As you can see, I used some smaller diameter cherry stock to work out the transition from the bottle top to the mushroom, but I’m not happy with the result. The bottom section fits beautifully into the bottle, and the length gives it the bulk needed to balance the piece on top. But I like … Read more
I turned this mushroom piece out of walnut on Friday afternoon without a wine bottle close by, so I guessed on the inside diameter of a bottle when I was tapering the section that goes into the bottle. As you can see, I guessed wrong. No worries. While it does technically fit and seal the … Read more
Happy Halloween! Driving into work this morning, I heard this Tom Waits song, from his album Mule Variations. I’ve been a huge fan for years – in fact, I own everything he has recorded, but I forgot about the woodworking references in this song. Makes you wonder, what are your neighbors pondering about you? Click … Read more
This week in our newsletter, I wrote about going to a walnut festival and planting some of the fruits when I got home. It was my hope to see some seedlings in the spring. I asked readers if they had any advice, and I received a lot of letters. The following is some of what … Read more
If you’ve ever wanted to divide a circle into three, you can do it very easily with just a ruler and a compass. I’m working on a sculptural piece of furniture that has three blades radiating from a cylinder, and as many of you know, the Shakers have an iconic candle table which also has … Read more
My sister sent me this link of a speech by Steve Jobs at Stanford University. Jobs, the Apple co-founder and former CEO passed away yesterday after battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer. We use Apple machines here at the magazine, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Pixar films. And Stanford has a … Read more
Congratulations to Tom Buhl of Santa Barbara, Calif., for winning the first JPEG Wars at Woodworking in America 2011! Tom won with this picture of his bubinga sideboard, which he built in 2009. Thanks to the generosity of Robin Lee, president of Lee Valley & Veritas, Tom’s prize was the new Veritas Small Bevel-Up Smooth … Read more
