Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 9: Lie-Nielsen Honing Guide
Every year I recommend one tool that is a bit spendier than the rest, and this year it is the Lie-Nielsen Honing Guide. Thomas Lie-Nielsen first showed me the prototypes...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 8: Better Beeswax
During the last few years as I have turned my back on finishes with lots of volatile organic compounds, I’ve begun looking for traditional high-quality finishes that won’t shorten my...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 7: Forged Roman-style Nails
Good nails have been used in fine furniture for centuries. But during the last 100 years, nails have earned a bad reputation among furniture makers. That’s because good nails (cut...
Make a Shaker Firewood Box, Part 2
So it’s been busy! I’m sorry that I’ve not had the time to write – but fear not, plenty on the way. I’m pleased to have the Shaker Firewood Box...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 6: Soap Finish
This year I have experimented a lot with using a soap finish on chairs and tables. Soap is a traditional Danish finish used on furniture and floors. It’s easy to...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 5: Veritas Trammel Points
After 20 years, I finally wore out my grandfather’s Japanese-made trammel points. They were things of beauty, but the micro-adjustable friction mechanism began to slip and nothing could be done...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 4: B’laster Dry Lube
If you use only hand tools, this isn’t going to interest you much. If you use machines, read carefully. Lubrication makes a huge difference when you work alone. Moving heavy...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 3: Starrett No. 92 Compass
I promise this is not an all-Starrett Christmas. Truth is (I hate to say) the last few things I’ve bought new from Starrett have been disappointing (especially a small pair...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 2: Starrett 819 Centering Punch
When I started seriously into building campaign furniture, I found that I was driving hundreds (no lie) of screws each week when building a typical piece with all the brass...
Anarchist’s 2015 Gift Guide, Day 1: Microfiber Cloths
Every woodworker needs an oily rag to wipe down tools after sharpening or use. For years I used a bit of an old sweatshirt until it fell apart. Now I...
‘Cincinnati Edition’ on Woodworking
Earlier this afternoon, Christopher Schwarz (contributing editor to Popular Woodworking Magazine and editor at Lost Art Press), Andy Brownell (Brownell Furniture) and I were on WVXU’s [...]
Furniture Show Celebrates Wendell Castle’s Work
I don’t think that there is a more reputable furniture artist, teacher and designer who is still actively producing masterpieces than Wendell Castle. Castle, who is now in his 80s,...
