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Woodworking Techniques

The techniques I use to make woodworking by hand efficient and fun.

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

Efficiency In Marking

December 8, 2017 By Richard Maguire 19 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Hand Tool Approach, Marking & Measuring

Scruffy Dovetails – Richard Rants (Video)

November 21, 2017 By Richard Maguire 10 Comments

cutting dovetails by hand

https://youtu.be/EmszTUmQUgc   Looking To Cut Fine Dovetails? Choose the best dovetail saw, (with the right TPI, length & quality) Learn what makes a good chisel for dovetailing The above video is a short extract from our Hall Table Build. For the context - read below. I was in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Free Videos, Woodworking Joints

Sharpening Narrow Chisels (the Problem & Solution)

November 17, 2017 By Richard Maguire 1 Comment

A video version of this post has been added to our sharpening series. All 'Get Sharp' customers can LOGIN to watch now. Or You can Learn More about the Series here. We've all done it. Turned a smashing chisel into a left-handed skew! Getting a 90 degree edge on narrow chisels can be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sharpening

How To Set A Wooden Plane

October 27, 2017 By Richard Maguire 5 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Hand Planing, Woodworking Hand Tools

Dear Tool Manufacturer…

February 6, 2017 By Richard Maguire 47 Comments

old wooden hand plane

...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...]

Filed Under: Sharpening, Woodworking Hand Tools

New Series – Work Faster, Neater & Be In Control!

January 26, 2017 By Richard Maguire 6 Comments

https://youtu.be/OSEOrttE2Ac 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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Premium Videos, Sharpening

Perfect Tracking & Japanese Hand Saws

September 13, 2016 By Richard Maguire 61 Comments

Using A Japanese Pull Saw From Above

I've been standing on top of my workbench again. Strangely I'm up there quite a lot. Sometimes I just lay on there... and think. I've been a long time obsessive of Japanese woodworking. I find it truly fascinating and have promised myself if I make it to retirement, I'll treat myself to a nice … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sawing, Woodworking Hand Tools

To Trust Or Reinforce?

September 8, 2016 By Richard Maguire 35 Comments

Loose tenon for reinforced edge jointing

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...]

Filed Under: General, Woodworking Joints

How To Make Wooden Pegs

September 5, 2016 By Richard Maguire 14 Comments

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. In this post we'll look at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Hand Tool Approach, Woodworking Joints

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