It’s a question that we’re asked weekly, and whilst I’m often babbling on about specific tools, I wanted to use this post to bring together a list of the essential stuff that will get a beginner going.You probably know that I like to use minimal tools throughout my woodworking.It’s an … [Read more...]
About Richard Maguire
The Route To A Profitable Workshop
For most of you time is not money when it comes to your workshop. But I will always stand by my belief that it could be.Small scale furniture making can be a profitable business, and as crazy as it sounds hand tools are the key. Single maker, small workshop, minimal tools. It’s perfect for low … [Read more...]
Choosing The Best Face Vice
Recently I wrote a post about why you don't need a tail vice on your workbench. now we're looking at the other end of the bench and going through my favourite options when it comes to choosing a face vice.What Do We Want From A Workbench Vice? A face vice should be strong, dependable and … [Read more...]
Choosing The Best Mallet
I'm the most untraditional woodworker who came to traditional woodworking. I just can't stand wooden mallets.To get any sort of clump from them they have to be massive; these huge cumbersome things. And on top of that, they absorb everything. It doesn't matter how hard you hit it, nowt … [Read more...]
Chair Building Basics – New Video Series!
In our latest series we learn how to build a chair. Chapter One is already live. This series can be purchased by Clicking Here. If you're already a Member then you may need to Login First.Chair building can require specialist tools and joints that are less familiar to the general … [Read more...]
Why Your Workbench Needs One Vice (Or Less)
A workbench is only a success if it can keep itself still and provide means to hold your work.A vice is not an essential feature of this. Typically though we can expect to see two vices on a workbench today.One will be installed on the front of the bench, towards the left. We tend to call … [Read more...]
Removing Twist, Or Creating It?
Teaching and woodworking are two very separate skills.That's something I realised when we started making our videos.The big difference is, you can't work on auto pilot while you demonstrate. Everything has to be deliberate, almost exaggerated so it can be replicated by those … [Read more...]
Glue Ups & Grain Direction
Gluing up can be a frantic time. And if you're like me, it'll be messy too.But how much should we be planning ahead, before we get it all stuck together?When we glued up the top for our Hall Table build, we received a few questions on this topic.They were good queries, pondering over … [Read more...]
Drill Bits For Hand Drills
I'm always whinging about something. So the thing this blog is good for is that someone always has an answer. And it shuts me straight up.When I was moaning about drill bits in the marking knife post, we got plenty of suggestions for bits that you find overcome my problem.You weren't … [Read more...]
Gappy Joints, For Speed & Strength
Good chairs stay together forever if the chair maker understands what wood does.They know it will move, and use this to their advantage.Bone dry legs going into a slightly wetter seat. The seat drys over time, the legs take on a tad of moisture and everything stays tight.A good … [Read more...]