debor054

I am still away from home and my tools until next week. Therefore, aside from lots of reading, I have been thinking about the New Year ahead and how it relates to my personal wood working aspirations... So ... My wood working New Years Resolutions, Aspirations, Hopes & Goals for 2012. Take my quality of working to the next level. Attend at least one (1 week)  wood working course. Improve my finishing skills (including patience). Work with more hard woods. Have the confidence to try more complicated & challenging joinery. Work on longer term larger projects. Sell some of the things I make. I'd be really interested in other peoples goals for the year ahead especially those beginners like myself. Happy New Year Everyone!..

The  Joinery section starts on Page 63. Enjoy...    FREE Download from Google Books.

Another little gem from 1866. Google Books - FREE  Download

You just can't beat sitting by the log fire with a good book... Available for FREE download from Google Books

I am currently away from home and visiting my parents in France for the festive period. So while away from my workshop and tools I certainly didn't expect to be making blog posts.  Lately, I have been reading a lot of stuff by Peter Folansbee . Peter uses predominately Oak which is not sawn but rived by splitting  and it inspired me to go and have a rummage through my parents woodshed.  Walnut - which I think was felled early 2011 Oak of around 1.5ft diameter which was felled late last year 2010 While there are a few Oak & Walnut pieces, unfortunately, everything has been cut to firewood size lengths, but ... with some determination I might be able to get some stock for small boxes.  The Walnut looks like it would be amazing once dried, planed and finished! Time to start 'playing' - what tools have my parents got I  can use? Attacking a likely piece of Walnut - first some mark up. Using a wedge to scribe all the lines before splitting anything. First lightl...

Had to share this  quote: Working with hand tools is a much more eco-friendly way to work. It’s a deep part of the human experience, working with that blade and the wood. It’s much like when Obi-Wan Kenobi gave Luke Skywalker the lightsaber and said, “This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.” Roy Underhill - 2008.

I was going to document the full build of this little project but my camera battery died after just a few beginning shots and by the time it had charged up I had completed most of the build. Needless to say its very similar in concept to my Traditional Saw Bench  if you are interested. The spare off-cut from my large Coffee Table top and the last remaining budget  2"x2" from my Saw Bench were dying to be introduced and the simple lap jointed Stool you see below is a result of their union. I am calling it 'rustic' as the Pine that forms the simple lap jointed frame is so knotted and wild its almost unworkable. There is sap wood, reversing grain and knots but I couldn't bring myself to waste the wood. I was going to attempt lap jointed dovetails but I figured that would probably end in disaster at my skill level with this wood. To be honest, this project almost didn't make it to completion as I nearly threw the whole lot out of the window in a temper several t...