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...]
Efficiency In Marking
I've said it many times (though I'm sure I'm on the wrong page).I believe that hand tools are the most efficient set up for the individual maker.And not just the hobbiest. If you're building one-off pieces for clients then hand tools are still where it's at. Most that would disagree lack … [Read more...]
Scruffy Dovetails – Richard Rants (Video)
This is a short extract from our Hall Table Build.For the context - read below.I was in the process of cutting tenons, and at this point deliberately aiming at a joint that was too tight. We would then show the process of truing the fit.Not to sound obnoxious, but I came in … [Read more...]
Sharpening Narrow Chisels (the Problem & Solution)
A video version of this post has been added to our sharpening series. All 'Get Sharp' customers can LOGIN to watch now. Or You can Learn More about the Series here. We've all done it.Turned a smashing chisel into a left-handed skew.Getting a 90 degree edge on narrow chisels can be … [Read more...]
How To Set A Wooden Plane
Twat... ...nothing happens.Twat….nothing happens.Slightly harder twat......And the iron's sticking half inch out of the sole of the plane.Wooden planes look good.They are good.But they ain't half got awkward sod written all over them.Since hand tools became a thing … [Read more...]
Dear Tool Manufacturer…
...why can't you make thick irons laminated? Why is it that my Grandad doesn't grind. My Dad doesn't have a grinder. And up until me buying swanky tools, I never had to grind?Hard steels and thick irons.It's a combination which wasn't found in my Grandad's workshop. And that thick hard … [Read more...]
New Series – Work Faster, Neater & Be In Control!
Our latest video series is all about sharpening edge tools. But it's not just about getting sharp. It's a detailed yet entertaining look at the perfect edge, right from the very concept of sharpening, through to optimising precisely for a given task.There are 7 Chapters in total, with well … [Read more...]