I designed these bird nesting cavities over 20 years ago and they really work well. For blue tit, great tit, (in US chickadee and titmouse etc) nuthatch and wrens (depending on hole size) Though nesting cavities provide wild birds with nest sites in the early spring and summer, they are also critical in winter too. I recall one time…
The leaf dies falling brown tumbling spinning, rolling round, round and I watch each one by one and my mind shudders as the wind bites cold in currents from the North across the tossed sea. Again I brace my back against the swell of freezing air and foot against the now dead tree. My saw…
I am always looking for good tools and sometimes I despair at new one because they look so, well, cheap looking. Some modern makers can take good rosewood from certified plantings, good brass fitments and good steel and make tools look kitsch. The worst come from Sheffield, England because the makers there bought the names…
Business cards in clear plastic holders for woodworkers don’t really measure up. People come in the Penrhyn castle workshops and say, “Are these dovetails cut by machine?” Aargh!!! Woodworking is an exercise in patience and understanding. In 47 years I have never cut dovetails by machine or router, only by hand saw. These dovetails were cut by…
Hard Steel axe Edge driven deep Blow riven splitting fro Swinging rhythmic heart Beats slow Soft
People are passing through the workshop and reading my book. Those that like what they see buy and ask me to sign it, which I enjoy. I try to consider how I can help people who unlike me never had the opportunity or were under guided, misguided, under valued and in essence underprivileged by societal expectations…
Update: please read this post before you make this. Know what this is? Yes it’s rag-stuffed 4oz tin can, but obviously the use of the can has changed. I made my first rag can 45 years ago and still have it. Filling…
Today my new Laguna bandsaw arrived from Italy and here it is. This is my next featured equipment in my new book so I am excited to get started with it. I know Tolben and Cathrine Helshoj who own Laguna Tools in California from my different times in the USA and I managed to…
Except Tuesdays. The new display at the woodworking school has much lovely colour and worked well as a backdrop at the show. With the school being in the National Trust’s Penrhyn Castle I like to keep up the standard and even go beyond where possible. The Book and DVDs are now selling and with great…
So I bought this new fillister/rebate plane today, well actually, an old one that’s been pretty much unused by all appearances. I really like the substance of its heavier casting and the well engineered parts. You may not be able to see but some features include thick chrome finish to the different parts that has…
