Today I wanted to share another work holding method that's as simple as it is effective (the best ones always are) and is suited only to those who've broken the fear of scathing their bench. 'The Bench Knife' is an old method certainly used...
Sorry if I sound like a feminist, but I feel that liberate is a good word to go with. I've been told it's ironic to watch my way of woodworking, whilst at the same time knowing that I build fancy workbenches. Admittedly I'm a bit rough and brutish using my own bench,...
Over the past few months I've been building up some commissions for furniture. I'm picky over the type of pieces that I'd like to build and since I'm not looking to be building furniture full time (been there, done that) I feel I'm right to be choosy and go with...
For a simple woodworker when it comes to a problem in life the best bet is to hit hard with a hammer. It's an effective if not delicate approach and once you get in to the mind set there's little that can't be solved. If you find you're spending a lot of time at your...
Last week we went away to see family for a few days which is always good for reminding you just how important family are. It also meant that I got to sleep in a proper bed and had running water for a short time - what a luxury. I even got to go in a sauna and almost...
We've recently taken on our last order for 'Maguire Workbenches'. This has been a difficult decision to make, and so this has been a post which has been sat in my notebook for quite some time. But after much agonising and trying to tip toe around things, Helen and I...
Most people who like to make things be it furniture, tools, cake or whatever, are far more interested and therefore far better at the making part than the selling. Richard and I fall in to this category and given the opportunity Richard will try telling customers that...
I'd seen a picture of this plane a while back and I was looking forward to seeing if she'd be taken along to the European Woodworking Show last weekend - I was in luck! The old and unassuming little plane has been named Rosie (there's a story behind that) and it's one...
I doubt that any two tool kits are the same. They're brought together in such an individual and accidental way, and with so many varieties of tool, the probability of any two collections matching exactly must be infinitely small. My tools for example are a fairly ugly...
In the new year I'll be building a workbench. That's not unusual except that this particular workbench will be forming part of a lengthy chapter within our book. 'The French Bench' (not the Roubo) is where the design will be based and I've come to a bit of a head...
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If you know anything about the way that I work then you'll know that I don't like to faff. I will always do a proper job though, in fact I tend to do things somewhat overkill. But when it comes to the tools and techniques used I'll always find the most basic and...
Many of you have pointed out my shoddy array of straight-ish, straight edges. I'm often asked if there's a reason why I favour these home made things over something more posh. This is one of those questions where I really wish I had a good answer. I don’t, but I'll...
Buying timber can seem to be some sort of secret club that you've yet to be initiated in to. I'd like to say that after all these years of sourcing timber I've been through that initiation, but if I'm honest I'm often still stumped. It's not the technicalities that...