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The Stanley knife I use

The Stanley knife I use

Someone posted on Youtube to ask me to talk about the Stanley knife I am using in my videos on making the European workbench used by joiners, carpenters and furniture makers through the centuries. I guarantee one thing, at least I think, they would have loved to own the Stanley

Another poor man's router

Another poor man's router

Poor man’s router Someone recently shared with me a jobsite poor man’s router he uses regularly and I tried it out in an inspired moment recently. It’s made from a #14 (about 44mm shank it looks like) screw and block like the poor man’s beading-cum-marking gauge

Buying locally

Buying locally

I’ve been making boxes all day today, to stock up for customers coming through the workshop. But I also went to buy some wood from my local wood supplier, Richard Williams, about 20 minutes from my town here in Bangor. I have to give this company credit. They have

Here is an interesting thing

Here is an interesting thing

This section of European redwood pine shows 135 years of growth rings. It measures 3/4" thick and the growth distance is 4". I am using it on a Shaker candle box I was making yesterday. Each time I looked at it my mind told me that some

Hand work in wood happens

Hand work in wood happens

The woods drew me from the workshop for an hour’s lunchtime walk today and I was amazed at shifts that evidence the ever-changing sphere I live and create in. Blossom-filled trees slowed me down to think about men like Doug Stowe in Eureka Springs in Arkansas, a craftsman investing

On sizing your workbench

On sizing your workbench

I would like to briefly discuss the size of bench you choose to make. I know it’s important to you and it must of course be fit for purpose, your purpose. My son Joseph, the violinmaker, uses a short bench three feet long. He has the same Record vise

Working wood over 7 decades

Working wood over 7 decades

Not many men can boast seven decades of working wood for a living or even being able to work for seven decades. I am nearer than most having worked wood for five. This gentleman joined the throngs in my workshop yesterday and made the passing comment most do about bringing