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...]
The Plane Build – Video
Watch The Full Video in our Members' Site. It's available to all For FREE! Login Now if you already have an account. OR Create a Free Account HereSo... Why Build Your Own Wooden Plane? When you can get a smashing Stanley No 5 for about thirty five quid, why hassle yourself making a … [Read more...]
What’s Been Simmering?
If you want some good news then just scroll to the bottom…The last few lines or so.If you want a jolly good moan, then read on.There's that old saying about knowledge being power, or the force is strong with you, or something along those lines. That doesn't really work now. With the … [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...]
Bevel Up Plane – The One Plane To Rule Them All?
I first bought my bevel up Jack for planing end grain on thick workbench tops.I'd always been a normal steel, conventional plane kind of chap before building benches, but as I touched on last time, hand tools can moan and groan a bit at certain woods, and I was building with a lot of kiln dried … [Read more...]
Choosing Timber – The Best Wood For Your Workbench Build
If you're going to build yourself a chest of drawers, what wood would you build it out of?You'd build it out of whatever you fancy building it out of.What you like, what's to hand, what's cheapest. Who, bloody cares?It's the same for a workbench.Obviously, I can't pass that off as … [Read more...]
Holdfasts Woodworking – How Should You Be Using Them?
When I started building workbenches, I pushed my way of working on to my customers.I wasn't aware I was doing this. But my cave's a small place, and I forget there's other people out there.Every workbench went out complete with sliding board jack, large planing stop, a pair of bench … [Read more...]
Chisels For Dovetailing
No matter how quick and functional a build may build, in everything we make, we should be aiming at clean, tight joints. I don't like excuses for shoddy joinery.For the most part my Marples bevel edge chisels are up to this task. But some joints demand a bit more refinement and more … [Read more...]
Chisels For All Needs (Almost)
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...]