Revealing centuries-old secrets to working quickly and efficiently. By Adam Cherubini Pages: 32-36 From the December 2005 issue #152 Buy this issue now Arts & Mysteries is a phrase that oft appears in the contracts or indentures between master craftsmen and their apprentices. Exact usage varies, but the context is usually something like “… the … Read more
A look at Williamsburg’s period shop through the eyes of a passionate hand-tool woodworker. By Adam Cherubini Pages: 66-69 From the November 2005 issue #151 Buy this issue now Last year I visited Colonial Williamsburg’s The Cabinetmaker Shop for the first time in 25 years. It was a real treat for me. Woodworkers get special … Read more
How (and why) you should use the broad hatchet in the modern shop. By Adam Cherubini Pages: 40-42 From the November 2005 issue #151 Buy this issue now Estate inventories of cabinetmakers’ shops often include hatchets. Likewise, most of the admittedly few images of period shops depict hatchets prominently. It could well be that these … Read more
The traditional hand saw (when wielded correctly) can size all your stock. Here’s a basic primer. By Adam Cherubini Pages: 42-45 From the October 2005 issue #150 Buy this issue now Hand saws were used to make some of the finest furniture ever built. They are very clearly capable of producing accurate cuts. Hand saws … Read more
Unlock the secrets of your hand planes by first learning their real names. By Adam Cherubini Pages: 82-85 From the August 2005 issue #149 Buy this issue now Ever-increasing numbers of woodworkers are using hand planes in their shops. Their demand for fine planes has given rise to boutique plane makers such as Clark & … Read more
When you know what you’re doing, chisels can be wonderfully helpful tools. By Adam Cherubini Pages: 82-86 From the June 2005 issue #148 Buy this issue now If all you want to do with your chisels is adjust machine-cut joints or slice glue drips, any technique or tool will work. This sort of work is … Read more
Discover a nearly extinct tool that can help you work faster and more accurately. By Adam Cherubini Pages: 32-34 From the April 2005 issue #147 Buy this issue now As preposterous as the notion seems, the historical record suggests cabinetmakers working in dim shops with hand tools were able to produce fine furniture with great … Read more
