Facts About Old Planes There’s so much information on the internet, as well as written sources on Stanley planes, it would be silly for me to try to write up a lengthy blog on Stanley planes. Instead, I’ll just point out a few interesting facts, and if you really want to dig into it, I’ll […]

Veritas and Two Stanleys Over the past twelve years, I’ve been perfecting my furniture-building skills, and I think I’ve gotten pretty good at it, but I’ve left out a critical piece of the woodworking experience and perhaps the joy. That’s the use of hand tools. I’ve obviously used some hand tools — some chisels, a […]

Hickory with Walnut Panels I just completed a new blanket chest based on a design I found in the January/February 2009 edition of “Fine Woodworking.” I made every effort to joint together nicely matched boards, especially for the walnut panels. I’m very pleased with how it turned out.  I built it in the midst of […]

“Being your Best Woodworker” When I first started woodworking, I got frustrated by my inability to be precise, and with that, there were several flaws in my projects. Often they were minor and only I could see them, but they were still there, and they could’ve been avoided. In this blog, I’ll provide a few […]

Using Pore Filler. For this project, I tried a technique I’d never used before. I used pore filler to fill the deep wood grain of the oak table top. I saw April Wilkerson use it on an oak desk she built, and it looked amazing. Check out her project  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q6jBO-ZByw. She uses a different building […]

“Get Started In Woodworking?” All your expensive tools look intimidating. Many people ask me how I got started in woodworking, and what I would recommend to get started. The first question is difficult for me since I’ve been working with wood in one way or another since I was old enough to carry nails and […]

Cherry Over Time. For the last couple of years, I’ve worked primarily with hickory and walnut because those are the woods I’ve chosen for furnishing my cabin, but I truly love cherry. About four years ago I built a pub-style table and chairs. After just a few years it has turned a beautiful deep red […]

Miter Saw or Tablesaw. Many of the Youtube makers I watch use a miter saw to make most of their crosscuts. I actually recently purchased a Jet compound sliding miter saw, but I use it primarily for cutting down rough stock. I use my tablesaw for most crosscuts. I feel like I get a more […]

“A New Look at An Old Finishing Technique” Shellac as an Alternative to Oil Based Finishes. Up until a few months ago, I had one go-to finish. In a previous blog, I wrote about using a three even-part blend of polyurethane, mineral spirits, and boiled linseed oil. I apply it as a wiping varnish increasing […]

“Loose Tenon Joinery” Vs Traditional Mortise & Tenon. Loose Tenons, a joint that uses a separate piece of wood as the tenon inserted into mortises cut into both pieces of wood to be joined, have gotten a lot of attention over the past several years particularly after Festool came out with the Domino in 2006, […]