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...]
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...]
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...]
Hand Cut Dovetails – Beginner’s Joints
Yesterday I made my first hand cut dovetails. I've watched Richard cut dovetail joints over and over, and I've practiced cutting to my saw lines over even more.But I knew if I was left on my own, with just a few pointers, then I would still be about to make a mess of things.Luckily for me, … [Read more...]
What’s Your Go To Glue?
I like using animal glue. It's perfect for the job but I have to admit can be a little faffy having to do all the alchemy thing. I've given the liquid hide glues a go, but even these, at least in my workshop need heating, taking almost as long as the pearls at bad times of the year. It wasn't until … [Read more...]
Housing Rant – VIDEO
This week I'm ranting on about housing joints and minimal tools. We did run in to some technical difficulties with the sound so it is a bit crackly in places and a bit choppy, so I hope you don't get lost and I'm sure you'll forgive us. … [Read more...]
Clinching Nails
Before publishing the final video in our Wall Cupboard series we'll be bringing you a quick video next week which takes a look at clenching nails (or clinching; as it's known round my parts).I've recently written about the benefits that I feel draw boring can bring to today's workshops and I … [Read more...]
The Boring Benefit
I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking that draw boring is one of those traditional techniques kept alive only as an ambition for keeping the old stuff in use. After all I'm sure there could be arguement to say that with our good modern glues teamed with the accessibility of descent clamps we just … [Read more...]
Hand Cutting Rebates – Back To Basics Approach VIDEO
In our current project, The Small Wall Cupboard, we use the rebate joint as the main method of joinery. In this video I show you an alternative approach to cutting the rebate joint by hand with only the very basic of tools. As I mention in the video, this isn't the text book approach to … [Read more...]