Why do I get streaks? Where does orange peel originate? Why do I have top or bottom heavy spray patterns? Find solutions for these and more spray finishing challenges.

One of the most common problems in woodworking finishing applications is swirl mark, also known as fish hooks. This is a complaint that cuts across a one-person cabinet shop on up to large manufacturing plants, and can result in a reworking of the product and increased costs.In determining the causes and solutions, it is useful to evaluate four main factors in the finishing process: the air compressor(s); the shop’s random orbit sanders; operator training; and the sanding disc.Air compressors

Some frequently asked questions on grinding cutting tools for woodworking.

If the saw blade is out of balance, out of round, dull on one side, or being improperly tensioned, it can result in an inferior cut quality. Here are some other factors that can affect the quality of the cut.

The decision to invest in a CNC machining center is subject to careful consideration and cost analysis, yet when it comes to cutting tool selection, often the decisions are price-driven with quality and safety barely being a secondary consideration. What follows is a brief look at the importance of proper cutting tool selection and the outside factors that affect tooling choice as well as other considerations that will directly influence the machining cycle. Start with parameters

It’s an obvious fact that saw blades get slightly thinner with each sharpening. The blades lose a small amount of tip-to-body side clearance each time. However, this does not mean that you should ignore this step.The two most important factors to consider for sharpening are: the clearance angles ground into the sides of the tips; and how dull the saw blades are run between sharpenings.

The first step in choosing a bandsaw blade is to define the cutting requirements. Some considerations are related to the quality of the cut — smoothness, accuracy or straightness, and curve radius — and some are related to the wood itself: density, depth of cut and grain orientation.

Considered the “future of productivity,” Industry 4.0 has already had a significant impact on woodworking processes, including the panel processing arena.Improving communication has been key to its development. “Industry 4.0 requires connectivity between the machine and the data exchange source, i.e., network,” noted Peter Tuenker, managing director at IMA-Schelling America.

In this excerpt from FDMC Editor Will Sampson’s article “Financing your next machine,” Joan Peterson and Kevin Mellon of SCM Group North America share their tips for buying new technology.