Woodworking courses and schools that offer hands-on workshops with master craftsmen provide the best way of getting to know exactly what are the absolute essentials that dovetail the traditions of the past…

…are all factors that determine how a saw is sharpened. Try cutting oak with one saw and then try the same saw doing the same task say in cherry. The…

…I worry sometimes because I see that most people see this joint as the ultimate signature of fine woodworking. Making one good dovetail joint somehow proves woodworking skill in the…

I suppose it’s more of a door than a gate, but, aside from that, Penrhyn Castle needs two new ones. Both are to be made from European oak. and both are 60mm thick, 2.5m tall and 1m and 1.5m wide respectively. The old doors have patches on patches and so defy any further repair work….

I was busy with visitors at the hand tool school today and demonstrated hand tool woodworking for many people interested in traditional woodworking and conservation craft.  From hand cut dovetails to dovetails techniques and discussions on how we can encourage crafts training in young people I found people were truly keen to know the inner…

John finished his saw today. The ‘before-and-after’ is remarkable and this first sharpening lesson stood him in good stead for the larger tenon saw he bought from Tony Murland at the Ally Pally Show. The 10″saw shown at left now has a reshaped handle as you can see. All the hard corners are reconciled and…

It’s been a productive week back here in the workshop. My schedule all week has been interspersed with people passing through now that the main Penrhyn Castle is open again. Outside, the snowdrops have vanished and clustered daffodils amass in fielded patches ablaze in bright canary yellow. Part of my apprenticing work is to spend…

PaulI very much enjoyed your demonstration on Saturday, and our chat afterwards and came away from the show full of new ideas for further developing traditional-style woodworking in the context of my design technology lessons. We discussed the possibility of sharpening some of the grotty old saws which are available for the use of my pupils….