If you look at old pictures of woodworkers on job sites, you'll likely find that they carried their tools in a wooden toolbox with a long dowel handle along the top. This toolbox design was used not only by woodworkers, but plumbers, blacksmiths and many other trades that required a durable toolbox with easy access to their tools.

Even though few of today's craftsmen would use such a toolbox on a daily basis, there's something to be said for the vintage look of seeing some classic tools in such an elegant carrying case. If you like the look and want to build one for your tools, check out this set of free woodworking plans for our version of a classic woodworking toolbox. The joints are all glued with no screws or nails, which only adds to the mystique of this timeless classic design.

(c) 2012 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Ipe is a variety of hardwood that typically comes from Brazil. This species is often used for outdoor projects because of its ability to be resistant to water.

Learn how to work with this exotic hardwood, one that requires some specific handling steps to work with safely in How to Work with Ipe. Once you understand the proper precautions when using this hardwood, you should end up with some pretty amazing results.

(c) 2012 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Mortise and tenon joints are commonly used in fine furniture building to attach two boards at right-angles to one another. Traditionally, this work was done with a backsaw and a chisel, but in modern woodworking shops, a hollow-chisel mortiser can cut mortises precisely and extremely quickly.

On the hierarchy of power tools for most woodworkers, a dedicated mortiser would rank pretty low on the totem pole of required tools. Fortunately, there may be a less-expensive option. If you have a floor-standing drill press, you may be able to purchase a mortiser attachment that will fit on your drill press so you can use the same hollow-chisel mortiser bits that as mortiser. Check out this article on a Mortiser Attachment for Your Drill Press to learn more.

Photo Courtesy of Delta Machinery

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Just like a light switch in your house, with regular use the on/off switch on a power tool can eventually wear out and need to be replaced. For instance, on a plunge or stationary router, most of the time, a rocker switch is used to turn the unit on or off. The process of changing the rocker switch is typically quick and easy.

In this woodworking tool tip, learn How to Replace a Router Power Switch. While the steps outlined are specifically suited to a router, one could easily adapt the steps for nearly any other power tool's switch.

(c) 2012 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.

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