The machine shop The workshops in New York were purpose built in two halves. Something I have always aimed for in my own life since the mid 1980’s. There is nothing unhealthy in a hand-tool-only workshop, but as soon as you introduce power equipment, hand held or stationary, that all changes. A lot of woodworkers…
It was as I said, eye opening first, inspiring second and dovetailing third. The first dovetails were really good, the second ones less perfect and then we started the boxes and we were on our way to discovery. Half boxes stood on the bench as we closed for the day and swept the floor. We…
Foundational workshop Today, Monday, we start a Part I Foundational Workshop in the New Legacy New York School. Over the weekend I was sharpening saws ready for the class but I left a couple for teaching with. Saw sharpening begins with tooth shaping and then setting the teeth. Sharpening quickly follows and after about ten…
Hancock Shaker Village – entrepreneurial and industrious There can be no doubt Shaker investment of work resulting from faith-wrought conviction developed a way of life we will never see again. It’s not surprising that the group faded away to become mere memory following some of the unusual teachings they proscribed to. But looking beyond celibacy,…
Changes The yielding summer and warmth now opens the country I walk to autumn’s wetness ‘neath my feet and dampness clings in breaths to all I see and feel. Things, life, turns in shades and rich, striking colour contrasts and birds seem to pendulum a day or two and more until they beat the air…
I am going to risk it I own a belt sander 4” wide. It’s made by Trend and it’s a piece of poor workmanship but the price was right because I could see how to improve it for what I wanted it for and this is where I take the risk. It’s really the risk…
I would that someone would have come out with the regular Stanley #4 plane Bailey pattern again. You know, the lightweight one. One with nice Padauk or curly cherry handles. Or even highly polished beech would work for me with no stain. Also, I know the German tool makers Kuntz made a very junky model…
I have heard and sung this song for thirty years and found many hidden truths in its simplicity. Simple gifts Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free Tis a gift to come round where we ought to be And when we find ourselves in a place just right It will…
Cultural influences on crafts and craft work Of all of the places I visit to look at the work of our fore-bearing woodworkers, some of my favourites are those that depict a cultural way of life that encapsulates a sort of a sustainable wholeness we might seldom see today. By wholeness I mean a culture that contains…
Simple design concepts lead to prototypes and on to production The first piece I ever made representative of a fully jointed piece and one that represented my first furniture-type piece was a four-piece wall shelf with two sides and two shelves. My parents gave it back to me just before they died. The significance in…