The woodlands were alive last week with volunteers and staff at the Woodland School building a geodesic dome for the children to shelter in and make projects in if the weather is unsuited to their outdoor activities. Resi Tomat who oversees the educational department asked me if I had a rounder to round…
Project planning – where to begin My goals this week were all met. Sometime back, many years ago now, I learned not set unrealistic goals and so disappoint my expectations. But we live in a culture of non-commitment that undermines others who work hard to fulfil obligations. I have learned that without setting goals I…
The plane I used for squaring and truing my frame wood for the lid of the Hope Chest and to also raise the panel with its bevels is the cheapest #4 Stanley that the Stanley Company made. It performed the tasks well, never balked at the work and it gave an all-over pristine finish ready…
I have invested my lifetime learning my craft and this came only in the doing of it. I recall in times past reading the writings of those who only observed crafts and then wrote about how the crafting artisan felt about their working of the substance. Somehow they managed to convey information based on what…
Sometimes I can’t tell another how I feel as I work. The joints from my chisel edge at first seem a long way off, but then, as if too suddenly, the frame stands immovably dependent on them. My choice in wood and the placement of pieces reflect my consciousness to the work. Tight joints split…
I see woodworkers muscling their heavier-than-ever-before plane to the wood and I wonder how got here. Somehow a plane has become something rigidly forced not loosely presented, new not worn, dead flat not nicely rounded, tight-threaded not spinable. Fact is, they all work regardless and some of the older planes with that well-worn, old slipper…
This lovely expanding brace bit was given to the school last week. We plane on exhibits of old tools for visitors to view. This is a really fine tool. So simple it knocks your socks off. Slacken the screw and the crescent shaped wing can be moved any distance up to one inch…
This post is for Matthew who asked me about the red sash clamps I use in my workshop. He saw them on the videos and in my book. This was my reply: Matthew, You can buy the 24″-48″ sash clamps in this style for between £7-£11, which I think makes them good buy. I will…
…and they work exceptionally well. The title says it. Buy #4s and 4 1/2s, 5s and 5 1/2s of the old style Stanleys and Records with impunity. Don’t retrofit with thick irons or special cap irons; fettle, flatten and sharpen well and your cheaper plane will work just fine. Forget micro bevels and go for…
About planes – revisited I have for years been concerned about the grand push of heavy planes and have spoken against those misinforming us that thin irons don’t work and that lightweight planes such as Record and Stanley #4 and #41/2 are somehow so inferior that we should avoid them. For over a century craftsmen…