Designed as a hand saw guide for cutting square cross-cuts and 45° mitres, this simple but very clever little device is nothing short of magnificent.

In the mountain forests north of Kyoto, master forestry has been practised for centuries. With precision and patience, logs are shaped that are as beautiful as they are functional. Joakim Rådström writes about Japan’s most exclusive building material.

The highlight of this marking gauge is the fact that there are stainless steel adjustable wings on either side of the body that can be set to various angles.

This jig makes domino sized mortises at an entry level price using a drill with a special long cutter.

There are a few iterations of the jig, starting with a 3D print file you download and create yourself, however the premium Multifunctional Pioneer 003 is trialed here.

Blue Spruce, the small American tool manufacturer, has produced the first saw designed to cut on the pull stroke with Western style teeth. This means the saw can be resharpened locally, and it cuts with a very fine kerf.

'Designed to simplify setting up cut height and fence settings on the router table and tablesaw, I can also see utility for other machines', writes Damion Fauser.

The Laguna tablesaws have been around for several years – the Fusion 1 model, reviewed here, is the smallest of three.

These oils are from local polish maker Gilly’s who say they are 100% natural and food safe, and prevent cracking.

"My over and under had served me well for over 20 years but I was ready to upgrade and begin researching the options", explains Richard Vaughan.

Today, a furniture maker can choose from a wide variety of excellent saws, ranging from large enterprises such as Lie-Nielsen and Veritas, all the way down to small custom shops such as Heritage Saws in Melbourne.

Modelled on the Preston design, the Blue Spruce router plane has several innovations worth highlighting.

Len Crane discusses the nature and necessity of the tablesaw riving knife …and why you should use yours.

For more control on tight curves, look to one of the new slimline spokeshaves now on offer. Review by Damion Fauser

Milwaukee claim this chainsaw is equal to a 70cc petrol saw – which is a big statement for cordless.

Along with their tasty router table equipment, JessEm have introduced some outstanding measuring tools. These stainless steel rules are available in imperial and metric in a wide range.