No matter how well you typically cut dovetails, sometimes the gods are simply not smiling upon you. I have days when I pick up my dovetail saw, make a few cuts and quickly realize that I should instead rough out lumber, clean out the offcut bin or do something else that doesn’t require precision. And…
Read moreMegan and I are teaching two scholarship classes for The Chairmaker’s Toolbox this fall. I’m teaching a chair class (surprise) Sept. 15-19. Megan is teaching a Dutch toolchest class (double surprise) on Oct. 17-19. For these classes, we supply all the materials, plus lunches, morning pastries and a yay-you-did-it dinner for the students. If you…
Read moreMost of the classes I teach involve at least one moment of fear for me, and that’s when I lend students my 3/16″ Philly Planes beading plane. I love this plane, and love to put a bead on just about everything. Once you try one, you can’t stop! I’d be bereft without this tool. A…
Read moreThis year has been a good one – maybe our second or third best since we started in 2007. I won’t have all the numbers for a couple weeks, but to close out the year, here are our top 10 books in terms of unit sales. There are some surprises. We have lots of books…
Read moreIf access to wood (or lumberyard anxiety) is what’s holding you back from making a stick chair or Dutch tool chest, here’s an excellent solution: Alexander Brothers is now offering full kits for several types of stick chairs (in a selection of species), as well as blanks for legs, seat and more. Plus, there’s a…
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