A week or two ago it seemed like a good idea to make a second workbench and give it to someone under 25 years old here at the last show. At 3pm I wondered if that was really such a good idea. I did not realize that my demonstrations would be so full and certainly…
We had such crowds at the show throughout the day today and at my demonstrations I hardly had chance to do anything but answer questions and find a little rest between bouts. I sensed a little apprehension as to whether we would actually conclude the bench-build by the end of the show because of that…
This has been an amazing show for me so far. All of my demos were packed full with true interaction back and forth. Thanks to everyone who has made this show happen, I think that every show has been good this year but this one caps off a wonderful tour. We are behind on the…
This is the last weekend of the season for The Woodworking Shows’ show and I am amazed how far people have come to join us. The work behind the scenes continues to make the show a success and also stuff far beyond what anyone might see. Sherry Chadwick has quite a register of young people…
An interesting point just came up on the woodworkingmasterclasses.com forum and it’s something most people will not be aware of when restoring hand planes like the #4s, 4 1/2s, #5s and 5 1/2s. Cast iron soles of any and every type wear and wear quite quickly; more on some woods than others, end grain trimming…
Today’s bench build for giveaway The call went out for help a few days ago and it‘s looking good that we will build the bench and conclude it on Sunday afternoon. Over the years i have made about a hundred of these workbenches and taught people to make many hundreds more I suppose. It is…
Though I rarely have need for bench dogs as you know them, there are needs from time to time that could be simplified if you have them. On the Paul Sellers’ bench, filling the well area in front of the vise, I introduced a laminated wooden block made from two-by stock that can stay in…
I felt the blog on saws and sawing technique variations might be unclear so I added a couple of drawings to bring clarity here.
Stepping stones of influence affecting my life periodically trigger mechanisms that mark turning points of recollection. Like the time I cut my first ragged dovetails but determined they would be the worst ones I ever cut. Another powerful influence was a photograph of Edward Barnsley surrounded by youthful apprentices making early Arts and Crafts pieces…
I often receive emails asking me about more modern saw makers and apart from a couple of modern makers more involved in finessing the finished tools they make, I find myself unable to recommend most of the mass-made saws for one simple reason – hard-point teeth. Is it the hard-point teeth alone that fails the…