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Articles by Michael Fortune
Project 2025 Conspiracy
Time and again on the campaign trail this year, now President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly disavowed Project 2025, a hard-right governing blueprint that would, among other things, eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, dismantle the civil service system, and impose sweeping restrictions on abortion rights.
Project 2025 Conspiracy
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THE REPUBLICAN CONSPIRACY
Former Fox News Channel journalist and political commentator Geraldo Rivera has written a lengthy post explaining why he will not vote for Donald Trump in November. In a statement released on X, Rivera began with the words “Sore Loser,” after which he pointed out that Trump stands a chance of sitting at the White House for a second time. He then narrated how he decided whom to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. show less
Crash And Burn Conspiracy
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5 Point Conspiracy
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Republicans For Harris
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Bandsaw jigs with Michael Fortune: Circles
• when you sign up for our emails • Your step-by-step introduction to the craft of woodworking.
Bandsaw jigs with Michael Fortune: Shop Stands
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month. Michael Fortune shares and demonstrates his collection of bandsaw jigs and improvements, maximizing the possibilities of one of the most important machines in the shop. From an auxillary fence that minimizes blade exposure, a shop roller that attaches directly to your bandsaw, to auxillary tables that can handle larger parts and concave surfaces, working safely is made much easier.
Bandsaw Jigs with Michael Fortune
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month. Watch our experts build a piece of furniture step-by-step on video and download a detailed project plan so you can build along. If you're looking for a new woodworking project, try one of our video workshops. These are complete, online courses taught by some of the best woodworkers in the country, and include companion articles, project plans, and step-by-step video instruction.
Hozier
To listen to RTÉ.ie's radio and podcast services, you will need to disable any ad blocking extensions or whitelist this site. Use the arrow keys to skip the audio ahead or backwards by 15 seconds 00:00 Use the arrow keys to increase and decrease the volume Choose an option below to share ‘Hozier’ Leaving this page will stop playback. Would you like to: Hozier joined Ray in studio for a chat. Your browser does not support HTML5 Video Your video will start in
Rashidat Adeleke at the World Athletic Championships
To listen to RTÉ.ie's radio and podcast services, you will need to disable any ad blocking extensions or whitelist this site. Use the arrow keys to skip the audio ahead or backwards by 15 seconds 04:41 Use the arrow keys to increase and decrease the volume Choose an option below to share ‘Rashidat Adeleke at the World Athletic Championships’ Leaving this page will stop playback. Would you like to: Ade Adeleke, proud mum of Rashidat, joins Ray from Budapest.
What if you don’t have a Domino?
The floating-top side table was one of the most beautiful and functional pieces you have shown recently and one that I would have tried to duplicate almost immediately. The author readily admitted that the average woodworker probably will never own a Domino joiner, but then proceeded to build the easy way by using it.
Getting to the roots in Puerto Rico!
Last May I took a deep dive into a tropical ecosystem and an exciting Caribbean culture when I helped to launch GreenWood’s Artisan EcoTour program in Puerto Rico. For years I’ve been leading woodworking workshops across North America and around the world, including forested countries like New Zealand, Guyana and Brazil. But the chance to combine a creative woodworking experience with a guided immersion in these island forests presented a unique opportunity.
Make your workbench your own
Over the last few years there has been a lot of talk about workbenches. Many authors have written books on the subject concerning sizes, styles, and the materials they are made out of. To my mind, your workbench design should match the style of woodworking you like to do. Here’s how it’s broken down for me. I like a smaller bench, no longer than 1500mm (60 in.) and no wider than around 550mm (22 in.).
Webinar: Bandsaw Jigs and Fixtures with Michael Fortune
Replay! Join contributing editor Michael Fortune for a fascinating look into how he gets the most from his bandsaws. By Michael Fortune Aug 09, 2021 View FREE Webinar When you enter your email address below. Plus, get Fine Woodworking emails filled with advice, how-to, and special offers. or Log In Read our Privacy Policy Questions?
Bandsaw Jigs and Accessories
Legendary craftsman (and wizardly jig-maker) Michael Fortune says that if he had room in his shop for only one woodworking machine, it would definitely be a bandsaw. In this webinar, he’ll show you why.
Free plans for Unlimited members
You asked for it. Now you have it. Unlimited members have free access to Fine Woodworking's entire digital plan collection. By Tom McKenna Mar 29, 2021 Ever since Fine Woodworking launched the Unlimited membership program, we’ve been adding useful and enticing upgrades, such as our newly created (and ongoing!) Project Guides, as well as access to Fine Woodworking’s Complete Illustrated Guides collection and other publications.
Michael Fortune's unconventional vises
Member-Only Sign in or become a member to access this story Sign In His work is anything but traditional, so it’s no surprise that he also uses unconventional workholding tools. By Michael Fortune Feb 23, 2021 Start your 14-day FREE trial to watch this video Plus, access more than 500 video workshop episodes when you become a member Start Your Free Trial The patternmaker’s vise I’m absolutely certain I could not make my furniture without a pattern-maker’s vise.
The Magic of Hot-Pipe Bending
Member-Only Sign in or become a member to access this story Sign In An easy technique for bending thin strips of wood to virtually any shape By Michael Fortune #205–May/June 2009 Issue Synopsis: This is a very easy technique for bending thin strips of wood to virtually any shape. Better yet, the simple apparatus is made from a few hardware-store parts. You simply hold a strip of wood against a section of metal pipe heated by a propane torch.
Gifts for woodworkers: Under $10
Blog Ten items under ten dollars that just about any woodworker would be glad to unwrap this holiday season. By Ben Strano Nov 09, 2020 Card scraper Card scrapers are exactly what they look like–a piece of boring old metal. But woodworkers LOVE them. Once you’ve become proficient at scraping, you reach for a card scraper constantly. I keep one in my apron so that I never have to look around for it. One annoyance of card scrapers is that they can be finicky to sharpen. This is where multiples come in.
Bandsaw jigs for every shop
From smarter push sticks to auxiliary fences to specialty sleds, these tips will help you get even more from your bandsaw. Aug 20, 2020 A bandsaw can make your shop sing. From curved cuts to square joinery, the tool is capable of opening many doors for your woodworking. But there’s a world of potential beyond the bare tool. From smarter push sticks to auxiliary fences to specialty sleds, these tips will help you get even more from your bandsaw.
Webinar: Models and Mockups Make the Design with Michael Fortune
Internationally renowned for his furniture designs and for his technical prowess, Fine Woodworking Contributing Editor Michael Fortune explains in this webinar the vital role that scale models and full-size mockups play in the design process. “Making models and mockups of your idea might seem like an extra step when you really want to just jump into your new project,” Fortune says.
Three-legged Occasional Table
Tripartite occasion. This three-legged occasional table can be made with steam-bent hardwood or from bent laminations. This example is of steam-bent cherry with ebony inlay. Steam-bending or bent laminations can be used to make this eye-catching design. The design of this table is part of a series that I revisit from time to time.
Shop Tour: Michael Fortune
Michael’s shop is full of woodworking genius and practicality, and in this video he gives our own Ben Strano a personal tour of his workshop and studio. By Michael Fortune Mar 06, 2020 Fine Woodworking If you like words and woodworking, being an editor at Fine Woodworking is a dream job. Sure, there are stresses—deadlines being the biggest—but the rewards are amazing. Part of the job is traveling to authors’ shops to photograph and document the techniques or projects they are demonstrating.
Resawing Veneer on a Sawmill
Most often, when people dream of a owning a sawmill, they envision stacks of 8/4 live-edge slabs dotting their property. For Michael Fortune, the dream became a little bit more magical when he realized that he now had a 26-in. resaw at his disposal! Using a mill to saw veneer is not that different from using a bandsaw, except that the saw moves instead of the stock. To take out as many variables as possible, Fortune created a sled that holds the stock perfectly steady using wooden dogs and wedges.
Michael Fortune's Drawing Tricks
How-To Michael Fortune demonstrates how to modify your drafting tools to bridge the gap between precise and artistic By Michael Fortune, Ben Strano Aug 07, 2019 For Michael Fortune, presenting a client with a hand-drawn design is an important part of his job as a furniture maker. Michael prefers the look of an imperfect line created by a freehand artist–it makes drawings look more organic and pleasing to the eye.
The Education of Michael Fortune
A Fine Balance By Michael Fortune Jun 03, 2019 In 1970 I was in the furniture design program at Sheridan College outside of Toronto, Canada. The program was set up to train designers for the furniture manufacturing industry in Canada. A steady stream of young, well-known ambitious designers made up the rotating part-time staff.
A Trick for Cutting Smooth Curves on the Bandsaw
How-To Using the back edge of the bandsaw blade to pivot through curves leads to less waste and more accurate cuts. By Ben Strano, Michael Pekovich, Michael Fortune May 13, 2019 FWW’s Ben Strano Ben Strano: I’ve been working on a ukulele build this week, which involves making lots of particle board templates. As part of that, I’ve been cutting a lot template parts on the bandsaw, trying to get as close to the line as I can so I don’t have to route away a lot of waste.
Shopmade Outfeed Stand
I made this support stand many years ago, and it has proved to be a very helpful friend. The top can be quickly and precisely adjusted from 44 in. high—tall enough for my bandsaw—down to 31 in., so it stores under my tablesaw’s outfeed table. Compared to store-bought stands, this one is more stable and easier to level. Adjustable feet accommodate uneven floors, teaming up with a broad base and a strong sliding column to keep the stand from budging under heavy work.
Links for Tool Guide 2019
Online extras from Tool Guide 2019 It doesn’t take expensive clamps and lots of cauls to make sure you have flat panels. Learn how easy it is to control your glue-ups with a basic set of clamps By Jeff Miller Once you’ve learned which combination tablesaw blade is best for your needs, follow along as a sawblade goes through the sharpening process at Quinn Saw in St. Louis. By Ben Strano Watch as a master woodworker shows you how to set up your bandsaw to make perfect cuts every time.
Power Tools: Our Favorite Articles
Our editors have gone through our archives for their favorite articles and videos on power tools. Below are the top seven articles and videos about biscuit joints, track saws, random-orbit sander, Festool’s Domino joinery system, miter saws, and nailers. Fine Furniture with Biscuit Joints Synopsis: Are you biased against biscuits? It might be time to take another look.
Links from Fine Woodworking issue #270
Online extras from FWW issue #269 A sharp blade isn’t the only answer to bandsaw drift. In this video Michael Fortune shows you two fixes to make your saw run true. by Michael Fortune In this video, Tim Coleman takes you through the design process behind his cabinet-on-stand.
How to Create Precise Dovetails on the Bandsaw
Synopsis: Cutting dovetails on the bandsaw is a fast and efficient method that yields perfect-fitting joints. Michael Fortune uses four small sleds for the job. These jigs allow him to control the angle of the tails and the cheeks of the pins. The angled jigs present the tail and pin boards to the blade and a zero-clearance kerf in each jig makes it easy to locate cuts accurately. Fortune cuts all the tail boards at once, so he only lays out the tails on the top board.
How to eliminate drift from your cuts
How-To A sharp blade isn't the only answer to bandsaw drift. In this video Michael Fortune shows you two fixes to make your saw run true. By Michael Fortune #270–Sep/Oct 2018 Issue The bandsaw is easily one of the most versatile pieces of machinery found in a woodworking shop. It’s also likely the most misunderstood. Michael Fortune has logged countless hours using his shop’s eight bandsaws, and he knows how to get the most out of them.
How to eliminate drift from your cuts
The bandsaw is easily one of the most versatile pieces of machinery found in a woodworking shop. It’s also likely the most misunderstood. Michael Fortune has logged countless hours using his shop’s eight bandsaws, and he knows how to get the most out of them. One problem that many woodworkers face when using a bandsaw that has been poorly set up is drift. Many woodworkers think that there is no actual fix for drift, so they might as well accept it and work around it.
'I’ve always hated the term 'the UK'. I find it an insult to me as an Irish person'
I SPENT TWO DAYS in England last week presenting at an art conference and every time I heard those two little letters – “UK� – mentioned my blood would boil. I returned home and no sooner did I stick on RTÉ news, there was a short report from the Carlow Arts Festival and nearly every second phrase out of the Irish person speaking about it was “The UK�. “So and so are a UK company, they travelled over here from the UK to perform� etc.
Marketing for Woodworkers: Shows, festivals, and exhibitions
This is part of a series about different marketing tools for woodworkers. The others are linked below. To make a living as a furniture maker, you have to sell your work—and that means selling, actively. I don’t know of anyone who simply hung out a shingle and proceeded to make sufficient income to live on. Word of mouth is excellent; there’s nothing like having a happy client recommend your work to friends and colleagues.
10 Ways to Cut a Mortise and Tenon Joint
One of the most versatile joints, the mortise and tenon joint lends itself to being cut with hand tools, power tools, or several combinations of the two. There’s also seemingly no end of commercial and shopmade jigs that make it easier to cut mortises, tenons, or both. Variations like through, pinned, draw-bored or wedged tenons also bring rich stylistic diversity to this joint.
'I'm sickened by the D4/ mid-Atlantic/ makey-up English accent that is blighting Ireland'
I DON’T KNOW about you but I am continually sickened by the D4/ Dart/ mid-Atlantic/ makey-up English accent that is blighting Ireland. I first noticed it in the early 1990s in Wexford when middle-class Dubs would put on an accent to distinguish themselves from working-class Dubs when on holidays in the same caravan parks in Wexford. Since then, it’s become an epidemic and has seeped into every county.
Michael Fortune's Clever Bandsaw Fence
Shop Tips By Michael Fortune Mar 09, 2018 Many times, when working with small pieces on a bandsaw, the upper guide hits the fence and can’t drop down to where we all know it should be, just above the surface of the wood. This is a problem that affects both safety and cut quality. Many bandsaw fences are double-sided–one tall side, one short side–allowing you to drop the guide lower when the fence is close to the blade. The problem is, this requires you to slide the fence off and flip it around.
Clever, Easy-to-Use Bandsaw Fence
Many times, when working with small pieces on a bandsaw, the upper guide hits the fence and can’t drop down to where we all know it should be, just above the surface of the wood. This is a problem that affects both safety and cut quality. Many bandsaw fences are double-sided–one tall side, one short side–allowing you to drop the guide lower when the fence is close to the blade. The problem is, this requires you to slide the fence off and flip it around.
'I won't defend Danny Healy-Rae's politics but I will defend personal belief in fairies'
I’M COMING LATE to the Danny Healy-Rae fairy story as I’ve been in Brittany in a campervan for the past four weeks with three little girls under the age of seven, so believe me I know all about “the little people” and the damage they can bestow on your mental and physical well being when crossed. Like us Irish, the Breton also have a type of fairy, or a “korrigan” as it’s known in their folklore, and similar to “our lads” they are known to cause damage when bothered or upset.
Sharpen Your Own Hybrid Drill Bits
How-To Furniture maker Michael Fortune demonstrates his homegrown method for sharpening a hybrid twist drill bit By Michael Fortune Feb 11, 2015 Asa Christiana and Cari Delahanty Ontario furniture maker Michael Fortune is known as a wizard of wood bending. He’s also respected as an all-around ingenious woodworker when it comes to practical tips and tricks in the workshop.
How to Tame Tricky Glue-Ups
Member-Only Sign in or become a member to access this story Sign In Custom cauls can handle every angle and curve By Michael Fortune #243–Nov/Dec 2014 Issue Synopsis: The key to all glue-ups—especially those on curved parts—is that the clamping pressure must be at an exact right angle to the glueline, and centered on the joint. On angled and curved work, the only reliable way to direct clamping pressure precisely is with specialized cauls.
7 Secrets of Steam-Bending
Synopsis: Learn to produce astonishing curves in your furniture using steam-bending. Michael Fortune demonstrates how to bend wood without breaking it, using a steambox and a bending form. Fortune explains why air-dried lumber is better, and why a compression strap is the go-to tool if you want serious curves in your furniture. He also gives pointers on proper temperatures and times in the steam box, in the compression strap, and while clamped and drying.
Develop Your Own Designs
Member-Only Sign in or become a member to access this story Sign In A step-by-step process unlocks your creativity By Michael Fortune #236–Nov/Dec 2013 Issue Synopsis: Learning to design furniture can seem intimidating, but Michael Fortune has boiled down his technique into seven basic steps that any woodworker can follow. His process begins on paper, works its way up to models, and requires la sense of adventure and a commitment to keeping all your notebooks and never throwing away an idea.
Never Struggle with Squeeze-Out Again
Synopsis: Most of us have a love-hate relationship with glue squeeze-out. That thin, consistent bead of glue along a joint line indicates we’ve used enough glue for a strong bond. But it also presents a dilemma in terms of cleanup. If you remove it before it is dry, you may leave behind residue that will interfere with the finish to come. If you wait until it is dry and try to clean it up with tools, you risk nicking or gouging the wood.
How to Resaw on the Bandsaw
You don’t need an industrial resaw bandsaw to slice boards into thinner stock. Resawing on a standard bandsaw allows you to go way beyond standard lumber dimensions and gives you the opportunity to cut book-matched panels, saw your own veneers, and even create extra-thin stock for dividers and delicate boxes. But to properly resaw lumber, you’ve got to have your bandsaw set-up really honed in.
How to Cut Curves on the Bandsaw
Furniture maker Michael Fortune incorporates curves into just about every piece of furniture he turns out of his shop. But instead of cutting way clear of his lines and spending countless hours fine-tuning his curves with spokeshaves and scrapers, he prefers to make precision cuts as near to his line as possible, thus leaving less wood to clear away during final clean-up.
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