Woodworking organizations offer no help I have interacted with magazine editors, educators on every level, writers, authors, parents and grandparents and tool developers for two decades about the sad demise of woodworking for or should I say with young people. Few understand the dilemma; some do, but only in part, and so I conclude that…
As an apprentice there were two categories involved in making things from wood. There were wood machinists and there were woodworkers; two very distinctly different spheres and two only moderately crossed over by one to the other. In my four decades working wood that line has shifted and whereby at one time machinists were a…
Bit sluggish today. Lots going through my mind and much to do to get ready for the North of England Woodworking Show. I will be signing my new book at the show and of course demonstrating there too. Those in the UK should come to this show. I find my more unusual tools at Tony…
It’s good to be home. This time yesterday I boarded my plane from Albany New York. Today I just finished supper with my family at home. On the second day of my Veritas visit I went through the engineering manufactory, which was really quite a treat. After my tour we went to the R&D upstairs…
I flew out of Newark last night and here I find myself back in Britain and my North Wales home. It was sunny all the way home, which was nice for the drive, but as I arrived at Penrhyn Castle where I live the heavens opened to wonderful Welsh rain. Strangely enough New York reminded…
What is this? As you know, I met with Wally, Rick, Terry, Steve, Brett and Vic of Veritas Tools last week to discuss a range of different issues in woodworking and we all drew on our relational knowledge in each of the fields of expertise we worked in. Though all experts in their specific fields…
I already told you how beautiful NY is. I will be travelling again today and I start out with a quick shower, breakfast with real American coffee, not what they sell as American coffee in the UK and an unusual visit to an establishment that I will tell you about later. I am off to…
What would you say if I told you that every plane iron leaving veritas is lapped to within one thou’ and that the large iron used in their #4 1/2 can take over an hour in this machine because of the size. Here is the final check for perpendicular, squareness to the face…
I must leave for the UK tomorrow, which means long flights and changeovers in Newark and London Heathrow. Opening new doors is always exciting and though I would love to stay for the snow I have a class to get back for. I have promised to send my new book and DVDs to some of…
I am still highly inspired and encouraged by my visit to Veritas. So much so that the outcome will be far reaching for those who are striving for perfection in their work. At Veritas, in my conversations, they were keen to give results in their work that eliminated unnecessary risk yet still gave freedom to the new…