Tool snobs beware: This post is about an inexpensive tool that is useful for woodworking and without an ounce of style or charm. In the cabinet industry, plastic laminate files are used for filing the edges of plastic laminate after trimming with a router. In that world, they are a consumable item and are purchased … Read more
Woodworking really is simple, despite all attempts to complicate it. Complications introduced by well-meaning folks can keep a beginner away from the enjoyable part: making things. One of the most common questions is “what tools do I need to get started?” and as the would-be woodworker starts reading he soon begins asking, “Which set of … Read more
Wrapping up the last details on a piece I’ve been building for the April issue, I had a nice surprise last weekend: Stealing away a few minutes while my kids took a nap (or a least pretended to), I headed out to the shop, grabbed an old carving knife and started experimenting with a piece … Read more
Here’s a great gift idea for the woodworker who has everything – skew chisels!
Two Cherries bevel edge chisels with a skew cutting edge for hand controlled paring and other detailed work. The pair contains 2, 12mm tools with right and left angled cutting edge, perfect for trimming slightly protruding dovetails, tenons, dowels, and a multitude of applications where finesse, not chopping is required.
Click here to buy these great skew chisels. Read more
Here’s a great gift idea, at a 27 percent savings! Included in the DVD Combo Pack: “The Last Word On Sharpening,” “Build an 18th-century Workbench,” ” Handplane Basics – A Better Way to Use Bench Planes” and “Build a Sawbench with Christopher Schwarz.” Click here to buy this DVD collection now. Read more
Even though I build a lot of straight line Arts & Crafts style furniture, one of my favorite tasks in woodworking is shaping an irregularly curved surface. It adds life and interest and I find it entertaining to find a gentle curve that works with the grain for looks and the hand for feel. There … Read more
Precision cutting with a hand-held circular saw. I’d like to know who it was that decided that plywood was best sold in 4-foot by 8-foot sheets. I’ve always thought that it was a practical joke in questionable taste to take such a wonderfully useful woodworking material and manufacture it in sheets that are bigger than … Read more
