My students learn two things about me very quickly: I care deeply about their education, and I care just as deeply about the tools we use while learning together. In our woodworking program—which [...]
If you recall, a few years ago I wrote about the method I use to teach my students how to drill wide holes—around 1-3/8 inches or even wider—at the base of a stool seat to anchor the legs. Since [...]
As most of you probably know by now, I’m a woodworker who doesn’t let a bit of rust stand in the way of putting a tool back to work — whether in my own shop or in the woodworking program …
The original factory cart I built has served me well for many years, primarily carrying lumber, toolboxes, machines, and various supplies. However, as space has become even more constrained in my [...]
When you need a jig, or you’re assembling a simple utility box for the shop, sometimes speed and practicality matter more than tradition. In these situations—and in many of the most basic tenets [...]
For a two-car garage shop, optimizing space is always the top priority. To help wrangle materials and supplies, I recently built a cart based on a brilliant piece of industrial design: the [...]
For those of us who don’t own a lathe, or who sometimes need a quick turning solution for small objects without the fuss of a full lathe setup, there is a way to use a drill press as a [...]
My friend, Daniella Ohad, recently returned from a tour of craftspeople’s shops in Japan. She wrote a whole series on her design blog about the incredible contemporary craft art she discovered, [...]
Three weeks ago, I decided to check the small shop vac I had hooked up to my Delta bandsaw. To my surprise, it was packed full of sawdust—years’ worth of fine shavings quietly captured since I [...]
A few months ago, while visiting the Rockler store in Cincinnati, I spotted a small ruler hanging by the checkout counter. It was promoted at a cost of around $6. I’ve always had a fondness for [...]
And so we arrive at the final stage of our boat project. By now, the hull has been carefully shaped, the spars have been crafted, and the masts and booms assembled. What remains are the final [...]
Masts, Booms and Yards After my students finish shaping the hull, they move on to thorough sanding—working through a progression of sandpapers until they reach a smooth finish with 220 grit. Part [...]