If You Can't Start at the Ending, Repeat: One Lesson from Drew Langsner

Several years into my professional woodworking life, I read an older man's account of being hired on at

Dovetails Again

Here is an excellent, short video that mostly is about cutting dovetails.

There is an astonishing quantity of b.s. propagated about dovetailing. So much so, that when I saw this, I decided to share it - - yes, I'm reblogging somebody else's work - - in the name of giving a boost to the good stuff so that the b.s. can begin sinking to the bottom.

Chris Hall's blog is worth following, too.

That's all!

Iron-On Veneer

Here's a simple technique for applying veneer to flat panels. I have used it with bandsawn veneer I made myself, with paper-backed commercial veneer, and this week I'm doing it with some camphor burl veneer purchased from an online supplier. 

These particular panels will be

Foot-Actuated Shutter Release: My Take

Another post, another jury-rigged photography doohickey.

(Uh, that's not my foot!)

A few months ago, I bought one of these. I did it to

Pruning Works!

These photos were taken yesterday as I split potential chair parts from the butt log of a northern red oak. The tree had just been felled, and had grown up in somebody's yard. It was almost exactly the same age as I (slightly north of 50), and in one of the short pieces I split, I found a branch that had been pruned off when the tree was about 25 years old. These pictures tell a story (I hope)!

The photo above shows

Trees With Personality

I love trees. It doesn't strike me as incongruous that a woodworker would love trees, although some of my non-woodworking, tree-loving friends have commented on it, and some of my woodworking associates are at times taken aback by my enthusiasm. You see, I don't just love trees in the abstract, as most woodworkers do. Who wouldn't love the very idea of huge plants that make a material like wood to hold their leaves up in the sunlight so they can photosynthesize: a material that we can use to make furniture, utensils, tools, paper, houses? Yes, that's wonderful.

But when I say “I love trees” I also mean individual trees, as individuals. Walking in the woods of northern Wisconsin yesterday I ran into a bunch of trees with great . . . personality is really all I can say. Some of these trees I have known and loved for years; others I encountered for the first time on yesterday's walk. So I tried making a few portraits. Click through to see some of yesterday's images.

Octopus?

Tormek On Sale at Highland Woodworking

EDIT: As of yesterday, February 21st, these are SOLD OUT



I make no secret of my longstanding connection to Highland Woodworking. Since 2000, I have taught classes there, and for a while I wrote some of the copy for their catalog. I have an obvious financial interest in their continued success.

So with that big, clearly-stated proviso, I am going to share this: Highland is clearing out their last few Tormek T-7's. They have been selling for around $650 and they're getting rid of them for $499. 

I have had Tormeks on and off since the 1990's. I have an on-and-off relationship with them. Currently I'm "on." 

I won't make this into a pro-con essay on the Tormek's merits and flaws. I'm just passing on the information that this machine, which is very seldom discounted, is on sale until the stock runs out.

I'm also passing on this information: when I bought mine, the diamond stone-truing jig and the horizontal tool mount were sold separately. Both are included in the package with this deal.

 http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/tormekt-7grinder.aspx