So Many Projects, So Little Time...
I mentioned in my last post how I put off finishing because it takes over my shop while the finish is drying. This is also why I don’t use oil finishes as much because the drying time is so long. However as I am building up coats of Arm-R-Seal on my Walnut table I am [...] Read more »
It is a running joke on WoodTalk that I never put finish on anything. That’s not entirely true, but I do tend to put it off a lot. The reason is that my shop is useless once I have applied a coat of finish. I can’t work on anything as the dust will end up [...] Read more »
When the time comes to smooth plane your project to prepare it for finish, the best thing you can do is turn out the lights. Isolate your light source to a single point and you can really highlight any imperfections before the finish does it for you. Of course don’t forget your finger tips, they [...] Read more »
I’m going to call this episode “the old fogey” episode because I spend a lot of time complaining about a sore back and aching joints. However if you want to be working in the shop instead of sitting on the porch yelling at the neighborhood kids then there are some things to consider about how [...] Read more »
Not that YOU ever make gappy dovetails…but from time to time it happens. The key is not to sweat it because patching them is easy and invisible. This video shows you how for those time when you chop to the wrong line and “swiss cheese” is the best way to describe your dovetails. Google+ Profile Read more »
There are many ways to cut a dado using hand tools. In this episode I use a dado saw or stair saw to demonstrate one of those ways to hand cut dados. CME Handworks has made a nice version of the stair saw. I really like the brass fortification at the bottom as every vintage [...] Read more »
My recent saw sharpening video where I demonstrated the Veritas Saw File Holder has generated a lot of emails with questions about saw tooth geometry. I take this as a good sign that lots of people are actually thinking about sharpening their own saws. Not only that but the introduction of filing guides like the [...] Read more »
I did a demo on tweaking a hand saw to make it start easier recently during one of my monthly live sessions over at The Hand Tool School. During that session, I guesstimated the rake angle and used a shop made guide block on my file. The new Veritas saw filing guide had been released [...] Read more »
I think I have had my Roubo style frame saw now for about 6 months. I have been playing with is and resawing everything from scraps to actual project parts. I have sawn out veneer as thin as 1/8″ and bisected 8/4 and 12/4 boards on scraps and even actual project parts. There was something [...] Read more »
There is a cliche out there about mastery coming not from a lack of mistakes but rather one’s ability to hide those mistakes. Based on the number of mistakes I make, I think I’m on the right path to mastery. I was chopping mortises the other day and had just sharpened my mortise chisel and [...] Read more »
