My most recent woodworking article (which I co-wrote with Charles Mak) is featured in issue #74 (March 2012) of Australian Wood Review (AWR). Our article shows how to build a folding ladder that Charles designed and I built. The ladder does not fold the way that you would expect - the rungs have pivot points at the … Continue reading Australian Wood Review #74 (March 2012)
Earlier this month, I sat down for Shop Talk with Andrew Detloff of Ravinheart Renditions. Our topic of discussion was Blended Woodworking which is about using a combination of hand and power tools. (Audio with images. Duration: 28:22.)
This bench was inspired after the Joinery Bench that Shannon Rogers brought to Woodworking in America. It was intended to simply be a taller workbench and I honestly did not know how useful I would find it (ask me in half a year). This small bench was built taller than normal (39.5") to allow joinery … Continue reading My Tall Workbench with Flair
I have many hand planes, but this Squirrel-Tail Palm Plane is among my most-used. This plane is a very simple tool. The investment-cast steel body incorporates a squirrel-tail handle that nestles in my palm and a divot on the toe where I can set my index finger. The mouth width is non-adjustable. Both the plane's sole and blade's … Continue reading Squirrel-Tail Palm Plane
Since I don't yet own a Festool router, my Porter-Cable 890 Plunge Router showed the most promise of containing the mess. Dust and chips were drawn into the port built into the base (located behind the depth stop turret) and up through the column. My only shop vacuum/dust extractor was a Festool CT26 and I … Continue reading Adapting a Porter Cable 890-Series Plunge Router to fit a Festool D27 Dust Extraction Hose
This post is part of Get Woodworking Week, an initiative started by Tom Iovino of Tom's Workbench, to build interest and participation in woodworking. I know that every one of my readers except for Paul-Marcel, for whom I made the first one, is scratching their head wondering what the heck a Br'all is, what it does, … Continue reading Every Workshop Needs a Br’all
Artist Name: Maskull Lasserre Title: Secret Carpentry Details: circa 2011 - 26" x 6" x 2" Why It's Notable: An axe, to most people, is an unremarkable object - just an axe. However, if you take any item and embellish it, it becomes more distinct and meaningful. This piece reminds me that anything has the potential to … Continue reading Secret Carpentry by Maskull Lasserre
The Lie-Nielsen Toolworks Hand Tool Event is in town February 3-4 (Friday-Saturday) at one of my favourite tool stores, Clermont's Ultimate Tool Supply. It's a free event and a great chance to learn about and try Lie-Nielsen's tools. And if that isn't enough reason for you to go... Konrad Sauer of Sauer & Steiner will also be there! I'm … Continue reading Lie-Nielsen Toolworks Hand Tool Event in Burnaby This Weekend
As I've mentioned in a previous entry, I've been spending all of my shop time working on a Dogwood Arts and Crafts table for Dave Kilpatrick and his wife. It's nearing completion and last night I took a few photos. The table is sitting inverted on sawhorses, so you may find it helpful to turn … Continue reading Dogwood Arts and Crafts Table
It may seem odd to some, but the truth is that one of my greatest inspirational sources is Lee Valley's hardware catalog. Many hours I have spent poring over the pages - mainly the Specialty Hardware and Small Box Hardware, but also the knobs, pulls, and other assorted hardware. This was the case about a … Continue reading Tribute to the Butt Hinge
