Fighting Evil Alien Technology
Beating it requires knowing the right way to nail a board. When I was about 8 years old, I decided that I needed to construct a sturdy fort to protect myself from the army of aliens (who cleverly [...]
Squirrel Surprise
A project with a bite. This article originally appeared in the February 2011 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine How do three carpenters feed an abandoned baby squirrel? Glass dropper in hand, [...]
Sharpeners’ Anonymous
A 12-step program for regrowing forearm hair. I head through the main doors, down the stairs to the basement, arriving at the third door on the right. Like everyone else, I grab a cup of coffee [...]
Becoming a Part of the Woodworking Community
Craft is a part of well-rounded college education. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the August 2018 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. I recently moved to Kentucky [...]
When Irony is Unintentionally Built Into a Coffee Table
A Game of Thrones inspired coffee table meets a tragic (and ironic) end.
The Sketchbook of Henry Lapp
An illuminating look at the life of a 19th century country cabinetmaker. Daydreaming in my shop, I’m imagining a warm summer day way back in 1899. Just after supper, Henry Lapp sits at a pine [...]
It’s Not About Perfection
The beauty of utility: coarse and fine combined. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of Popular Woodworking. One of my favorite pieces of furniture is a [...]
Inheritance
A sharp reminder and remembrance of a life cut short. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the October 2014 issue of Popular Woodworking. A chisel roll is an unlikely [...]
It Wasn’t Always Like This
When a family friend recently visited my new cabinet shop, he commented, “Your dad and grandpa would’ve loved this place. It wasn’t always like this!” He meant that although both men were pro [...]
Goodbye, Ego! Hello, Humility!
Whenever I admire a fellow woodworker’s finished piece of furniture, I never ask how they did this or that because, quite simply, I am afraid they are going to tell me. Listening to someone [...]
I Am a Couch Builder
The best measure of success comes in the doing. I don’t know if I am alone in this matter, but I have to admit that quite often I consider myself a couch builder. Maybe you know the drill [...]
The Allure of the New
If all you have is a hammer, well, you might need another hammer. One of my favorite quotes is Baruch’s Observation: If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. It seems like an [...]
