Do you have a copy of “I Can Do That! Woodworking Projects?” It’s a great book for beginning woodworkers, but also for anyone looking for quick weekend woodworking projects. We recently updated it for a 3rd edition, adding 10 new projects – so now’s a great time to check it out if you haven’t already. While accessible to newcomers, the projects in this book use solid basic techniques and yield some quality […]
My interest in woodworking, guitar playing, and the desire to someday learn the skills of a luthier (guitar craftsman) were the catalysts that inspired me to build this wall art project. Playing the guitar and woodworking, for me, are very therapeutic, emotional, sometimes challenging, but ALWAYS relaxing past-times. The time I have spent working on this project has been a fun learning experience, and resulted in a lasting piece of visual art that will remind me of my love for music and many great memories of family and friends. To get the true feel of the finished product, see the brief video clip I created here.
I have to give credit to a few people who helped me with this project. My wife Lucy is one of my favorite creative people and she was encouraging and a great help in thinking through color designs for stains and paints used on the project. My good friend “Mike,” a master woodworker, who offered me advice and the use of some sophisticated equipment. And then there’s “Mark,” a very talented artist and luthier who performed the laser engraving of the songs on the front of the guitar.
Fifty of my favorite guitar songs that I have learned to play over the years are engraved on the face of this piece. The shape of the body mimics that of my newest guitar, a Cole Clark Angel 6-string, which I purchased in 2015. The grain of the cherry wood caught my eye when choosing wood for the guitar body and neck. I wanted to use some unconventional materials to make it “artsy,” including use of guitar pics for the tuning heads, thumb pics on the bridge, and bronze, metal nuts supporting the tuning heads. The walnut sound hole cover is a design element that I bought years ago to use on my Alvarez 12-string guitar. It never got much use on the actual guitar, so I decided to add it to this project because of its unique lasered design and walnut color. It is the only pre-fab piece of wood used on the project. Wanting something unique for the shape of the bridge, I came up with the wing shape fashioned originally after the phoenix bird that was the hood emblem for the Smokey and the Bandit Pontiac Trans-Am my brother bought in high school. That was back in the 70’s and it was probably the coolest car in town when we were growing up.
I chose a very simple solution for the guitar strings, which is cloth twine. The concept for incorporating the weathered cherry wood bark on the bottom half of the body and neck was that the older, earlier songs would be engraved on the lower section, and newer songs on the top section. I used cedar for the bridge/saddle, the head, and the nut to add some variety of wood textures. The two-tone color of the head was inspired by a similar color design on the head of my Cole Clark 6-string guitar. The LED lights were added to emit an ambient, halo-lighting effect from the back of the guitar. The rotating RGB colors are somewhat reminiscent of those crazy disco lights from back in the 70’s. The LEDs are run using a remote control which offers some fun flexibility.
If you look closely at the top and bottom edges of the guitar body, you will see a subtle curved design in the edge of the wood. This is actually an “accidental” design element that was added while using a router to cut out and smooth the top edge of the guitar. The router slipped during the cutting process and created this erroneous curve. I thought it looked cool and decided to make a matching cut in the bottom edge to make it look symmetrical. I thought it would be cool to personalize the piece even more by adding the sculptured hands which are casts of my own hands. The copper color was chosen simply to make them not look too realistic (creepy), and because the color blended well with the warm brown and golden tones of the cherry wood.
In total it cost me around $460 and probably 75 hours of time to build this piece. There was a lot of “cranial energy” put into the design conception, with a fair amount of trial-and-error as the build work happened.
I’ve given it my best shot so far. For 25 years and few more I’ve given it my best shot and I’ll keep giving it my best shot for as long as I can. Seeing things in black and white somehow dispenses with the peripheral and gets you to the core issues and that’s what …
Woodworking is largely an exercise in subtraction. For much of what we do that subtraction is obvious – we can see the kerf left from a saw, we can watch the shavings fall out of our handplane and we brush shavings away from the work surface when we sand or scrape. In these instances, we can quickly assess how the process is going. Is my blade dull? Is my blade canted […]
In part two of this series, several techniques and tools were shown for accurately setting origin points. You can use line-of-sight, feel, extrapolation from a known diameter, edge finders, wigglers, 3D sensors and more. Accuracy is critical and although all these tools and processes work well, setting origins can be time-consuming. So, in my own shop, I often use other methods and tools to locate and set my origin points. As a […]
Growing up I thought everyone had a Bridgeport in their garage – or at least had access to a vertical mill at their dad’s shop across town. Little did I know at the time that growing up in a machine shop wasn’t necessarily normal. My father instilled in me at a young age a belief that there’s nothing that can’t be fixed – even if you threw away the […]
My very talented friend, Jack Mauch, just completed a great looking door made of many segments of veneer quilted together to create a clever geometric pattern (aka parquetry). Each of the segments received a dip in a bath of fire hot sand to shade it accordingly. The project is marvelous and the video that depicts it, by Jesse Beecher, is a treat to watch. To learn more about the project […]
One of the most frustrating parts of using a smooth plane is when you have a low spot on your board that simply refuses to be planed out. There are several strategies. Here are just a few: Just keep planing as usual until you are an old man or woman. Drop down to a coarser plane (such as the jointer). But this could introduce tear-out. Increase the depth of cut. […]
Sunday 16th April 2017 Most metal had long since corroded in the rigours of a corrosive salt washing of 5 centuries or so, but handles are almost always obvious. Combine that with location and the pieces literally come together. Had it been for me to be a part of the discovery I’m sure I would …
In my last post I explained how Valspar wood coatings may remain “independent” of Sherwin-Williams’ attempt at consolidation for a while. But there’s a much bigger consolidation being attempted by PPG. It’s trying to buy AkzoNobel. PPG is headquartered in Pittsburgh and owns paint and finish brands including Olympic, Glidden, Sico, Dulux and its own PPG brand. AkzoNobel is headquartered in Holland and owns paint and finish brands including Chemcraft, […]
This morning a colleague told me that Graham McCulloch, author of the ShortCuts blog is retiring from the online column after 22 years. Graham has been a voice in the woodworking community for more than 70 years. He has contributed articles to numerous publications including Canadian Woodworking magazine and Family Handyman magazine and has authored numerous woodworking books, including a couple of titles for Popular Woodworking: “The Woodworker’s Illustrated Encyclopedia” and “601 Woodshop Tips […]
by Megan Fitzpatrick pages 26-31 From the June 2016 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine A slick technique makes the divided-light door a snap. In 2008, I built a contemporary maple chimney cupboard to hold towels in my bathroom. Eight years on, I decided it was time for a matching medicine cabinet – in large part because the house I recently bought has solid masonry walls, so I needed a nice-looking […]
In the first post in this CNC Skills series on Origin Points, I emphasized how critical reference positions are for digital woodworkers. When you’re working on a drawing in CAD, the origin point is at the intersection of the X, Y and Z axis. All measurements — positive or negative, begin at that point. By the numbers, that’s X=0,Y=0,and Z=0. It’s from that position that the piece you’re cutting is […]
Monday 17th April 2017 It would be too much to blog on the shipwright’s work when the ship is so large. Boats would be much easier. It wasn’t in any way nostalgia that called me to visit Portsmouth nor anything to do with a nautical life on the open sea. It was wood and its …
Today we’ll talk about the proper way to use a miter saw as well as my favorite stationary sanders. Of course we also have the usual Q&A. Here’s the rundown:
Looking for a durable outdoor finish? You’ve come to the right place! Looking for an inexpensive solution that will never require any maintenance? This is not the finish for you. Good quality marine finishes are not cheap. In fact, I am pretty sure the finishing materials cost as much as the wood! And while they can produce one of the most durable and long-lasting finishes available to woodworkers, they will eventually require maintenance thanks to the unrelenting power of Mother Nature. My goal is to put off that maintenance for as long as possible. By the way, looking for a quick review of common outdoor finish types? Check this out!
A few years ago I built the Rustic Outdoor Table (download free plans here) and only gave it a coat or two of Watco Teak Oil. I then proceeded to let the table sit in the blazing Arizona sun, a veritable torture test for any wood or finish. The end result? A table and benches that were weathered beyond their years and were riddled with checks and cracks. Somewhere along the line I actually did refinish the benches, but it was a rushed job and I didn’t apply enough coats of varnish. However, the benches were in much better shape than the table by the time I decided to do a full-scale refinish here in Colorado.
The Finish
The finish is a 1-2 punch consisting of an epoxy sealer and a marine varnish. Because the wood was in such bad shape and I didn’t want a high gloss finish, two additional products were added to the lineup. In short, the goal is to use epoxy to seal the wood fibers and essentially make them impervious to liquids. This provides an excellent base on which to build numerous coats of varnish. The varnish has a lot of solids and is made with very flexible resins that should have no trouble stretching when the wood expands and contracts. The varnish also contains UV inhibitors which will slow down the breakdown of the finish itself while also protecting the underlying wood fibers.
Step 1 – Epoxy Fill
My product of choice for this step is West System Epoxy. I usually buy the gallon size Resin, the 205 Fast Hardener, and the pump set for convenient mixing. The epoxy is spread along the surface and driven into the cracks with a putty knife. You can then use something like an irrigation syringe to push more epoxy into the deepest holes. Quick tip: use masking tape on the underside if the cracks go all the way through. This will prevent the epoxy from simply pouring out onto the ground.
Step 2 – Epoxy Sealer
In the past, I used a product called Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES). It worked incredibly well, seeping deep into the wood fibers and sealing them completely and providing a nice base for the varnish. But the stuff does have an incredibly noxious odor. For this project I did a little more research and came across a zero VOC product called Total Boat Penetrating Epoxy. It mixed and applied easy enough and the smell was not unpleasant at all. But I found that it didn’t seem to absorb as deeply as CPES though I might have gotten better absorption with further acetone dilution. The product also took 5-6 days to cure. But once cured, the surface can be sanded smooth in preparation for the varnish.
Step 3 – Marine Varnish
I’ve been using Epifanes Marine Varnish for years on my outdoor projects. I even experimented with mixing it with oil for an easily renewable desert-friendly outdoor finish. I used it again along with CPES on the Outdoor Sitting Bench. The stuff isn’t cheap, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a varnish better-suited for outdoor life. I apply a total of 4-5 coats, the first few diluted by 50% with mineral spirits. The last coat or two get diluted a little less at 25%. Application is done with either a foam brush or a good quality natural bristle brush.
Step 4 – Matte Varnish
The regular Epifanes product is high gloss. And after 4-5 coats we’re talking a seriously substantial film! To give the piece a little more of a “relaxed” look, I like to apply two additional coats of Epifanes Wood Finish Matte. This stuff is flat as flat can be and I love the appearance. I suppose if you want a little more gloss, you could always mix this stuff with the high gloss product to achieve some sort of happy medium. I only have to dilute it by about 10% to get the flow just right.
Maintenance
I’ll keep you posted on this. I now live in a very different climate with the full range of four seasons. I have the table sitting under an umbrella which should help minimize exposure but it won’t completely stop it. My goal and hope is that I won’t have to tend to this table more than every other year. But I’ll monitor the finish periodically and keep you posted on its condition. But for now, I have an easy to clean table and bench set that we don’t mind eating on. And with Spring in full force, that’s a very good thing!
I was looking through some of our recent books for this week’s book giveaway and realized I had an extra copy of Zach Dillinger’s “With Saw, Plane & Chisel” on my desk. It’s a fascinating look at period-accurate building techniques. If you love classic American furniture and are interested in how things were made back in the day, this book is worth a read. Zach creates museum quality reproductions the old fashioned […]
When I went to the lumberyard to buy the stock for my first project of my own design I picked through the store’s entire stack of 1x12s to find the boards with the most attractive constellation of knots. I wasn’t trying to be cheeky or make a statement (other than “I like knots”). I genuinely liked knots because they reminded me that the board was once a tree – not […]
As I mentioned in the first part of the story, Shay likes to frequent the Jaffa flea markets to look for all kinds of goodies. In fact, many of the tools that he uses come from boxes of miscellaneous items that he has seen there. He buys the tools for little money and later finds the time to rehabilitate them. After fishing the tool from a merchant’s box or picking it from […]
I’ve always loved the classic shaker workbench, this is my adaptation of one. Red oak, leg vise, tail vise, record style vise. Plane shelves, two small drawers, two large drawers for routers, sanders and other assorted power tools. 1/2 blind dovetailed sides, with through dovetails on the tail vise. Other side houses tool tote for all my carving tools. Power is hidden underneath at two spots. The dead man is very handy.
My inspiration for this bench is rooted in the traditional Shaker cabinet style bench. It is constructed out of a small cache of immaculate milled 10 quarter, 15 inch wide and 12 foot long red oak boards I carried around for almost 25 years. My home is all white oak, so you get why it sat for many years. I first saw a true woodworker’s bench at a woodworking show here in Los Angeles. It was a piece done by the Cerritos College Woodworking program. I’d been woodworking for many years on a 4×8 sheet of plywood and decided it was time for a true upgrade. The most eye opening part of the class, was the vises. There were so many to choose from and what were my needs and wants? I chose the Benchcrafted leg vise first. Along with a desire to dovetail my ends, I had a vision for it and it was worth every penny to fulfill that image. The tail vise is my go to vise by Lie Nielsen, love it. The Wilton record style vise came from my old bench and basically is a general dirty work vise, since the jaws are replaceable.
The backside houses a tool tote from the first class I took at the college; it holds all my carving tools. I added two small drawers for pencils, rulers and other assorted small stuff. The two larger drawers house the routers, sanders and jig saws. The ends hold an assortment of hand planes. It even has a couple of secret compartments for giggles and grins. The skirt is 5 inches thick while the top is 3inches. Add a few hold downs and she’s ready to sail. I used no plans, only measurements representing the dimensions of material and space I was limited by. From my head the shop floor. My absolute most valuable tool.
On May 22 last year (2016) I complained about consolidation in the wood finishing industry, which is eliminating competition. The latest was Sherwin-Williams buying Valspar, a move that would effectively remove Valspar as a company independent of the interests of Sherwin-Williams. Many of you agreed with my complaint. The next day I reported that the Federal Trade Commission was looking into this. I guess they heard us because the latest […]
Nearly every time that I approach the planer, I think to myself, how am I going to get rid of snipe this time? Without fail, I end up with snipe at the leading or trailing edge at some point in the process to a varying degree. It has been rumored that some have totally mitigated the issue – but it is relieving to hear Doug Dale at Marc Adam’s School of Woodworking share […]
Gluing up narrow boards into big panels stresses out many beginning woodworkers. Sorry to say it, but I have another stressor to put on your shoulders: Don’t tarry. Schnell. Andele. Large panels are like manicured lawns. Right after you mow and trim your yard, it looks like a golf course or a military haircut. But within minutes or hours, the blades of grass and weeds begin to move and grow, […]
From my Journal Saturday 15th April 2017 I left for Portsmouth, which sits but 1 ½ hours from my home, for some private study and rest time bathing in the history of woodworking. Portsmouth is a port city and naval base on England’s south coast, mostly spread across Portsea Island. It’s best known for its maritime …
It’s a shame customers don’t know as much about woodworking as woodworkers. They run their hands over your work and if it’s smooth they think it’s good – whereas you know that’s just the temporary wax on top. It shows the customer nothing about the weeks you spent oiling it daily or the high number of light coats of shellac used to create a deep and repairable finish. Customers can also […]
Design has always been one of my biggest challenges in woodworking. To be frank, I didn’t know how to create my own designs. I’m always amazed by the innovative designs of other woodworkers, but aside from copying, creating my own seemed beyond my capacity. How woudl I begin to create a vision? Where would I get ideas? And how might I create something that is coherent, makes sense, has “style”? […]
Want to be a hero with friends and relatives? Here are two tricks that are surprisingly little known but are worth a lot to your reputation: how to remove crayon and candle wax. Crayons are made of wax, of course, and wax dissolves in turpentine, mineral spirits (paint thinner) and naphtha. None of these solvents damages any finish (except, of course, a wax finish) when used in moderation. So to […]
Now that I am in my new shop, I have to start re imagining the space. Going from a two-car garage where it was all mine to a one-car garage that will have to share the garage with a car, well, it’s going to take some time to get everything where it needs to go. But I know it will happen.
Oh, did I mention that there is only one overhead light, and a single 15 amp plug that runs the garage door opener? Yeah, that will be a problem, but that’s the situation. So, as far as power tools go, my options will be limited, and I will be leaning heavily on battery-operated tools to make mechanized things work well.
In the meantime, I need a solid foundation for my woodworking. Fortunately, I had a ton of help last year making things happen in my first apartment. Modern Woodworkers Association Podcast Host and Penultimate Workshop Blogger Dyami Plotke paid me a visit just before the 2016 Woodworking Show to get me set up with a bench.
Now, here’s a bit of a recap of bench history for those of you who are new to the party.
My first bench – big ugly – was a solid core door I was throwing out that I mounted to a 2 x 4 frame. It was big. It was nasty. It was super ugly. And, I built some pretty sweet pieces on it. But, it had zero functionality.
The next bench I built was better, but it too was plagued with issues that made its utility a bit more challenging. However, I was able to build some nice pieces on the bench, and it served me well for several years.
The next bench was my favorite. It was a Nicholson Bench. Eight feet long. Heavy as all get out. All built out of construction-grade southern yellow pine. Now we were talking. Dog holes on the top and the sides. Stiff. Solid. Great piece to work on. Could have done without the split top, but hey, not bad for a third bench.
The current one that Dyami and I built was a speed build – built in one day on the show floor at the Tampa Fairgrounds. Roll that fabulous bench building footage.
While it is a sweet little bench (it measures a diminutive four feet long), it has yet to really see a woodworking project built on it. It ended up serving as an entry table at my apartment, catching ballcaps and cans of sunscreen spray.
But, no more. Now, in its new location, the bench is getting set to get some work done.
from Tom's Workbench http://ift.tt/2p8MMGf
via IFTTT
The saying goes that, “There is no fool like an old fool.” but it often seems to me it’s mostly in the negative vein of disparagingly criticising the elderly when they make mistakes or poor judgements. In a more positive vein, to counter the culture that espouses all new equipment as the progressive way forward, and, …
Today we’re talking about why I think most woodworkers should buy Metric chisels and we’ll try to help someone work through their fears after a near-mishap in the shop. Of course we have the usual Q&A too. Here’s the rundown:
0:58 – Marc’s getting old tomorrow
1:52 – Wood Whisperer Community Page – http://ift.tt/2oJ1Auj
3:25 – Wood Whisperer Newsletter – http://ift.tt/2owiyK2
4:28 – Outdoor table refinishing update
6:06 – How do you keep your boards flat during glue ups?
7:49 – Would you prioritize F style or Parallel clamps first?
8:16 – Can you recommend a good moisture meter?
9:10 – Which chisel sizes would you start with when beginning?
12:29 – What the best sanding approach to sanding spindles or oddly shaped pieces?
14:28 – Any tips on getting over a close call in the shop?
15:58 – What’s your opinion on multi vs single use tools? What about one off jigs?
18:19 – Is there a reliable way to flatten an 8′ long bowed board?
20:24 – Can you tell Emily she needs to spend more time in the shop with Derek?
21:42 – How do you bend wood that’s too thick to laminate?
22:30 – Is Nicole ready to turn yet?
22:49 – Marc was on Reclaimed Audio – http://ift.tt/1qpG62z
25:38 – How and how often do you clean your rasps?
27:36 – What’s a good way to cut rabbets without a tablesaw?
28:35 – Do you know any resources to learn about common furniture styles?
30:13 – Do you enjoy cooking? Who’s the better cook and what’s your favorite recipe?
34:16 – When using epoxy as a finish, should I expect an uneven surface?
35:47 – How can I make a chessboard with a mitered frame without worrying about wood movement splitting the frame?
38:08 – What do you think of pigging out BBQ?
40:20 – Opinion on Kobalt power tools?
40:58 – How often do you run your dust collector?
41:30 – Can you give some information on screws?
42:25 – Have you ever tried Schwarz’s soap finishing technique?
42:44 – How do you properly setup a Byrd Shelix cutterhead?
43:25 – Should I sharpen jointer blades or buy new ones?
43:50 – Is a card scraper essential? What shape should I get?
44:40 – Should I sell my power tools while I’m deployed or just put them in storage?
46:12 – Where do you pick up hardware for a curved drawer front?
46:57 – Why don’t you wear your shop apron in your videos?
51:00 – Address for Marc and Nicole Mail: 5856 S Lowell Blvd. Unit #32 #107 Littleton, CO 80123
51:30 – Project Winner
52:25 – VSC Tools Giveaway – http://ift.tt/1wrJHJF
52:50 – Patreon Supporters
Shop set up is always a popular topic of discussion among woodworkers. We have a book coming out in few weeks that covers exactly that. “The Practical Workshop” is a compilation of some of Popular Woodworking Magazine’s best articles on setting up a sensible shop with an efficient workflow. Whether you have a fully equipped shop or you make do with a tiny corner of the basement or garage, this book […]
In this video excerpt from “No-Fear Chairmaking,” Christopher Schwarz shows you how to use soap flakes (or grated soap) and water to make two varieties of traditional Danish soap finish. This finish is fast and easy to make, there are no VOCs about which to worry, and it is quite easy to apply. Plus, you’ll walk away with cleaner hands than when you started… If you’re interested in the building […]
Hello, TWW community! This is my first furniture project. I usually make jewelry boxes and wooden logos. But one day one of my clients asked for a cabinet. I had a sketch with dimensions and basic design but during the process I had to change some things. I used locally sourced types of wood that I could find. Oak, Ash for the shelves, and Walnut and Pine for facades. I had my doubts about using Pine but I couldn’t find Maple in my country.
I used jigs and techniques I was good at, so I chose finger joint for sides, which was a key issue, but I think I did it pretty well. For the facades I came up with a tetris brick style idea I liked a lot. I really wanted to make it look like tetris bricks. So 400 bricks were cut and then cut again on each side at a 30 degree angle. The shelves were made on a box joint jig and glued to the facades.
I used shellac for finishing. I am very happy how it turned out since this was the first time I ever used it. I am pleased with the end result and welcome any comments, advice or just your thoughts on this project. Thank you!
I sharpen a curve on the cutting edge of all my bench planes and block planes. The curve prevents the corners of the iron from leaving behind “plane tracks” – those ugly little steps. But there are many other benefits to using a curved iron. Here’s one more: It can make your mortise-and-tenon joinery tighter. This might sound improbable, but it’s something I achieve with every mortise-and-tenon joint in my […]
I work alone, so when I need to move a 70 lb. chunk of rough lumber over my jointer, I’ve got to be tricky if I don’t want to be sore the next day. For me, the best trick has been to squirt some Blaster Dry Lube on the bed and fence after a few passes. In fact, this Teflon-based lubricant is really the only thing that makes it possible […]
Shay Avrahami opened his Furniture restoration shop in Tel Aviv in the early 90s’, and since then he has steadily established his reputation as one of the best furniture restorers in Israel. His experience stems from many years of apprenticeship in Israel, and a few years of mentorship in Scotland. I visited him two weeks ago to talk and take pictures of his shop and work. His shop is in a small space in […]
The June 2017 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine, which features Caleb James’ homage to Hans Wegner on the cover, is in the mail right now to print subscribers, and the notice for digital subscribers went out earlier today. (It’s also now available at ShopWoodworking.com.) The Online Extras are live at http://ift.tt/2oAp8l5. The issue will be on newsstands in a couple weeks as well, and once it’s there, if you mosey […]
I did enjoy preparing for the 2-day class last week but it is always a lot more work than I anticipate, mostly because I am I am no longer solely dedicated to what was a dedicated woodworking school. I think running a school may well be more an over expectation carried over from a past into what …
When people injure themselves in the shop, their first reaction is to grab the wound and refuse to look. Sadly, this is the same attitude many woodworkers take with the squareness of their components: They refuse to look and hope things will work out. While there are lots of areas of woodworking where squareness doesn’t matter (stick chairs, for one), if you are going to build rectilinear boxes and hope […]
You may already know about the French cleat, but if you haven’t heard of it, this neat trick is a great simple way to hang cabinets, wall racks or shelving. In this excerpt below, Popular Woodworking’s very own David Thiel explains how he used this simple yet effective method of wall-mounting to hang a wine rack – a project that is featured in the new book “Simple & Stylish Woodworking: 20 Projects for Your Home.” […]
It does seem generally that most are agreed that it is too much of a risk to loan out the personal tools you either use in the every day of life or the ones you have grown to rely on to put food on the table. I have never had the luxury of having tools …
CNC Skills: Part One: All about Origin Points The Origin Point is your prime reference position No matter what kind of woodworking you do, reference points and accurate measurements are critically important for woodworkers. This is particularly true when using any kind of woodworking machinery. For example, if you’re using a table saw to rip a board to 4” wide, set your fence to 4”. To set up that fence […]
I was hanging out at the Lost Art Press open house last weekend, and Dayton-area woodworking and tool collector Eric Brown brought down a crazy box to show Christopher Schwarz and me. It’s made with the same sort of dovetails you may have seen on the Single Brothers’ Workshop at Old Salem, or other Germanic timber structures. These dovetails, constructed solely of tails, weren’t meant for small-scale work…but there’s a […]
