Popular Woodworking Magazine » John Wilson

Make Your Own Hand tools

Matthew Teague — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:12:19 +0000

I’ve turned hollow mortise chisels into square punches, refashioned chisels and their handles, made a number of scratch stocks, ground steel bar stock into embossing punches and a made a few other quick tools. And I’ve built a few wooden, Krenov-style handplanes over the years – I had a fine time and wound up with … Read more »

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John Wilson’s Adjustable-pitch Plane

Christopher Schwarz — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:28:52 +0000

If you had only one bench plane, it would be nice if that plane could do both roughing and smoothing chores. Woodworker John Wilson tackled that problem in our April 2011 issue with his adjustable-pitch jack plane, which can be switched from 45° pitch to 52° pitch in less than a minute. I’ve had the … Read more »

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Variable-pitch Jack Plane

Article Index — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:12:43 +0000

This jack plane can be easily set to work at 45° for rough work or 52° for smoothing chores.By John Wilson Pages: 48-53From the April 2011 issue #189 Buy this issue nowThe story of this plane goes back 20 years to a chance encounter I had with a Cecil Pierce jack plane. Pierce was a planemaker in Maine who made beautiful planes for more than 50 years. Just a one-man operation, an avocation really, for the love of the craft. I saw the plane while on the road in a shop where I was teaching and its shape captivated me. I drew its plan. I was to the point of asking if I might buy it. I was smitten.Article: Read a profile of John Wilson and tour his shop. Video: Watch a short video that shows this plane in use. Web site: Discover John Wilson’s The Home Shop. To buy: “The Perfect Edge” by Ron Hock – a great book on sharpening. In our store: Handplane Basics - A Better Way to Use Bench Planes.From the April 2011 issue #189 Buy this issue now Read more »

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$5 Router Plane

Article Index — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:06:20 +0000

If you can’t afford a vintage or new one, build your own using a block of wood, an Allen wrench and a thumbscrew. By John Wilson Pages: 72-75 From the August 2005 issue #149 Buy this issue now Here is a real-life shop problem: The project calls for a shallow slot, or dado, in the … Read more »

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Sawbench & Shop Stool

Article Index — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:57:36 +0000

This simple afternoon project is perfect for handsawing, holding doors for planing, organizing tools and giving you a leg up. It will quickly become indispensable. By John Wilson Pages: 42-44 From the June 2005 issue #148 Buy this issue now My simple plywood two-step in the old tool shed had reached the end of the … Read more »

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Build a Sailor Girl On Your Own

Article Index — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:10:54 +0000

A week in your own shop will produce a boat that’s fun to sail or row. By John Wilson Pages: 86-91 From the February 2005 issue #146 Buy this issue now When I was a Boy Scout 50 years ago, I remember reading an article titled “Building an Orange Crate Canoe.” At the time I … Read more »

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Solar Drying Kiln

Article Index — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:45:18 +0000

A cost-effective and efficient way to take green boards to usable lumber. By John Wilson Pages: 74-79 From the December 2006 issue #159 Buy this issue now The solar drying kiln is the most cost-effective way for the craftsman to get quality boards for woodworking from green lumber. Today there are many band saw operators … Read more »

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Rustic Garden Bench

Article Index — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:44:17 +0000

A slab from green wood, some sturdy legs and a sylvan setting are all you need. By John Wilson Pages: 70-75 From the June 2006 issue #155 Buy this issue now “A slab like that can make up into a garden bench. Being white oak, they last.” The sawyer was making conversation while cutting my … Read more »

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Shaker Oval Music Box

Article Index — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:54:36 +0000

A simple gift for the holidays. By John Wilson Pages: 74-79 From the November 2007 issue #165 Buy this issue now Two Shaker accomplishments were prolific song writing (there are more than 10,000 extant songs) and gracefully fingered oval boxes. This music box combines both. The song “Simple Gifts” is familiar to many from Aaron … Read more »

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