New Video: Modifying Scrub Plane for Coopered Lid Fairing

Currently, the project getting most of my woodworking time is a pair of small pieces, not sure whether to call them large boxes or small chests! Anyway, they have coopered lids. I'm duplicating an antique the client

Videos Worth Watching: Making a Traditional Framed Ledge and Post Door

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1E0QwdyVzo

Such a relief to see a woodworking video by someone other than an "influencer."

Tormek Motor Repair

I have used and loved Tormek grinders since 1999. My current machine is my second. (I sold the first one about 2008.) I acquired it from Highland Woodworking several years ago when they replaced it (the old "Super Grind 2000") with a new T8 in their seminar room. I use it for planes and chisels, carving gouges, kitchen and sloyd knives, and occasionally planer knives. 

Recently it began sounding bad, and way too loud:

I took the wheels and axle off to isolate the motor and make sure it wasn't something caught in the bushings the axle rides on, or the inside wall of the leather strop wheel where the motor shaft turns the whole works around. Nope, definitely a noise from the motor.

I wasted several

Videos Worth Watching: Workholding Without a Vise

This is one of my 10 favorite woodworking videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvhn-PAfEW4&t=10s

Why do I hold it in such esteem?

1. Mike Siemsen is clearly

Videos Worth Watching: "Medieval Wood Riving"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE2klxBE8QM

A museum team in Sweden shows excellent axe techniques for felling, bucking, riving and hewing as they duplicate 40-foot-long rafters in a medieval Swedish church.

The segment on controlling the riving is my favorite. Early in the video you can see that the tree used for the original rafters has considerable twist, and the crew shows how to overcome that.

Lately I've been following the "Finnish Vintage Axes" account on Instagram, and  now I see what all those long-headed axes are for. It also looks like "mortising" axes have a more general use during the controlled riving.

The best woodworking videos give me an itch to get busy. This one does that, in spades!

Stacked Birch Bark Knife Handle: New Video

I recently made and posted this video to YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2zDllohj-Q

The process of making the handle was quite enjoyable, and the result is wonderful. The handle is grippy, resilient, and warm in the hand. Even when wet! I will be making more.

New Video: Torsion Box

Not a detailed how-to tutorial, just a quick check. We've heard they're rigid, and they FEEL rigid, but can we measure it?

https://youtu.be/2JkNi7jIkRE
I compared a very simple torsion box to a pine 2x10 by putting them across a 30" span (one at a time) with a dial indicator underneath, and stood right above the indicator.

Results? Torsion box deflected .03 inch, 2x10 deflected .1 inch. So yes, torsion box is nice & rigid.

In case it matters, the skin of the box is 1/2" plywood and the core grid is 3/4" plywood on 8" centers. The box was assembled with glue, plenty of clamps, and 16 gauge brads shot in with a pneumatic nailer.

I like torsion boxes.

It's Satire, Folks

I have posted a new video on YouTube. It is a joke (literally), but there's a serious point behind it. Lately I've seen a lot in the social media woodworking world about whether somebody's work is "art" or "craft" and even some stuff about what art is.

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/rclk1Sqbbt8

And almost always, the person making the pronouncements as though they're deep original thoughts has never read anything on the subject, let alone spoken with anyone halfway informed.

It bugs me, so I made this video.

Here is the description I put on the video:

What I Did over Summer Vacation 2018 (Part 1)

In July, I used most of my vacation time to go to Wisconsin and hang out in the woods at my shack. I also got in some visits with family and friends, including Mark Duginske, my woodworking mentor and good friend. One result of the day I spent with Mark in Wausau and at his shop near Merrill is this video. We had a good time making it.

https://youtu.be/k1TsaSuWR-M