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The Route To A Profitable Workshop

April 18, 2018 By Richard Maguire 21 Comments

how to become a furniture maker by hand

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...]

Filed Under: Hand Tool Approach

Choosing The Best Face Vice

April 12, 2018 By Richard Maguire 73 Comments

Cast Iron workbench vice for woodworking

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...]

Filed Under: Vices & Work Holding, Workbenches

Choosing The Best Mallet

April 3, 2018 By Richard Maguire 28 Comments

thor mallet for woodworking

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...]

Filed Under: Buying Hand Tools, Woodworking Hand Tools

Chair Building Basics – New Video Series!

March 29, 2018 By Richard Maguire 11 Comments

how to build a chair online video

https://youtu.be/NBTqW5t3HGs   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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Designing Furniture, Premium Videos, Woodworking For Beginners, Woodworking Projects

Why Your Workbench Needs One Vice (Or Less)

March 23, 2018 By Richard Maguire 43 Comments

workbench - using the face vice

A workbench is only a success if it can keep itself still and provide means to hold your work. A woodworking 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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vices & Work Holding, Workbench Designs, Workbenches

Removing Twist, Or Creating It?

March 15, 2018 By Richard Maguire 17 Comments

Sighting to remove twist by hand

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...]

Filed Under: Hand Planing, Woodworking Techniques

Glue Ups & Grain Direction

February 7, 2018 By Richard Maguire 12 Comments

gluing top without alternating growth rings

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...]

Filed Under: Timber, Tips, Woodworking Techniques

Drill Bits For Hand Drills

January 22, 2018 By Richard Maguire 33 Comments

best 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...]

Filed Under: Buying Hand Tools, Drilling, Woodworking Hand Tools

Gappy Joints, For Speed & Strength

January 12, 2018 By Richard Maguire 33 Comments

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 furniture maker … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hand Tool Approach, Woodworking Joints

Dead Expensive Dovetail Saws…

December 15, 2017 By Richard Maguire 30 Comments

... and why you need one. Most of you will know that the vast majority of my tools are what I would call good quality 'workman like' tools. I have a few modern posh things, but they're not in daily use. It's nothing against them, but my old friends are like comfy old work boots. They let in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Hand Tools, Woodworking Hand Tools

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