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I Grab a Few Treasures to Work On

I Grab a Few Treasures to Work On

Joseph once told me that he saw how significant it was for me to repair things, you know, an old saw, a plane or a piece of discarded furniture. He said in all the years he had consciously known me at my workbench as a furniture maker he'd

Not All Planes Are Created Equal

Not All Planes Are Created Equal

It's hard to say how many planes I've taken from rubbish-looking to fully operational models. Hundreds, I know. Unlike the modern day clones of Bed Rocks, where they are all equally well engineered and perhaps, dare I say much less characterful than their Bailey-pattern counterparts, each

George's bench

George's bench

It was an old bench, made of pine, too low for George on it's original legs so he'd jacked it up to where it was tall enough for him but too tall for me. That was before I came on the scene. The bench was a

Two Variations On a Theme

Two Variations On a Theme

On my present project I'm using a combination of joints alongside one another to grow everyone's development and skill in joinery. Doing this makes for skilled woodworkers and so preserves the craft for the ensuing generations. I hope too that it leaves an archived resource for

About George—Day Two

About George—Day Two

"Over here!" George said to me. "That's where you will be working when you're on bench work and I'll be keeping my eye on you." He pointed to the vise on the opposite side of the bench he worked at.

I Use Two Spokeshaves

I Use Two Spokeshaves

If you've read passed blogs you'll know I often use two tools alongside one another at the same time meaning saws, planes scrapers and such. Using two planes alternately and then two or three card scrapers and even two #80 scrapers in quick succession one after

My First Day As a 15 Year Old Man

My First Day As a 15 Year Old Man

Ducking my way through the latch gate I knew nothing of what was on the other side, nothing. Crossing the high step was my first step into work life and a radically different lifestyle than anything I had ever known or seen. It was a world of men and manliness.