Dremel, RotoZip, Freud, Vermont American, and more. As well as being one of the largest manufacturers of portable power tools worldwide, Bosch is considered one of the best and frequently wins awards for innovation and quality.
In about 1956, for example, the company was one of the first to design plastic power tools. These tools are superior to the metal versions that came before because they don’t conduct electrical sparks or current to the user as well as being much lighter. In 2003, Bosch (under the Dremel brand name) was the first company to utilize a lithium ion battery for hand tools, a practice that has become the new standard. These are just two of the revolutionary ideas that have kept the company at the vanguard of hand-tool technology.
The Bosch brand name has always been synonymous with quality thanks to rigorous production standards and generous investment in research and development. Bosch is one of the few companies worldwide that has managed to cling to its ideals and remain strong throughout its 126 year history. Even as cheap disposable products become the norm, Bosch continues to flourish by offering durable, quality hand tools. The company shows no signs of slowing and we can rest assured that each passing year will bring new innovations from Bosch Tools.
Veneer is thin slices of wood that are glued to core panels to produce flat panels for tops, cabinets, doors and furniture parts. The slices of wood are usually 1/8-inch thick. Plywood is the most common type of veneer, but it is also used for decorations and manufactured boards.
Veneer is obtained by peeling a tree trunk or by slicing big blocks of wood. In some veneer, you can see the grain and figure of the wood. This happens when they slice through the rings of trees.
The main types of veneer-making equipment that are used commercially are:
*Rotary Lathe
With this type, wood is turned against a sharp blade and peeled off in a continuous roll. This type of veneer is usually used for plywood.
* Slicing Machine
This type of machine takes a large block of wood or piece of log, raises and lowers it against the blade, and makes slices.
* Half-round Lathe
This type of machine turns and moves the logs in ways that force exposure of the most interesting parts of the grain.
Veneering dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who used veneers on furniture and sarcophagi.
The best logs are sent to companies that produce veneer. This gives the most money to the log owner and there is usually better quality and more usable wood. Regular wood-workers use planks that are longer and wider. Because veneer is so small, you get more use out of each log.
There are different types of veneers available for purchase and each has a special purpose.
* Raw Veneer
This has no backing and can be used with either side facing out. However, the two sides will look different with a finish applied, so it may be best to finish the veneer first to get the best match.
* Paper Backed Veneer
This type is available in large sizes, because smaller pieces are joined together before adding the backing. This is great for those who want to use veneer without having to join smaller pieces together themselves. This veneer is less likely to crack, which makes it useful on curves and columns.
* Phenolic Backed Veneer
This type is less common and is used for man-made veneers. This is become a more popular type because of concern for the resources. It is available in sheets and is less likely to crack.
* Laid Up Veneer
This is raw veneer that has been joined together to make bigger pieces. It is a time consuming process and requires patience, but is easy to make and does not require special tools or machines.
Veneer takes on certain patterns, depending on how they are lined up.
* Book Matched
In this type of pattern, the veneers are opened from the large block of wood, to resemble the pages of an open book.
* Slip Matched
With this type of pattern, the pieces of veneer are joined together in the same order they came from the large block of wood. The same side is kept up throughout to give a more uniform look.
* Radial Matched
With this pattern, the veneer is cut into wedge shapes and then joined together.
* Diamond Matched
The end for is a diamond shape.
There are many advantages to using veneers instead of solid wood. With veneers, less wood is used, which makes the product less expensive.
Veneers are usually sold by the square foot; however, there are some instances where they are sold in sheets, such as with plywood.
Wood veneer is a great alternative to solid wood because it saves the resources, uses less product, and costs less.
If you want reliable equipment for any woodworking project, then Woodpecker tools would be your best option. You will find a full range of layout and measuring tools, router fences, router mounting plates, router tables, clamping accessories, sawing blades, sanding equipment and router lifts. These tools are fully manufactured in the USA, and the company has become popular for the superior quality and precision of its products.
Woodpeckers Inc. started in Ohio in the later part of 1988, with a range of router tools. Until 2004, the company mainly advertised their products with actual demonstrations at shows that were mainly for woodworking products. With a humble start of only making router mounting plates and router tables, the company has now grown into a full-fledged establishment that caters to almost all woodworking requirements.
The company still holds woodworking shows across the US, to demonstrate their existing range of tools, as well certain new products. Although the company does not have a showroom, their products are distributed through a wide network of dealers like Sears, Woodcraft, and Router Table Depot. There are other dealers as well who stock woodpecker tools in places like California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, New York, North Dakota, Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and many more. However, you can also shop online for their full range of tools, on their official company website called Woodpeck.com.
Woodpecker started with router equipment and still has an impressive range of router table packages, table stands, router plates and lifts, fence systems, many router accessories, and a drill press table. Woodpecker is also well known for its range of layout and measuring tools, which include different squares, rules, rule stops, story sticks, triangles, and various types of gauges. Woodpecker often comes out with one-time tools, which do not have a regular production. These are given a widow of a few days for people to order, and the company then moves on to making some other new tools. These are listed on their website under One-Time Tools section and you can find certain handy tools that may not be available anywhere else. The company also introduces certain new products that are innovative and come at a discount.
Apart from the impressive range of Woodpecker tools, the company also stocks certain tools of popular US companies like Incra, Bessey, Kreg, Metric, M. Power, Olson, Whiteside, and Ridge Carbide. On the company website, you can find an impressive array of Bessey clamps, and Incra building kits and accessories. Kreg also has a vast presence whose range includes, mounting tools, trak equipment, router switches, clamps, screws, holing tools, band saw systems, jigs, and fixture bars. Under saw blades you can find wide range of Ridge carbide and Olson products. M. Power has a range of precision marking tools and sharpening system.
Woodpecker tools have kept up their image of being reliable and of high quality, as per various user reviews. This fact is also vouched by the fact that their tools find prominence amongst popular dealers like Sears and Router Table Depot.
Mission style furniture embraces the concept of purpose followed by form. With its handcrafted appeal and clean lines, the object of such furniture is to serve its function with the least amount of fanfare possible. Its striking appearance is mostly due to its simple elegance. Mission style furniture was exceptionally popular in Great Britain and North America beginning in the late 1800s until the early 1920s. However, it is still seen in modern homes throughout the United States and Europe. Interestingly, the Arts and Crafts Movement in England was the inspiration for this style of furniture, although it is often erroneously thought of as American in origin.
An Engaging and Colorful History
A brick structure known as The Red House, which was built in 1859 by Phillip Webb, played a role in the introduction of mission style furniture to the general public. The Red House was a practical home built for William Morris, who requested that the home and its furnishings be designed as a whole. This was the first known project of its kind, where a holistic approach was taken to both the home’s interior and its architecture. The furniture was designed to complement the architecture and as a result the pieces were simple and functional.
The Red House caught the eye of several famous architects who felt that furniture making as a craft was being sacrificed to the unimaginative mass production of household furniture. Shortly thereafter, mission style furniture was manufactured by small handfuls of architects whose style represented a complete exodus from the ornate-style furniture pieces of the Victorian era. It was Gustav Stickley who was credited with creating the first Mission style pieces in America, but many American architects contributed to the furniture’s development in that area of the world.
When the style became popular in America, many individuals stated that they felt the furniture’s style represented the simplicity and values on which the country was founded. For this reason, it also became highly popular in the American Southwest and California from 1895 until the late 1920s. The furniture style born of the Arts and Crafts Movement transitioned smoothly to the Spanish Mission architecture that was commonly found in the states mentioned above. Typically constructed from oak or birch, and often accented with metal and copper, such furnishings blended well with the modern architecture of that day.
Characteristics
This type of furniture is easily recognized by its minimal ornamentation and linear appeal. Chairs typically feature very straight backs and flat feet. Linen and leather upholstery are used in mission furniture design, but upholstery itself is used sparingly. Embellishments are also minimal and are used to draw one’s eye to the craftsmanship of the pieces rather than their adornment.
Cabinets typically feature inset drawers or panels that are finished with decorative knobs. The designers usually relied on small detail to offset the furniture’s rigid geometric style. Nails with large decorative heads were often used in the upholstered pieces for the purpose of adding a bit of charm to the furniture.
Mission Style Furniture Today
Although the style centered on the concept of craftsmanship, like all popular creations it eventually was mass produced and found its way into many homes. Mission style furniture can still be purchased on today’s home interiors market, as there are several manufacturers that still produce such pieces. Because it features a simple elegance, mission style furniture blends well in virtually any home where it placed, regardless of whether the home’s decor is traditional or modern. Any homeowner who is considering redecorating or who is choosing new furnishing for his or her dwelling may wish to consider this attractive and charming style.
Every once in a while I get asked about building router tables and selling them online such as Ebay. Building the tables is fairly straight forward and their are a couple of things to keep in mind. The real question would be “Can you make any money?”
Building
Building a table is a pretty straight forward process, deciding on a design that works is probably the hardest part. You do not want to keep reinventing the wheel every time you step into the shop. Come up with a design that works and rinse and repeat. People will recognize your work and you will eventually build a reptuation. Keep in mind that making your table easy to ship is a very good consideration. The smaller the box the better.
Parts
The biggest challenge is finding the parts, especially if you can find them all in one spot. You will want to try and use parts that people recognize (brand) and that can be used universally. Also building tops that are lift capable is a big plus. Most woodworkers will upgrade to a lift sooner or later when they see how fun it is to use the router table.
Full Size or Bench Size
Specializing in one or the other is a good idea, especially since the size of the project is in direct relation to your budget. Which ones sell best? It depends on the time of year and the venue (ebay or amazon) If you make bench top sized projects make sure you can ship them with the legs broken down
Materials
MDF is an excellent substrate to use for router tables. If you make your own using standard 3/4″ MDF, glue them together and that will give you a 1 1/2″ thick top. This is a stable platform and a good selling point. Find a good quality laminate supply and use contact cement to attach.
Margins
So can you make any money? It depends. Labor is the single biggest factor in making anything in the shop. Every situation is different. If you are a cabinet shop or individual with a lot of down time, then you could make money. If profit margin is everything to you, maybe not. It all depends on your design and how fast you can pop out the units. Everything has to be taken into account.
You can find some good parts and even router table building kits in our store. Or use your own favorite brand.
Every once in a while we get a call asking us what is hot in router tables? At first I thought this was a weird question but after I thought about it for a while it started to crystalize. You can do a lot of research but sometimes its another set of eyes that help make things clearer. By knowing what other people are buying you may figure out something you have missed or never thought of. Its like reading the product reviews for a product.
This is Woodpeckers Premium router table package. I never would have thought this product would sell so well, first of all because it is not an inexpensive table. But the fact is, it is chock full of really good features and has some great details to the design. This table has a lift, and a router table lift is something that more and more people are wanting. Woodworkers are learning to become more and more precise with their work and are making projects such as furniture to use in their homes. This saves a lot of money and often offsets the price of a table. Building your own entertainment center can save you up to $2000, that more than pays for the router table and you still have it to make more projects.
Packages come in two different type tops, Phenolic (black) and MDF (white) You can also get them in two different sizes, standard (32×24) and extra large (27×43) The last option is in the lift, you can get the regular PRL lift which adjusts from the top and the sidewinder lift which has a crank on the side. So far the PRL lift has been more popular.
One of the reasons Woodpeckers is a great company is because they never sit still, they are always innovating new products that make our time in the shop even better. The newest is this corner radius jig designed to help you put out a consistent product.
It works well on the router table and gives you a nice rounded corner. Forget about rough cutting with a jig saw or band saw, this jig makes life simple and you get to use your router table too. What do you think?
People who work with woodworking or fiberglass can be exposed to many serious health risks which involve the breathing in of dust and other microscopic or bigger debris. This is serious business. To breathe in any type of particles puts strain on your lungs and decreases your ability to breathe properly and to have proper cardiovascular health. The best thing to do to decrease your exposure to these dangerous materials is to install a dust collector on your power tools or have a dust collection ventilation system in your woodshop or work area. Without one you can put yourself viagra for some serious consequences.
Dust collection can be applied in several different kinds of venues around your woodshop. Dust collection apparatus can be secured to power tools such as a saw or sander where the dust is collected right when it occurs. Some dust collection apparatus consists of cheese cloth bags attached to your tools or there are custom built dust collectors that will either fit on your power tool or sets independently near the work area to suck up dust or minute matter that would otherwise get into your lungs and harm your health. No matter what you are doing in the workshop, you need to have some kind of dust collection device.
Dust collection ventilation systems can be installed for the overall protection from dust for your entire workshop. Not only does these mammoth machines suck dust out of the air as you work, but you can sweep the sawdust and other material into the machine at designated ports around your shop. Just a quick sweep with a wide broom and your floor and air will be clean and safe. These larger dust collection machines are pricey, but if you are a commercial shop or if you have a large volume of dust accompanying your work, then this is a must for the serious wood working shop.
If you have a small wood working shop and you want to go commercial and hire workers, then you, according to OSHA, have to upgrade your dust collection equipment. The health of your workers and the prosperity of your business are pertinent to your success as a work shop owner. With the proper dust collection equipment even your insurance will go down if you provide insurance to your workers. It is a win-win situation to have this equipment installed and operating while your wood shop is in business. Without it you could set yourself up for legal problems and health problems down the road.
No matter if you are a weekend wood working warrior or a wood working business, you have to have dust collectors in place to save your health and even the environment. Dust from your wood shop could contaminate the local air with in particulate matter that will add to the dust from the road and neighborhood to contaminate the air and make you and your neighbors less healthy than you should be. At least wear a dust mask when working on wood and when you can afford it, purchase dust collectors.
Making a drawer for your router table is probably one of the more useful projects you can build on and for your router table. A drawer (or two) can hold and organize your router bits, like the one shown here. This gives you a couple of advantages. First of all, its keeps the bits upright and safe. You will not have to worry about your router bits rolling around the drawer and possibly chipping the edges of the cutters. Second you can drill out he drawer bottom for both 1/4″ and 1/2″ bits. This is usually pretty hard to find as a stock offering in most stores. Having both holes allows you to customize the drawer for your collection of bits, no matter what the size.
Construction
Building the floor or the bottom of the drawer is a pretty good idea to do first. This can allow you to layout your hole pattern and predrill them all before you assemble the drawer. Do a little planning on your drawer size and then use a drill press to drill out the holes. Its important to note that you cannot use a 1/4″ bit to drill a 1/4″ hole for your 1/4″ collet router bits, they have to be slightly larger. If they are the same size, you will have trouble inserting and removing the bits. This will be even more notable during the season changes with contraction and expansion.
While you are at the drawer, it may be a good time to just design a whole new cabinet around your drawer system!
You can use drawers on full size router tables or even on smaller bench sized ones shown here. Here is a couple of pictures to give you some ideas.
