Sharp Talking
As I have grown older I have grown less tolerant. I think this to be symptomatic. Sharpening seems to me to have become an abrasive subject discussed by expert sellers and those seeking ever more knowledge. As an apprentice, the men had whetstones in boxes without grade-knowledge per se, but they often had two, one…
Read MoreLive Q & A Time Again!
Imagine the days a few decades ago when a man and a boy stood side by side and the man said, “That’s a good question, Paul. Best let me show you!” And he took the plane, flipped it around, end for end, upside down and side to side and taught the youngster all he knew…
Read MoreGeorge and I Dovetail
Notes from my journal: When George came into the workshop this wintry moring he parked his bike amongst the wood racks under the eaves in the same place as he usually did, slipped off his bike clips from his pant legs and clipped them to his crossbar. My eyes searched for his as he walked…
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You would think that with everyone gone from the studio that I would have been able to optimise my output be that what it may. That’s not been the case thus far. I do miss the “Paul!” from the other side of the wall, the pressure of getting ready to film an intro for the…
Read MoreWorking From Home…
…Make the Most of It if You Can Some of you have seized the opportunity that you may never have been able to before, to work from home. In some cases, you may have gained an extra hour or more in the morning and also in the evenings before you actually start work and then…
Read MoreMy 400,000 Subscriber YouTube Giveaway
To celebrate reaching 400,000 subscribers on YouTube, I am doing a giveaway! I am giving away: One of my tenon saws A signed copy of my book: Essential Woodworking Hand Tools A 6-month premium membership to our Woodworking tutorial site, Woodworking Masterclasses. To see the prizes, watch my video on YouTube. You can enter here.…
Read MoreIt’s a New Day
My woodworking has always been at the forefront of all that I do. Waking in these present days makes me realise how much things have changed in the last few weeks and even days. Riding my bike (in self-isolation) and seeing the world so differently than even two days back made me realise that we…
Read MoreDesigns for Learning Woodwork
I thought I should encourage you to get out into the garage. This carrier for tools is a new project series I just filmed and will be available soon. The important thing is to keep woodworking as this is generally a good thing for everyone’s health but it is also good to keep developing your…
Read MoreStaying Safe!
Workbenches That Work
I have made workbenches the way I have to put them into realms of real woodworking for everyone. I am sure some brutes can shove them around their workshops as they work but I can’t, never have. I had my doubts the day we set up two sawhorses, a Black & Decker Workmate and a…
Read Moreon George and I DovetailOh, I would definitely buy a book of 'George' stories..... Thanks for such gentle reading
on Sharp TalkingIt may be a sad thing to admit, but I truly love sharpening anything that requires sharpening. I simply enjoy it and find the process deeply satisfying.
on Sharp TalkingGreat read, I was half expecting an April Fools post – God knows we could do with a laugh in the current covid19 situation.
on Working From Home…Tom are you lucky enough to have a plough plane with a spur in place ?If the spur is missing you can transfer one from another model but then you find the countersunk screw has a d…
on Sharp TalkingAbout a month ago I finally succeeded in freehand sharpening on an old oilstone. It's a double-sided oilstone of unknown grits but the fine is indeed very fine. It belonged to my f…
on Live Q & A Time Again!I've been buying artists gum erasers from the arts and crafts stores then working them down with my logier rasps to the correct size. The tricky bit was boring out the old eraser.…