The weeks pass with surprising speed and I build every day. Truth is, there are but a few days when I didn’t make and that’s been throughout my 55 years full-time woodworking and furniture making. Maybe 30 days off sick in the whole time too. I take only short breaks, breathers really, and rarely eat…

Finishing my projects seems always to open up new possibilities. Between now and Christmas my plans are many and diverse. Planning becomes more important as there are only so many hours in a day, so much energy available to me and of course spending relief time is critical. Mostly my relief is in the work…

I finished my toolbox yesterday and gave it the colour is deserved by applying my favourite wood finish, clear shellac. Despite what anyone say about shellac, it’s still the best surface treatment and protection I can find for many if not most projects. People tell me it’s no good for dining tables and I might…

The saying goes that ‘good fences make good neighbours!’ Often this is to save disputes as to who’s cattle or sheep are on who’s land, who’s kids are in who’s yard, and who’s dog is making what mess on who’s lawn. In woodworking, it usually to do with the fence on a tablesaw or bandsaw.…

It is quite coincidental that I have been reviewing images of the White House pieces I designed and made for the Cabinet Room of the White House. I decided several weeks ago to write the story behind building them and what it took to develop the idea and then deliver them to the White House…

My next Q&A will be at 14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 12th November 2020. This time Joseph will be joining me so feel free to submit your questions for me or him, or both of us! We’ll do our best to answer as many as we can. You can watch it here:

In making my toolbox design I have made two side by side. The mahogany one is made from a vintage dining table that would not be suitable for any home for a few reasons and not the least of which was user damage resulting in broken joints. The wood in this one is simply superb…

My Book, Essential Woodworking Hand Tools, is now out of stock everywhere, but thankfully it is in the process of being printed as we speak! We are expecting new stock in a few weeks so, at least to begin with, the only place to buy it will be directly from us. If you’d like to…

I’m currently in the middle of making two toolboxes, to replicate the building of one completed by Joseph and I in 2003. It’s not a small amount of work to make two in tandem, but necessary in the preparation of the video work we need. I rip-cut my components on the bandsaw and by hand…