A quick guide to must-know terms used throughout WOOD® magazine
Ease: To slightly relieve, or "soften," a sharp edge on a piece of wood. This is generally accomplished by sanding, planing, or rounding the edge with a Vs" round-over router bit. Magnetic starter: A type of power switch, often used on tablesaws and other large stationary machines. Typically, it contains contact points that are held closed—when the switch operates in the "on" position—by electromagnetic attraction. In the event of a power interruption, the attraction stops, allowing a spring to pull the contacts apart, turning the switch off. This prevents an accidental restart when electrical power returns. Rough-cut: To cut a workpiece slightly oversize in thickness, width, and/or length, prior to trimming it to final dimensions. Stopblock: Commonly, this is a small block, clamped or temporarily-affixed to a fence or machine surface. It either holds a workpiece firmly in position, or limits the distance it can travel during machining operations. Stopblocks also can be attached to a workpiece to limit the movement of a tool, such as a router
Green wood: Stock, usually in rough-cut lumber or log form, that has been cut but not dried, and retains a high moisture content. Woodturners often use green stock because of its workability. Moisture content: The total amount of water in a piece of wood, expressed as a percentage of the wood's oven-dry weight. The content can be determined using a moisture meter. For kiln-dried stock, moisture content generally runs from 4 to 10 percent.