Going Around and Coming Around
One of my favorite movies is “Little Big Man”. The characters spiral in ironic orbits that periodically intersect each other. Each intersection finds them more tattered as they age, [...]
Three Magnets Make Sharpening Easier
The most miserable aspect of hand work is setting up the tools for the first time. Removing the coarse manufacturing scratches from the unbeveled faces of your edge tools can be grueling, boring [...]
Splinters; Every woodworker’s nemesis
Both of these nicks were caused by splinters this past weekend. Splinters are par for the course when working with wood. But when you work in a shop where your hands provide the precision, a bad [...]
Meet Don Williams at Woodworking in America
Don Williams is a conservator, educator, scholar and all-around inquisitive guy (and also the owner of more than 40 sets of suspenders). He is co-author of the book “Saving Stuff,” [...]
Woodworking in America: Furniture Construction & Design
Many woodworkers think that the ability to design a beautiful piece of furniture from scratch is a God-given talent. Either you have the knack or you should just make knock-offs. I’m here [...]
Woodworking in America: Furniture Construction & Design
Many woodworkers think that the ability to design a beautiful piece of furniture from scratch is a God-given talent. Either you have the knack or you should just make knock-offs. I’m here [...]
A Good friend Retires
On my bench, always standing at the ready, is an old friend that needs to be coaxed into retirement. My mallet has served me for many years, but I noticed a while back that its age was beginning [...]
Table Saw Guards: Pass and Fail
When people visit our shop at Woodworking Magazine, they are surprised to see the guards in place on our Powermatic 66. “Those are on just for visitors, right?” is the typical [...]
Woodworker's Safety Week
This is the second year for Woodworker’s Safety Week. Started last year by Wood Whisperer Marc Spagnulo, Woodworker’s Safety Week is one week dedicated to instruction, tips, and [...]
Road Test and Rode Hard
I spent most of this weekend on my knees, and it had nothing to do with a lengthy visit to Chicago’s Hopleaf gastropub or the large cooler of Julius Echter wheat beer that a reader brought [...]
And the Caption Winner Is…
A few weeks ago, we had a “Caption the Photo” contest, for which we received nigh-on 200 entries , so many, in fact, that out server kept timing out when I tried to view them in [...]