Thoughtful finishing and new leaves prepare this classic for the next 100 years. This old table looks like a prime candidate for refinishing. Scrub off the old finish, sand out all the dings and scratches, spray on a catalyzed lacquer finish and it would look brand new. But in my opinion, doing this would rob…

Oneida Air Systems recently announced they will be showcasing their newest products at AWFS 2023, booth 2900. In case you can’t make it, here’s a rundown of the latest and greatest from Oneida. Dust Deputy Low-Pro Lid Separator The new Dust Deputy Low-Pro Lid Separator is their most compact separator at only 4″ tall, making…

We’re interviewing makers from across the country. Today we’re featuring Alexis Dolese, a furniture maker and woodworking instructor from Montana. How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? I grew up in a family of woodworkers. My dad, Tom Dolese, has had a fine furniture business for over 30 years and my mom,…

On this weeks episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, it’s just Phil and Logan talking about repairing, customizing, and modifying tools, plus some discussion of shop coffee. Come back next week for an update on John’s drainage issues… Check out the Free plan o’ the week, an Outfeed Table. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes…

Tool: 7 in. Carpenters Vise Shop Now   Manufacturer: Doyle MSRP: $69.99 I recently saved an old workbench from the scrap heap, and the first thing I knew it needed (after a good cleaning and flattening) was a vise. I wondered aloud to Logan if Harbor Freight had anything, then decided to check online. Just…

If your Dad is a woodworker, then this is the perfect Father’s Day gift guide to help you shop. He’ll love anything you get for him on this list. Looking to build something for your Dad? Check out this gift guide instead! FastCap Right Left Tap Measure $7.99 The ability to read this tape measure…

Handmade gifts are one of the most personal ways to say that you love your Dad. No matter Dad’s interest, you’re sure to find something he’ll enjoy on this list. Seeing this list last minute with Father’s Day imminent? Don’t worry, most of these gifts can be made over the course of a weekend (and…

Build this timeless chair with modern methods. When I was 17 years old, my family had an old craftsman style armchair that we’d inherited years earlier. It was an antique chair with solid bones but badly in need of refinishing. It had all the right details, from the through tenons in the armrests to the…

As woodworkers, we possess the remarkable ability to augment everyday objects by adding wooden components to them. From crafting knobs, handles, and legs to forming frames, lids, pedestals, and raised bases for artwork, we can transform and enhance various household items. We can even replace missing or broken parts with custom-made wooden alternatives that often…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, John, Logan, and Phil debate and explain the process of finding and working with “found” wood. You can find the WoodsmithPlans.com Free Plan O’ The Week here. Thanks to our sponsor, Titebond Wood Glues, they have the glue you need to get the job done with confidence….

Protect your “cheaters” in style. Sooner or later everyone’s eyes need a little help—especially for reading or close work. One popular solution is to buy a pair of “cheaters,” those stylish reading glasses that are available in bookstores and practically everywhere else. How to protect these delicate, inexpensive glasses—especially the compact versions—is always an issue….

While turning wooden pens, students in my woodshop classes kept wearing out the points on the live centers of our mini lathes. The points fit into the hollowed end of the pen mandrel. If the mandrel isn’t clamped tight enough between the lathe’s head and tailstock, it spins on the point and wears it out….

With thirty-five years of experience, Jimmy Clewes knows a thing or two about woodturning. We’ve decided to tap into that knowledge with this exclusive video of Jimmy covering all of the basics of turning. Even experienced turners are sure to find a trick or two they can use as well. Enjoy!

An essential part of your turning tool arsenal. There’s a theory in woodturning—popularized by some British turners—that wood “prefers” to be cut rather than scraped. While I agree with this notion, I’ve also found that scraping tools play an essential role in woodturning. Scraping tools are used primarily for bowl turning, vessels and end-grain hollowing….

Turned drops and legs, arches, and serpentine stretchers typify this ornate 17th-century style. When someone uses the term “period furniture,” we think most often of the Queen Anne, Chippendale and Federal genres. Certainly these have been the most influential styles in Western furniture-making history. But there have been other periods worthy of our attention, among…

Sometimes, unique is exactly what you want to avoid when turning. If you turn, sooner or later you are going to find yourself facing  some project that requires several (or many) duplicate turnings. You may feel a brief rush of mild panic, most likely followed by a powerful urge to check your catalog shelf (or…

Create a beautiful showpiece by power carving on the lathe and adding a splash (or a wave) of colour. Project #2309 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 1 Day • Cost: $100 Looking to create a unique, statement? Look no further—this piece is sure to give you that WOW factor! To get started, I used a…