The other headline I considered for this blog entry was: Fare thee well, pinheads. As I sorted through the box of castings and metal bits in my Benchcrafted Crisscross kit tonight I wondered if this would be the box that finally banishes the pin from my leg vise. Since 2005, I’ve been using a parallel … Read more
Woodworkers from all across the country have been signing up in droves for our 31 Days of Christmas Sweepstakes. Hopefully you’re already in on the action – but in case you’ve been neglecting to toss your name in hat each day, I wanted to remind you of just how amazing tomorrow’s prize is. We’re giving … Read more
When steel and an abrasive intersect, the typical result is utter confusion. Today we have more choices in steel than ever before. The same goes for abrasives. And so wading into the issue of what abrasive to use with what steel is a subject that should be a book – not a blog entry. (If … Read more
We’ve compiled some of our favorite woodworking gifts for the holidays over at our store. In the short-but-diverse list, you’re sure to find a gift for every woodworker you know – perhaps even yourself. Flexner on Finishing – Bob Flexner’s definitive guide to finishing has everything a woodworker needs to know – Save 40% The … Read more
In the February 2013 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine contributor Gary Rogowski of The Northwest Woodworking Studio delves into the old problem we’ve all experienced – legs on chairs, stools and tables that don’t sit flat on the floor and rock to one one side then another. Gary also presents a really quick and easy … Read more
Combine simple construction and sophisticated proportions.
By Glen D. Huey
Pages 22-29
In 1760, Dutch gin bottles made their way to the Colonies. Soon thereafter, the first known example of a lidded box designed to hold those gin bottles was built. Many of the bottle boxes, gin boxes or cellarettes, as they are known, have their origin in the Roanoke River basin area – cellarettes were not produced in major southeastern centers such as Baltimore and Charleston, S.C.
Video: See the jig and router setup used to create the sliding dovetail joints.
Blog: Read this post about a simple jig to create dados for the egg-crate dividers.
Plan: Download a free SketchUp model of this piece from our online collection – Coming soon.
In Our Store: “Furniture in the Southern Style,” a collection of drawings of period pieces from the MESDA collection.
Web Site: Visit the author’s blog. Read more
The hard truth about these ancient tools.
By Wilbur Pan
Pages 30-32
Japanese tools have a reputation of being suitable only for softwoods. This is an unfounded worry, especially in the case of Japanese chisels. As woodworker Kari Hultman (writer of The Village Carpenter blog) attests, “I would like to publicly profess my love of Japanese chisels. All the rest of you chisels can just go home now. I have used the same chisel for chopping and paring maple for days and days and have yet to resharpen it.”
Blog: Visit Wilbur Pan’s blog for more on Japanese tools and woodworking.
In Our Store: “Japanese Saws vs. Western Saws,” an article by Christopher Schwarz.
To Buy: “Japanese Hand Tools & Joinery,” a DVD by Jay van Arsdale. Read more
