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Apprenticing new genre artisans

Apprenticing new genre artisans

Every so often I am able to personally train a new apprentice and, with the right one, a unique symbiosis of service and learning partner the unfolding relationship between craftsman and apprentice. John has been here for two months now and he's working out well. He will be

My creative workspace #21

My creative workspace #21

Today was extremely busy at the Hand Tool School in Penrhyn Castle and I was able to share my Creative Workspace with dozens of people interested in hand tool woodworking and woodworking classes and seriously considering learning the traditional skills we use in our everyday work. When I turned from

Making massive doors

Making massive doors

Here are some of the magnificent doors in Penrhyn Castle. The craftwork of the artis and is exceptionally high and the wood was the very best English oak. Much of it quarter-sawn, the doors have been ganging for 160 years. Some of the doors curve into a round to fit

Side by side before and after

Side by side before and after

Here are the befores and afters side by side.

Trash to treasured chest

Trash to treasured chest

My Creative Workspace A short time ago I posted about a shabby looking mahogany box I found at a car boot sale here. I say found but a better word might be rescued had the abandoned box had any life left in it really. As pulled the box from other

Anglesey, Isle of open spaces

Anglesey, Isle of open spaces

I know, it is not woodworking, but I took a break from the woodworking school this evening and went over to the other side of the island to see what was flying around on the wild side. I parked up for a minute to rest and realized that this week

How to apply shellac as practical wood finish

How to apply shellac as practical wood finish

Brushing on Shellac: A Glass-like Finish I use shellac for all of my projects; either as single sanding coat before painting or varnishing, or as a full finish. Many sanding sealers are nothing more than thinned shellac. It is fast, easy to apply and it gives good protection regardless of