It has been a long time since I installed Byrd Tool's Shelix carbide cutter heads in my Delta DJ-20 8" jointer (May 2009) and DeWalt DW735 13" planer (June 2012). The videos showing the installation of the cutter head in my planer have been viewed almost 75,000 times! Although the machines still produced tearout-free cuts, they did … Continue reading “Sharpening” Carbide Insert Cutter Heads
I am almost through a book called Rethinking Sitting, which discusses different ergonomic design styles of chairs. The author, a commercial designer of chairs, has developed many different models which are quite distinct from the typical form that you or I would recognize as a chair. Of course, he feels that his chairs have distinct … Continue reading Throw Conventional Wisdom Out the Window
Quite often, I need a wider board than what I have available. Usually, that means gluing up two or more boards edge to edge. Since, in this situation, I am usually making a highly visible part such as a table top or cabinet side, I am very careful to match not only the grain pattern … Continue reading Simpler Edge Joints
The kitchen island in my new house was calling for a pair of bar stools. My shop stool that I completed in the Shop Stool Build-Off found its way there during the move, and with the chaos reigning in my shop, I was happy to let it live there. A second stool was in order, and … Continue reading Shop Stools/Bar Stools
A textured top might at first seem the wrong choice for a writing desk, but with computers leading the writing world nowadays we think it’s a great idea. - Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement Magazine I completed the base for the 21st Century Writing Desk, to go with the top that I carved in November. … Continue reading 21st Century Writing Desk, Complete
At the end of February, I moved to a new place about 15 minutes from where I was previously. Of course, the shop moved as well and it is now living in a one-car garage (formerly about 450 sq ft - approximately the space of a two-car garage). The day before the move, I installed the same anti-fatigue … Continue reading New House, New Shop
Progress on the 21st Century Writing Desk was put on hold while I built a customized wooden box to protect an expensive piece of equipment for a friend in the tree business. (This kind of friend is good to have if you're a woodworker!) He had recently acquired a portable winch which, while seemingly well-made, … Continue reading Custom Box to Protect a Portable Winch
Don't be a wing nut - wear them! No self-respecting woodworker dresses up with off-the-shelf accessories. Add some flair to your wardrobe with these custom-made cuff links featuring stainless steel wing nuts. I made the first pair myself a few years ago, and I am always looking for an excuse to use them. $50 + … Continue reading Don’t be a Wing Nut
So, with the top done, my next step was to design a suitable base for it. I went to my computer and started playing with designs. I had an idea for a base that consisted of a pair of rectangular frames and cross members. However, none of the variations that looked good to me. Slim, tapered … Continue reading 21st Century Writing Desk – Designing the Base
Last week, I saw a picture of a roof top that resembled a wave. The roof prompted me to ponder the question: does a tabletop really need to be flat? Running with that notion, I carved this maple sample, dyed it black and waxed it to increase the sheen. I was really pleased with the sample, … Continue reading 21st Century Writing Desk – Making the Top
