Sometimes the biggest challenge of a project can just be getting the wood to stay put while we try to work on it. I suppose it's why it's so easy for us to get lost in the hunt for a perfect workbench design. And drawn in towards all kinds of vice bling and fancy work holding … [Read more...]
Hand Tools Make Machines Cheap
As you know, to become fast with hand tools you have to understand that perfection isn’t a thing. You need to learn where the inaccuracy can be hidden, and deliberately place it there. A good example of this, were those table legs in the hall table build. Getting them perfectly square would have … [Read more...]
The Perfect Hand Tool Workshop
Sadly I ain't one of those that can say he’s been in a generations old workshop all of his working life. There aren't tools still hung on the wall that my grandad put up, or boxes full of secrets who's keys were lost lifetimes ago. Instead I seem to move workshop like a Viking. I’ve never … [Read more...]
Look Forward & A Merry Christmas!
Next year is set to be very busy for us in terms of video projects, but we're also going to be starting out with something new, and tailoring our content to suit different skill levels. We're putting a more structured educational scheme together. It's something we've had in the pipeline for a … [Read more...]
What Makes You Tick?
Wood has always been in my life. My old man did it for a living. I always remember the sawdust in his pockets, and even when he got home, the forgotten pencil lodged behind his ear. He also had a massive moustache. It feels very strange when I stop to think. Apart from the tash, my pockets … [Read more...]
Rough Tools. Fine Furniture.
When people meet me they see the unkempt facial hair and questionable mop on the back of my head and they can weigh me up pretty well. Then I start to speak and it's confirmed - this is definitely a pretty rough chap. And I'm not one to try and mystify or tart it up, I'll call a spade a spade. … [Read more...]
Ever Considered A Hollow Chisel Morticer?
As noises go, there's nothing much worse than banging. About the only thing that's completed in my life at the moment is my workshop door. I spent far too much money to get it right. We focused on the acoustics to keep out the noisy world when filming, and put in some beautiful reflective glass … [Read more...]
The Route To A Profitable Workshop
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...]
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 furniture maker … [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...]
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