Author Archive for Steve Shanesy
Steve Shanesy is a senior editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine.
Victorian Serpentine Chest – Inside Out
Because my wife and I recently moved, everything in our old place had to be packed, including the contents of most drawers, etc. While I was at it, I took a closer look at a Victorian-era serpentine chest we inherited years ago. Although I’m not a fan of this furniture style, I’ve always found this Continue reading»
Flat-screen TV Stand in a Weekend
My wife and I recently moved after 22 years to a smaller (read that: “downsized”) home of a very different style than our old Victorian. I’d call our new place International Style, Modern or just Contemporary. Such a change prompts a raft of considerations when it comes to furnishings. My list of things to build Continue reading»
Innovative Toggle Clamps from Bessey
Convenient workholding is essential for every woodworking project, whether it’s a stout leg vise or a small spring clamp. Sometimes old methods, like using a holdfast are best and other times innovative new clamps come along. I’m thinking of the “K” body clamp Bessey introduced more than a decade ago that was a vast improvement Continue reading»
Precision Drilling Repetitive Hole Patterns
Years ago, when I was woodworking as a full-time occupation, I remember a couple jobs in particular that required me to set up a drill press to drill a sequence of holes where accuracy was a must. One job was producing prototype cabinets for JBL, the company that makes speakers. The cabinets were intended to Continue reading»
Maloof-style Cabinet with Leather Pulls
As a follow-up to a recent post about shop-made leather drawer pulls, I thought I’d share with you a photo of the completed sideboard. Just how did this piece evolve? There’s a Sam Maloof cabinet that has the same proportions and drawer arrangement. I like very much the look of the all-walnut piece he built Continue reading»
Shop-made Leather Drawer Pulls
A couple months back I stumbled onto a bundle of harness leather scraps at a flea market and snapped it up. I was working on a new six-drawer sideboard and it gave me a chance to try out an idea that I had years ago for a shop-made drawer pull. I figured making the pulls Continue reading»
Flattening Really Wide Boards
Years ago I came to possess a really large walnut log and had it sawn to my specifications on a band mill. I then air dried it and have stowed most of it ever since. Many of the plain-sliced slabs yielded widths of between 20″ and 33″. Yes, I consider myself a lucky man. I’ve Continue reading»
