Popular Woodworking Magazine » Jim Tolpin http://www.popularwoodworking.com Woodworking advice, woodworking plans, woodworking projects and woodworking blogs Fri, 17 May 2013 23:00:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 The New Traditional Woodworkerhttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-gifts/the-new-traditional-woodworker http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-gifts/the-new-traditional-woodworker#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:46 +0000 Ajax Alexandre http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=113584
The New Traditional Woodworker

Here’s a gift idea that every woodworker will appreciate. On sale, saving you 34 percent!   Working Wood, Not Machining It If you’re more interested in working with wood rather than machining it, you will be relieved to learn that expensive powered machinery isn’t required to build furniture. You can also forget the dust masks, … Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-gifts/the-new-traditional-woodworker/feed 0 This One Goes to 13http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/this-one-goes-to-13 http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/this-one-goes-to-13#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:19:12 +0000 Christopher Schwarz http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=104676
This One Goes to 13

Jim Tolpin’s article “Secrets of the Sector” in the June 2011 issue has stirred up a lot of interest and discussion among our readers. A sector is a way to eliminate arithmetic, especially division (multiplication’s tricky friend). To help readers understand the sector, I made a couple short videos: Video: Jim Tolpin’s ‘Secret of the … Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/this-one-goes-to-13/feed 10 Make a Sector From a Crappy Folding Rulehttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/make-a-sector-from-a-crappy-folding-rule http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/make-a-sector-from-a-crappy-folding-rule#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:20:17 +0000 Christopher Schwarz http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=103459
Make a Sector From a Crappy Folding Rule

As Jim Tolpin’s article on sectors from the June 2011 issue is getting into the hands of readers, we have had a few questions about the tool. One question is, of course: “Where can I buy one?” I don’t recommend you try to purchase a real sector. They are small affairs that were intended more … Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/make-a-sector-from-a-crappy-folding-rule/feed 14 Video: Jim Tolpin’s ‘Secret of the Sector’http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/jim-tolpin%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98secret-of-the-sector%e2%80%99 http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/jim-tolpin%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98secret-of-the-sector%e2%80%99#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:51:52 +0000 Christopher Schwarz http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=97765 In the June 2011 issue we have Jim Tolpin building the “Ultimate Router Table.” Nah, just yanking your chain. He’s actually building a wombat house. Ha. Got you. In truth, Tolpin wrote a great article about how to build and use a “sector.” What’s a sector? It is like magic wands that have been hinged … Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/jim-tolpin%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98secret-of-the-sector%e2%80%99/feed 24 Secrets of the Sectorhttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/secrets-of-the-sector http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/secrets-of-the-sector#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:52:56 +0000 Article Index http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=97203
Secrets of the Sector

Just 2 sticks and 1 hinge will eliminate both math and errors from your layout work.By Jim Tolpin Pages:40-45From the June 2011 issue #190 Buy this issue nowIf you haven’t heard of the sector, it probably means you aren’t an artisan or a ship’s navigator living and working in the 17th and 18th centuries.An invention attributed to Galileo, the sector is a calculation instrument comprised of a pair of hinged sticks engraved with a variety of scales that – coupled with a pair of dividers – enabled you to solve trigonometry, division and multiplication problems (amongst other functions).Video: Watch a sector in use in the shop. Web site: Visit the Port Townsend School of Woodworking’s web site. To buy: “The New Traditional Woodworker” by Jim Tolpin. In our store: “Measure Twice, Cut Once” by Jim Tolpin.From the June 2011 issue #190 Buy this issue now Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/secrets-of-the-sector/feed 0 Jim Tolpin’s Universal Rip Fencehttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/jim-tolpins-universal-rip-fence http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/jim-tolpins-universal-rip-fence#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:38:00 +0000 Article Index http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=86131
Jim Tolpin's Universal Rip Fence

A simple fixture lets your table saw cut curves, patterns and tenons in one pass. By Jim Tolpin Pages: 84-90 From the February 2004 issue #139 Buy this issue now My universal fence fixture – the heart of my table saw system to which an entire galaxy of accessories can be attached – greatly expands … Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/jim-tolpins-universal-rip-fence/feed 0 Out of the Woodwork: Small Shop, Big Lessonshttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-small-shop-big-lessons http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-small-shop-big-lessons#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:35:51 +0000 Article Index http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=52281
Out of the Woodwork: Small Shop, Big Lessons

Many woodworkers dream of ‘going pro.’ Before you take the leap, read this. By Jim Tolpin Page: 104 From the  February 2006 issue #153 Buy this issue now It’s now been more than three decades since I began to work wood for a living. In the beginning, I operated alone out of a one-car garage … Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-small-shop-big-lessons/feed 0 Designing by Foot, Hand & Eyehttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/designing-by-foot-hand-eye http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/designing-by-foot-hand-eye#comments Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:21:54 +0000 Article Index http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=30841
Designing by Foot, Hand & Eye

Empirical, not Imperial, is the measure of the pre-industrial maker. By Jim Tolpin Page: 46From the August 2010 issue #184 Buy this issue nowIn this article I’m going to show how I design a simple piece of furniture whilst immersed in the mindset of the pre-industrial, hand-tool artisan. Because I’m not going to use power tools to build the piece, I can shelve my usual, machine-oriented design process to develop it. This means I won’t be bothering with drafting up (or SketchUp upping) numerically defined drawings in order to generate cutlists because, as you will see, I simply don’t need them. Machines need numbers – the hand-tool artisan doesn’t.I start by roughing out concept sketches that satisfy the essential parameters of function and aesthetics that are the “givens” of the project. When I come to an iteration that looks good enough to pursue, I draw a full-scale rendering of it – and from there construct a cardboard mock-up that allows me to view the piece not only in three dimensions, but placed so I can look at it in the way it will be viewed in use. (Often, real-world views elongate or foreshorten planes and details in ways that are not obvious in drawing elevations.) Once satisfied with the mock-up, I commit the design to the traditional, analog recording system of tick sticks and templates. No tape measures or rulers of any kind are harmed in the creation of this design!Blog: Visit Jim's blog and read about the classes he offers at Port Townsend School of Woodworking. Blog: Read more about the whole-number rations on George R. Walker's "Design Matters" blog. To buy: Get all the dividers you need on eBay. Use our custom search to find them. In our store: Purchase Jim's "Measure Twice, Cut Once" from our store. Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/designing-by-foot-hand-eye/feed 0 Out of the Woodwork: Fighting Evil Alien Technologyhttp://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-fighting-evil-alien-technology http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-fighting-evil-alien-technology#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:28:27 +0000 lwatts http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=93938
Out of the Woodwork: Fighting Evil Alien Technology

Beating it requires knowing the right way to nail a board. By Jim Tolpin Page: 104 From the December 2004 issue #145 Buy this issue now When I was about 8 years old, I decided that I needed to construct a sturdy fort to protect myself from the army of aliens (who cleverly had taken … Read more »

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]]> http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-fighting-evil-alien-technology/feed 0 Out of the Woodwork: To Rip or to Split?http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-to-rip-or-to-split http://www.popularwoodworking.com/articleindex/out-of-the-woodwork-to-rip-or-to-split#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:24:51 +0000 Article Index http://www.popularwoodworking.com/?p=93841
Out of the Woodwork: To Rip or to Split?

Sometimes sawing isn’t the smartest solution. By Jim Tolpin Page: 108 From the November 2004 issue #144 Buy this issue now When I lived in Pennsylvania, an Appalachian furniture maker I met gave me this mystery to solve: “Back near the turn of the last century, the new fire chief of Cumberland, Md., decided to … Read more »

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