Linseed Oil, an Ancient Friend (and Foe)
When Egyptian King Tutankhamun was buried in haste, the linen cloth he was wrapped in was soaked with linseed oil. And, perhaps because Tut was buried in haste, the oil was not allowed to cure. [...]
American Gothic: An Aumbry from Kentucky
Last night I put the first coat of linseed oil on this oak aumbry I’m building for an upcoming issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine and think it came out like I wanted. The oak is nothing [...]
An Introduction to Gothic Tracery (With a Router)
This week I’m finishing up work on an aumbry for a future issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. More than anything, this project has been about exploring Gothic geometry. But as with any [...]
On the Merits of Blue Furniture
I’m sure you get asked the following question a lot: “What’s your favorite style of furniture?” My answer to that question has always been rambling and indecisive – I love styles from the 15th [...]
Pégas Coping Saw Blades – the Best
While teaching in England this summer I had a sudden and miraculous encounter with Pégas coping saw blades – and I am a convert. I rarely say this sort of thing, but here we go: Buy them. Buy as [...]
Dovetail Joints: How Tight is Too Tight?
Last weekend I built a dovetailed campaign-style officer’s trunk for the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association and several of the members were shocked when I drove the carcase dovetails [...]
Pressed Brass Campaign Hardware from Lee Valley
With campaign-style hardware, there are many choices out there for different budgets and aesthetics. You can go for full-on rustic, sand-cast hardware – this looks great but can be tricky to [...]
To Get Perfect Seams, Remember: Don’t Stop
One of the best pieces of woodworking advice is, “Go slow, it’s faster.” But that doesn’t apply to gluing up narrow boards into panels. When I have to glue up panels, I start in the morning by [...]
A Good Look at Some Marcou Handplanes
At Woodworking in America 2010, the award for having traveled the farthest went to Philip Marcou, a toolmaker in New Zealand. I was joking on Twitter a few days ago that we were looking at New [...]
2 Workbench Vises I’d Like to Try
The more I study workbenches, the more I’m convinced there is no end to the clever vises out there. This week I have two vises that are worth a close look. One is a ratcheting leg vise [...]
Better Panel Glue-ups Have Little to do With Glue
I’ve watched a lot of beginners glue up panels and end up disappointed with their results. Their routine goes something like this: Find two boards the correct length. Work the boards’ edges until [...]
A Coffin-building Party
When I die, I want to leave this world in the same way I lived in it. As a woodworker who has spent his entire life building furniture for myself and others, I couldn’t imagine being placed into [...]
