Wood Working News and Notes discovers great woodworking articles from around the web! Here are the “best of the best” for this week, including a solemn but funny Veteran’s Day post, an awesome wheel-in-the-leg solution to a mobile workbench, an astounding build notes and pics collection by John Fry, and Popular Woodworking’s runners up for Best Tools of 2009!
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Power tool news hit the Wall Street Journal recently when Stanley agreed to buy Black and Decker. Stanley’s “paying” Black & Decker by giving their shareholders 1.275 Stanley shares for each Black and Decker share they currently own.

I’m not sure if this means you can trade your Black and Decker tools for 1.275 Stanley tools… I will have to get back to you on that one.
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My baby boy turns 2 weeks old this Friday (stealth gloat) :) I dedicate this free-plan collection to all the new woodworking parents and grandparents (hi Dad!) out there who want to make a lasting contribution to their family “environment.” As Gustav Stickley said (according to Chris Schwarz) “Gustav Stickley wrote about the influence of the home environment on children. His argument was that the things we surround ourselves with have an influence on our character, and on the values of our kids.”
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Routers remain one of the most versatile power tools in the shop, and yours just got 46 times more versatile with this massive collection of free router jig plans! From dado jigs, mortise jigs, tenon jigs on down to sleds that turn your router into a planer, this collection of free router jigs puts your router into overdrive!
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I got an exciting email from KnotScott the other day with some updates and some BONUS forum finds! He took some time off from working on his fireplace to send us some FORUM FINDS! Thank you Scott!
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Now that I’ve got the Hourly Press running, I get a steady stream of great woodworking stories! Check it out over at Woodworking News and Notes. I monitor that page throughout the day and just gather up my favorite stories of the past week. There are some great stories this week, including a scroll saw pattern of some jack o lanterns, plans for great-sounding speakers and a new type of wood called “Denim Pine…” Enjoy!
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Breaking news! Norm Abram, the #1 most influential woodworker, has announced his retirement from the New Yankee Workshop. I will dig in more thoroughly later this week! For now I leave you with coverage from Woodworking Magazine: Norm Abram Closes Up Shop.

“After 21 seasons, “The New Yankee Workshop” is closing its doors, and its much-beloved host, Norm Abram, is going to focus on his personal projects and PBS’s “This Old House,” according to Russ Morash, executive producer and director of “The New Yankee Workshop.”"

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We recently ran a newsletter subscriber drive and donated $5 for every new sign up that occurred from the 21st of September until the 15th. Thanks so much to our new subscribers – and everyone who got the word out – you helped us reach our donation cap of $300!
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Boy do I miss KnotScott’s forum coverage… I’m still hustling to find a way to keep you in touch with all the weird, wild and wooly woodworking news from around the web. My solution for now is to use my Wood Working News and Notes feed over at HourlyPress. This nifty tool finds me the most interesting woodworking posts on twitter. It’s more blog-centric than Mr. Scott, but it will have to do for now ;)
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Folks, it’s high time dogs had their day at ToolCrib.com. Cats have gotten uppity since we published our collection of free cat tree plans, and with this collection of free dog house plans we finally return balance to the universe. Woof!

For some basic, non-plan guidelines to keep your dog healthy in his new home, check out Keep These Important Tips In Mind When Building A Dog House!
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