Chisels are a simple tool. Simple but useful.For hand tool woodworking, we really can't be without them, so your skills with a chisel should be built up early.But which chisels do you need?Traditionally, there was a different chisel for just about every job. But like a lot of areas with … [Read more...]
Completed With Ebonising
We're always stumped at how much to cover in our videos.But as usual, with our Side Table Series we decided to just give it our all, and make it priced for all with an interest. So along with the build, we used the last chapter of this Series to cover our two part receipe and approach … [Read more...]
Perfect Tracking & Japanese Hand Saws
I've been standing on top of my workbench again. Strangely I'm up there quite a lot. Sometimes I just lay on there... and think.I've been a long time obsessive of Japanese woodworking. I find it truly fascinating and have promised myself if I make it to retirement, I'll treat myself to a nice … [Read more...]
To Trust Or Reinforce?
How confident do you feel trusting glue for edge joints? In traditional woodworking most of the glue bonds we do will have some mechanical strength, and a well cut joint will hold together without any glue at all - it's just there as a bonus.But when we're edge jointing long boards, such as … [Read more...]
How To Make Wooden Pegs
A good peg, is a lot more than a roughly ragged out bit of round wood.When you're draw-boring, or just reinforcing a joint, you need a peg that's strong.A good wooden peg should be straight grained, slightly tapered and preferably made up of a series of flats.I'm going to show you the … [Read more...]
Whining Is A Habit
Dear Helen,I know I'm difficult to work with, and my idea of business is not that of the rest of the world. But if you could listen I'd be most grateful.This evening I watched a car park pretty much on top of a restaurant, so they didn't have to walk far. A lady got out first, a little plump … [Read more...]
Designing To Learn
Cutting joint after joint isn't the best way to learn.At least not in my opinion. After a lovely sunny, Sunday afternoon, all you've got to show is twenty-odd, randomly dovetailed corners. Some neat, some shite, some alright.You'll sit and think about these twenty-odd dovetailed corners, and … [Read more...]
My Reason For Using Hide Glue
A Glue That Slides I get asked a fair old bit, why do you use liquid hide glue?People often follow up; so that it doesn't feel like their asking a daft question, by answering it themselves. Normally the most obvious answer is "so it'll be easy to restore later on".The reason I use hide … [Read more...]
Starting With The Timber Prep
Flattening Boards By Hand When prepping everything by hand, the start of a project can seem like a bit of a workout.I usually break up the task by planing up what I need as and when I need it, rather than all at once.The real key though is to make sure you're not taking any more shavings … [Read more...]
Moving Workshop, Again
This week we've finally come to the end of a back-log of work that I should never have taken on. Don’t worry, I'll have a jolly good moan about all that soon.Working on our barns is a bit like one of those games, where you have to slide a piece out of position, to move another one round, and … [Read more...]