Local Hidden Treasure

You might drive by one every day, tucked away from the main road. I drove right by it for years, never suspecting there was a time capsule of American furniture...

Fire Proof

Can Lithium-ion batteries really catch fire? A friend of mine proved it beyond a doubt. I’ve never liked the idea of knock-off, counterfeit or no-name tool batteries. Inexpensive, but underpowered...

Beaming with Delight

I love mysteries that involve really old wood. There’s an old farm in Mannheim, Pa., that – like so many farms today – saw its last farming days years ago....

Individualists Unite!

After a woodworking course, this student has tools, a chest – and friends. In spring 2016 I took my first woodworking course, an “Introduction to Hand Tool Woodworking.” The class...

Totally Adorable

What do you look for when buying a tool? I’m guessing the same that I do (along with thousands of other woodworkers). At the top of the list are excellent...

Take Down the Guardrails

Am I protecting myself or holding myself back? There are several woodworking mediums I have yet to dip my toe into. Some, like turning, are because I’m sure I wouldn’t...

What Goes Around

Ever make something for one purpose, then find a new use for it later? Back in 2018, I did a doll cradle project with 1/2″ oak that I’d milled. The...

Welcome to Basics Week 2024

Do you feel that? The chill in the air? It’s the sign that peak woodworking season is upon us (especially for those of us without climate-controlled workshops). This year the...

Go for the Big Stuff

I’m not sure if I qualify as a tool nut–machine crazy is more like it. I started out using a ShopSmith, but I now have 17 industrial-grade machines. It all...

A Chairmaker’s Design Lessons

The Windsor form survives trial by fire. The blaze started sometime after midnight. A weak spot in the chimney broke and glowing embers spilled out onto dry timbers. By the...

Train Your Eye

Good, better or best? Small details and design decisions make a difference. It’s every manufacturer’s dream to have “one size fit all.” Yet imagine a trip to the shoe store...