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Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in American Woodwork #142, June/July 2009. I stumbled onto pen making seven years ago, as I was scouring through my husband Jerry’s [...]

Working wood with a sense of humor. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in American Woodworker #154 Most woodworkers have gotten a chuckle or two out of a piece of furniture [...]

Combine power and hand tools to improve your joinery skills Building a toolbox much like this one was a real turning point in my woodworking career. It was 1999 and I had begun classes at [...]

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of American Woodworker I share my workshop with about 12,000 others. It’s the military woodshop at Offutt Air Force [...]

From apprentice to craftsman to fine toolmaker, he’s always had a passion for woodworking. Torben Helshoj’s passion for woodworking started when he was a boy watching the skilled craftsmen in the [...]

I’m sure I’m not the only reader who is astounded by the pristine, seemingly unused shops that frequently appear in this department. Here are a couple of pictures of my shop, showing the [...]

I have read with envy about spacious shops with room for many dedicated stationary tools. But alas, my shop is confined to a 200 sq. ft. corner of my basement. After tinkering with layout plans, [...]

Shop-Made Rocker Jaw One simple board, cut into the shape of a seesaw, can make a huge improvement to your vise. It allows you to firmly hold tapered work and long, upright boards off to the side [...]

To protect the edges of small carving tools, stick a wine bottle cork on them. Synthetic corks work best because they don’t break apart as easily as natural cork. Allow the cork to dry for a [...]

Self-Storing Glue Kit Gluing up a project can turn ugly in a hurry if you don’t have all your supplies on hand. I put together a kit that contains everything I need: a small white-nylon [...]

Chairmaking requires its own unique tools and skillset. It may be daunting, but building a Windsor chair opens up a whole new world within woodworking. Here's how to do it.

Chris Vesper strives for precision and perfection in toolmaking (and dancing). Editor’s note: this article originally appeared in the December 2013 issue of Popular Woodworking When it [...]