A refreshing change

Woodworkers never miss a beat, so you’ve undoubtedly noticed a difference in the look and feel of Woodshop News.

We’re rolling out some new design features with this issue. We’ve changed some of the fonts and our color palette to refresh the appearance, along with some other tweaks to make a more enjoyable reader experience. We haven’t changed the layout – the order or flow of content – following the principal that if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

The redesign will be a work in progress over the next several months, so there might be some more small changes coming. Any feedback is always appreciated. You can reach me directly at editorial@woodshopnews.com.

I also want to welcome Nick DeMars, a woodworking specialist at Klingspor Abrasives, to our Finishing column on Page 26. Nick will answer questions on sanding, calling on over 30 years of experience in custom cabinetry and general construction.

In other news:

The Cabinet Makers Association is accepting entries for its 12th annual Wood Diamonds Awards program through May 1. The awards were launched in 2010 to allow members to honor the work of their peers and give winners the opportunity to share the honors as part of their marketing efforts.

“The Wood Diamond Awards have given us a chance to see and showcase the amazing work of our members,” says CMA Executive Director Amanda Conger. “Our members don’t always get a chance to see each other’s finished work, and the added bonus is that the award‐winning work can inspire other shops.”

The entry fee is $75 for each project submitted. All judging is done anonymously by non‐participating members. The winners will be announced at the CMA’s Member Appreciation Reception during the International Woodworking Fair in August.

To enter, visit the CMA’s website, cabinetmakers.org.

Nordfab announced it will invest more than $5.5 million to expand its ductwork manufacturing operation in Thomasville, N.C.

The company says expansion of the Thomasville location will increase its manufacturing footprint to 180,000 sq. ft.

“This expansion project helps us to meet our goals of becoming the Davidson County Employer of Choice and to launch our Nordfab Now program. When implemented, the Nordfab Now program will allow next day shipment of standard ductwork in dust collection systems designed using our award-winning installation design software, Quick-Fit Visual,” Erik Olshall, president of Nordfab Americas, said in a statement.

Colonial Saw has selected AW Machinery and Hermance Machine Co. as its 2021 Dealers of the Year. Selection is based on a combination of sales, customer satisfaction measurements, and consistency.

Peak Toolworks has completed its acquisition of Tooling Concepts Inc., a brick-and-mortar sharpening service in Elkhart, Ind.

Dura Supreme Cabinetry has hired over 250 new employees in the last six months and is continuing to hire and add new positions in a variety of areas throughout its manufacturing facility.

“We’re growing rapidly and are predicting this trend will continue strongly for some time”, Brett Kohler, the company’s director of human resources, said in a statement.  

This article was originally published in the April 2022 issue.