When cutting with a circular saw or a table saw, the cutting motion is always against the motion of the saw blade. But what about a radial-arm saw? Should one make the cut by pulling the saw through the stock (which would be with the blade), or by pushing the saw through the stock (against the blade)?

While one could feasibly make an argument for either option, there is only one correct answer.

Learn the proper method for cutting with your radial-arm saw in Should You Push or Pull Your Radial-Arm Saw? Additionally, you'll learn how to safely protect yourself and your stock in the event that the saw blade grabs the stock.

(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.

Many woodworkers count their routers as among their favorite power woodworking tools, likely because they can apply so many different shapes to a piece of stock. If you walk into any fine woodworking tool supplier, you'll probably find a complete aisle containing hundreds of various types, shapes and sizes of router bits.

With very few exceptions, router bits fall into one of ten basic shapes. In our list of Ten Basic Router Bit Profiles, we dissect the main differences between these various types of bits and how they can (and should) be used.

(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.

There are a number of different products and techniques for filling blemishes in wood. For as many techniques and products, there are probably just as many misconceptions.

In Wood Filler Basics, Rockler covers a number of different products and techniques used for the two basic wood filling tasks, filling voids in the stock and filling the open pores in stock like oak and mahogany.

In the past few years, a number of woodworking tool manufacturers have entered the combination router market. These versatile router kits, which include a moderately powerful motor that is interchangeable between a fixed base and a plunge base, offer terrific value for woodworkers who maybe cannot afford an entire shop full of woodworking tools.

So, how does one know which router kit to buy?

Check out the About Woodworking list of the Best 5 Combo Router Kit Values. This list ranks these five routers based upon value rather solely on the quality of the router. Case in point: my favorite router (in terms of features and ease of use) on the list ranks #3 in terms of value. However, I'd think any of the five would represent a nice addition to any shop, particularly for those woodworkers who may only have room in their budget for one router.

(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.

Woodworking Magazine is having an interesting contest that I thought a number of you might be interested in.

They're soliciting quotations related to woodworking. Any quotations that are printed in their magazine will result in a one-year subscription to Woodworking Magazine (we ran a review of their updated magazine a few months ago, which you can read here).

Even better, the best quote among all of the submissions will be sent a beautiful miter plane from Philly Planes. Learn more about the contest on the Woodworking Magazine web site.

Most novice woodworkers look at a chair, and see a seat, a back, four legs and maybe some arms. Piece of cake to build, right?

As any experienced chairmaker will tell you, building a quality chair is much more complicated. There are a lot of considerations that go into making a chair look nice, be strong enough to handle the stresses of sitting (and getting into and out of the chair), sliding the chair forward and back, and still be comfortable. This combination is a lot more difficult than one might think.

In Chairmaking & Design, Jeff Miller has written a basic but relatively thorough course in chairmaking, from theory to practical designs. Some of the chair plans could be considered modern, while others are more classic in design, but each successive design builds on the techniques learned in the previous chapter.

Read our woodworking book review of Chairmaking & Design by Jeff Miller, and get started building chairs of your own!

(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.

We have updated the About Woodworking Tool Review Gallery, which now contains more than thirty tool reviews!

If you're looking for a new router, dovetail jig, compound miter saw, jigsaw or woodworking accessory, take a look through the gallery. Each page shows a large image of the tool in use, plus a link to the full review and, in many cases, a link where you can compare prices from some of the lowest vendors on the internet.

Visit the About Woodworking Tool Review Gallery for more information today.

I was recently asked a question by a reader. He was having a problem getting what he felt were accurate readings with his moisture content meter on pressure-treated stock. He was wondering whether the pressure treating was interfering with the moisture meter.

Learn how moisture content meters work, and whether ACQ pressure treated lumber will affect the readings provided by the meter in Does ACQ Pressure Treating Affect Moisture Meter Readings?.

I rarely post product recall information in this space, but when the product recall may affect a number of readers, I think it's important to make a note of it. This is one of those cases:

From the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

April 29, 2008

Release #08-259

Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 742-9178

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

DEWALT Recalls Table Saws Due to Laceration Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: DEWALT DW744 Jobsite Table Saws

Units: About 13,000

Manufacturer: DEWALT Industrial Tool Co., of Towson, Md.

Hazard: The pivot bracket on the saw can separate which can misalign the blade and the fence and cause kick back. This poses a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: DEWALT has received one reported incident of the table saw's blade misaligning. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the 10 inch DEWALT jobsite table saw model number DW744. Date codes included in the recall are 200715 through 200740. The table saws are yellow and black. The model number and date code are located on the name plate on the front of the saw. Table saws with an "X" stamped on the name plate by the date code are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Major home centers and hardware stores nationwide from April

2007 through January 2008 for about $500.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled table saws and contact DEWALT for the location of a service center to obtain a free replacement table saw.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact DEWALT toll-free at (888) 742-9178 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.dewalt.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08259.html

No, it's not a sexy title, but if you use pneumatic woodworking tools such as finish nailers, brad nailers, narrow-crown staplers (or if you're a building contractor, framing nailers), you likely need a good air compressor to provide air for these tools. However, because air compressors are quite durable and somewhat "out of sight, out of mind", appropriate maintenance is easy to overlook.

Like any woodworking tool, you need to take care of your compressor. They don't require much to keep them running in top form, but if you neglect them, you'll eventually wish you hadn't. Learn the proper steps for Air Compressor Maintenance, so your compressor will be ready when you need it.