If you find there is any copyright abuse, contact us as soon as possible, thanks.
E-Z Lok Threaded Inserts
00/00/0000, 00:00 | WoodworkingONLINE.com 
If you’ve read Woodsmith and ShopNotes magazines for any length of time, you know that we’re a fan of threaded inserts. They make it easy to build jigs and fixtures and knock-down furniture or projects. They’re a great way to add machine threads for attaching screws and bolts.
E-Z Lok is a manufacturer of threaded inserts for a variety of industries and applications. And I’ve recently discovered that their web site is a valuable resource of information you can use when building projects that make use of threaded inserts. Their web site contains PDF documents that contain detailed dimemensioned drawings and complete charts listing dimensions and recommended hole sizes for their inserts. (They caution you to try out the insert on a scrap piece to get the exact hole size.)
Click here for a chart of their inserts for hardwood.
Click here for a listing of the knife-thread inserts for softwood.
I like to use press-in “Finserts” whenever I can (see photo at left). I don’t have to thread them and risk not getting them in straight. You can simply press or tap them in place. Click here for more information on finserts.
If you scroll to the bottom of these pages, you’ll see links for PDF documents of drawings and charts.
E-Z Lok’s products are sold through a variety of distributors like McMaster-Carr, Reid Tool, and MSC.
Podcast #34: 7 Must-Have Shop-Built Table Saw Accessories
00/00/0000, 00:00 | WoodworkingONLINE.comIf there is one power tool that lends itself perfectly to accessories it’s the table saw. Things like push sticks and stop blocks can make using a table saw more efficient and safe. And, auxiliary fences for the miter gauge and the rip fence prevent chip out and protect the factory fence from being damaged.
Best of all, each of these accessories can easily be made in the shop. This week’s Woodsmith Woodworking Seminar focuses on seven accessories that are “must-haves.”
You’ll find a few pieces of hardware, that can be used for building jigs, for sale at the Woodsmith Podcast Store, plus a link to the seminar guide.
Wood Talk Online #41
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Matt's Basement Workshop PodcastHey everyone Marc and I are back after an extended summer break. And we just finished the latest episode of WTO. Lot's to talk about...
Listen to today's show by clicking on the player below
Status Report:
Where have we been for nearly 2 months?!?!?! Marc gives a Gadget Station update and talks about the âproject humpâ. Matt announces that his next project will be a bedside table for Madison.
Around the Web:
Working Wood by Tom Fidgen
Luthiercast
Upholstered Chair Project Video
News:
Final Cut sawblades.
Amanaâs In-Tech router bits with replaceable cutterheads.
Steel City introduces spiral head lunchbox planer.
Auriou rasps back in business!
Hot Deals:
50% OFF ROUTER TABLE STARTER PACKAGE
Regular Catalog Price $239.97 E-Direct Special Offer $119.99
Bessey Tradesman Bar Clamps Buy 2 - Get the 3rd FREE!
Topics:
IWF Review- DeWalt TrackSaw, Delta Unisaw, General Internationalâs adjustable height bandsaw.
Intro to Spokeshaves - low-angle vs. standard - flat vs. round bottom
Tomâs Tip: Keeping the shop clean.
Through the Pixelation I see Tina Turner...
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Skiving OffDon’t ever let it be said I am not a highly compassionate person.
I feel the pain of all of those in The Gulf who just suffered tragic losses from Hurricane Ike.
You see, Ike has stirred up a weather system that is now causing very heavy rain here in the Midwest, and as a result I am dealing with my own minor tragedy.
I don’t have any High Definition Satellite signals for my local stations, and the Indianapolis Colts game is less than 2 hours away.
Sure, I have High Def on all of the “premium” and normal channels one would associate with cable/satellite. However, Directv broadcasts their market-specific local channels through a Spot Beam Signal (for me its satellite 99s) and at the moment the rain is strong enough to be choking that signal out. Yes, I still have the standard definition signal that I will be able to watch the game on, but do you know how grainy standard definition football looks on a 47 inch 1080P LCD television???? It’s almost unbearable. Woe is me.
To a techno-junkie like me there are few things worse than being separated from technology. It's been that way for a long time. Nine or ten years ago, while others were showing off the early Palm Pilots, I was showing off a first generation Pocket PC that allowed me to accomplish REAL work in Excel and Word without having to drag a laptop around.
Nowadays, I am secretly bugged that I cannot access a free wireless signal in church. (Pastor, that’s the King James version of the Bible I am looking at on my PocketPC during your sermon. What do you think I am doing? Checking my blog hits?)
My cell phone obsession is worse than the WiFi one. I not only cannot live without my mobile phone…I now have to have a quad band phone so that I am ensured of coverage on the most remote outward parts of Papua New Guinea.
If you want me to have a full blown breakdown…just keep me away from my email account for more than 16 hours.
If you want me to do my impersonation of David Foster Wallace, just take away my cell phone and all internet access for only one hour.
Let me clarify one thing…I do go hours at a time without being either on the phone or on the internet. However, the mere thought of not having available access to those forms of communication causes me severe emotional distress.
I don’t constantly use high tech communications…I just need to know it’s available.
At the moment, I am starting to feel a little bit of that same TSA (techno-separation-anxiety) each time I switch from the grainy standard version of CBS to the high def version of that channel where I find a black screen with an update from Directv that says, “Looking for Signal In on Satellite 2… (771).”
Thanks to you, Ike, I have to watch Peyton, Joseph, Marvin, Reggie, Dwight, and Bob on a grainy big screen.
Ike, it wasn’t enough for you to just batter the coast, but you had to reach up here into the Midwest and put the smack down on me, too.
Apparently Tina Turner wasn’t exaggerating about your evil ways.
Forum Flame Wars
00/00/0000, 00:00 | David's blogA recent thread on Fine Woodworking ...
Stanley's new premium handplanes
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Norse WoodsmithThe Stanley Tool company is legendary in hand tool circles... It is their planes that a large majority of us woodworkers cut their teeth on. They have been making the most popular line of woodworking planes since the late 1800's - at least until the quality of their product began to suffer after WWII, ultimately reaching their low point in the 60's and 70's where the level of quality has remained until today. Yet there are so many examples of Stanley planes out there remaining from pre-WWII days still in use today that they are still setting the standard by which others are graded even to this day. It wasn't limited to just bench planes either - one only has to look at Patrick Leach's pages on Stanley planes to see the breadth of their product line from the day. The sheer extent of their product offerings is testament to their popularity. Only recently have independent toolmakers - as a collective - even begun to breach a portion of it.
Woodworking Community Happenings
00/00/0000, 00:00 | The Wood WhispererAs many of probably already know, there is an incredible conference taking place in Berea, KY called Woodworking in America. The conference is the brainchild of the folks over at Popular Woodworking and simply put, its a galoots dream! From vendors to seminars to hands on classes, its all about hand tools! Many of my blogging associates will be in attendance, and you can follow their experiences on their own blogs. One person in particular who will be blogging on a daily basis is Mitch from the Furnitude Blog. You can follow his adventures right on his blog.
Now most of the other folks who might be blogging about the event are in The Wood Whisperer Network, and you can see all the latest posts in real-time right on TheWoodWhispererNetwork.com.
I also wanted to bring your attention to my homie Shannon Rogers’ site, The Renaissance Woodworker. He is having a giveaway sponsored by the folks at Penn State Industries, and its a good chance to get some great pen turning supplies.
So I hope everyone has a great time at the conference. Wish I could be there myself but I will have to settle for reading about your personal experiences.
Related Posts
275 Child's Bookcase Project Pt.2
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Matt's Basement Workshop PodcastThis is part 2 of a multi-part series following me building a bookcase for a friend of the family. As promised I documented the build, the good, the bad and the ugly and I'll be posting new episodes on Wednesdays from this point out, enjoy!!
REMEMBER! If you have any comments, questions, suggestions or you want to enter for some free schwag drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com or you can always leave a voicemail at 231 354-2338.
Don't forget that Hendrik is conducting a seminar on June 14th, based on his book "Starting and Running a Woodworking Business". If you'd like to attend or just get more information about this seminar contact Hendrik at info@passionforwood.com.
If you have the time, please take the new listener survey.
To download directly to your computer Right Click and "Save Target as"
He's Back....
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Philsville
Hi Folks
Westonbirt is over - and what a great event it was too!
Another day or two and I should have recovered (mostly) after a hectic but very enjoyable five days. A highlight for me was the "communal living" aspect - most of the exhibitors camped on-site and our host, Mike Hancock, was kind enough to put on a chef to cater for us. Eating, working and drinking (oh, the drinking!) together made for a unique and very enjoyable experience. It's kind of bizarre to be sat under the stars chatting away with an international selection of woodworking superstars!
The standard of work at the show was very, very high and there was a huge variety of wood related disciplines on show. I'll post some more pictures as the week goes by (and I catch up on some sleep - you forget how good it is to sleep in a bed) And also recount the "International Football Match" that took place on the Saturday night ;)
So - the first picture. Many thanks must go to my "glamorous assistant" Mike Riley, who was kind enough to join me at the show. Couldn't have done it without you ;)
Cheers
Philly
Tobacco River Woodturner
11/15/2006, 12:06 | The Wood Shop
Photo Courtesy Tobacco River Woodturner
John Peters: Mesquite Wood and Segmented Bowls.
I began turning wood in 1970 in high school wood shop and after thirty years as a machinist moved to northwest Montana. I've started making segmented bowls again, as a hobby. I like to use dense heavily grained woods for my projects and Mesquite is one of my favorites. Mesquite takes a high polish, glues well and is hardly affected by humidity and temperature. The vessel in the foreground of the picture of is mostly Mesquite; the zig-zag feature ring is Curly Maple and Purpleheart with Bloodwood top and bottom rings. There are 193 pieces of wood in the bowl. I also use Rosewoods, Ebonys, Hard Maples, Yellowheart, 40,000 year old Ancient Kauri, American Holly and others. I give most of my work away as gifts but I will occasionally sell one. If you are interested my link is sajo@interbel.net.
Thanks for looking,
Tobacco River Woodturner
John Peters
Eureka, Montana.
Watch out for that first step...
02/15/2008, 05:12 | Musings From My Shop
A popular theory holds that woodworkers belong to one of two categories: Normites, those who use power tools and only power tools; and Galoots, those who would rather take a hammer blow to the forehead than use a corded tool. It?s a religious thing, no one can be both. Like the Jets and the Sharks (when you?re a Galoot, you?re a Galoot all the way). When a Normite and a Galoot approach each other on the street everyone else crosses to the other side. There?s little common ground.
I?ve been a woodworker for ten years, more or less. Like many, I began with a table saw. My first project was a router table. I added other tools (planer, jointer, drill press, band saw) as needed but in rather quick succession. I had a well outfitted shop and all was right with the world. I was a Normite. Oh sure, I?d occasionally use chisels or even a block plane (oh, the horror) but I never strayed enough to put my American Federation of Normites membership in jeopardy. I made a number of pieces of furniture this way. Life was good.
That was the status quo for quite a while ? the electric meter was an indicator of my time in the shop. Until last year. That?s when some evil people made me think about hand tools in a serious way. There was no single event but a series of several involving talented, passionate, inspirational woodworkers. My world had been a settled, comfortable place. Until those evil people got me thinking. They motivated me to learn about the wide variety of tools and their capabilities (though there is still far to travel on this long, steep learning curve). They made me realize that some operations can be performed more accurately with hand tools. They made me spend a lot of money.
This was my introduction to Galoots. Like billionaires, I had known of their existence but I didn?t know any personally. And just as billionaires are shrouded with mystery, Galoots were an unknown quantity. I expected a bunch of throwbacks, guys stuck living in the good-old-days, possessed of a stubborn refusal to acknowledge progress. I believed that woodworkers of the past would have welcomed the opportunity to trade their planes for electric routers. Now I know better.
When I started acquiring hand tools I bought those that I thought would be useful based on what the (no longer so) evil people had demonstrated. So what did I hope to accomplish? What problems was I trying to solve? (Beyond the obvious of relieving my checking account of excess funds.) I had three goals: to improve accuracy and my ability make fine adjustments; to reduce the amount of sanding required; to wear ear plugs less often.
Several months later, I?m well on the way to accomplishing these goals. On my most recent project I used hand tools when possible. I cut finger joints largely with a hand saw and chisels. I used a block plane to round edges and trim the end grain of stiles. Tenons and panel tongues were fitted with a shoulder plane. I haunched tenons with a hand saw. The list goes on. Most importantly, the joinery turned out very well, I didn?t have to sand as much as in the past and there were entire days with no ear plugs. Along the way, I accomplished an unanticipated fourth goal: I had a great time. I?m not sure when I?ve had as much fun in the shop.
There?s no turning back now, though I won?t eliminate power tools from my shop. Frankly, the thought of dimensioning rough lumber using only hand planes is entirely unappealing. So I guess there are more than two categories for woodworkers (galootified-Normite?). So much for popular theories.
Magnetic Stop Block
00/00/0000, 00:00 | WoodworkingONLINE.com 
You can sharpen your woodworking skills with helpful tips and techniques from the editors of Woodsmith and ShopNotes magazines. Get a FREE tip sent to your email address each week! Go to WoodworkingTips.com and sign up today.
Here’s last week’s tip from Woodsmith online editor Ted Raife:
When cross-cutting short pieces to the same length, I like to clamp a stop block to the rip fence of my table saw. This block provides clearance between the rip fence and the saw blade so the cut-off pieces don’t get trapped (and kick back).
But recently, I came up with an idea that avoids the hassle of fiddling around with clamps. Instead I use a magnetic stop block. It’s just a hardwood block with a pair of small magnetic catches inserted into one edge, see drawing. Note: If the face of your rip fence is wood or aluminum, simply put the magnetic catches in the bottom face of the stop block.
The magnets hold the stop block securely against the fence. And when I’m done, I simply store the block out of the way on the side of the saw cabinet.
Good Woodworking,
Ted Raife
Online Editor, Woodsmith
New Shoulder Plane
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Philsville
Hi Folks
Right - I promised some pictures.
This is the prototype of my shoulder plane design. It's made from Rosewood and brass, with the sole fixed to the body with a sliding dovetail. In use the plane is very comfortable and has a good weight to it - I'm very pleased!
I am about to make two more, one 3/4 inch wide in African Blackwood , the other 1 1/4 wide in Pau Rosa. They should be ready by the end of the week, and I hope to take them to Kentucky with me to get some feedback on the design.
Back to the workshop......
Philly
Personalized Custom Wood Carvings
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Custom Wood Carvings of Your Pictures with Unique 3D Raised LetteringVal D'Isere
00/00/0000, 00:00 | David's blogThe Pleasure of Working with Sharp Tools
00/00/0000, 00:00 | David's blog"I wish I had ...
Broken: One plastic handled chisel
00/00/0000, 00:00 | UnpluggedShop.comI have been initiated; I broke my first chisel handle.
I was chopping deep mortises with a 1" Lee Valley plastic handled chisel. I was beating the poor thing. While I wasn't using a heavy mallet, I am a 200 pound guy and it was getting enough of a beating that the chisel got quite warm at times which may have softened the plastic. Anyway, about halfway through the fifth mortise, it gave way.
I really wasn't trying to break the handle, honest. I thought it would hold up to the abuse, but between the chopping and levering out the chips, it just didn't make it. read more »
Episode 146 - Bedroom Set: Prepping Stock
10/17/2008, 09:00 | T Chisel - The Rough Cut Show!Justin DiPalma at the Wheaton Arts Craft Fair
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Furnitology ProductionsSo I met Justin DiPalma for the first time face to face in May 2008 in my kitchen. Our first introduction was through the internet and we decided to drive up to T-Chisel's shop in Boston for a woodworker's weekend together. A good friendship evolved. We talked woodworking and the direction of woodworking, his personal preferences to woodworking, dream pieces to build and then he mentioned a juried show he applied to. Justin hadn't heard if he'd been accepted yet.
THEN.............at the 12 hour, the acceptance letter came. The BIG Hustle was on.
Under real tight time constraints, Justin met every objective including the completion of one of his dream pieces.......his interpretation of a Delaware Valley Lowboy.
After observing Justin work in Boston and seeing his passion for the craft, I had to see him in his first Craft Show.
Here's to Justin DiPalma.....stepp'in up a level.
Enjoy!!!!!
308 Wednesday Roundup (or things I've been meaning to mention)
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Matt's Basement Workshop PodcastHey everyone, for today's episode I meant to put something together that would be a little more polished...but...instead you're getting me kind of wrapping up a few random thoughts and annoucements I've been meaning to make. So enjoy this Wednesday roundup!!
As mentioned in the episode, Hendrik has released his latest DVD "Revelations on Table Saw Set-up & Safety". Now available for purchase at his website. Also if you would like, click here to checkout Milescraft and see the router base I mentioned.
If you're interested in ordering the DVDs I mentioned in the show, containing the complete series of audio, video and PDF episodes from Year 1 & Year 2 of MBW drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com.
If you'd like to enter for free schwag or just have a comment, question or suggestion drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com or head over to my website at 231 354-2338.
Listen to today's show by clicking on the player below
To download directly to your computer Right Click on direct download, choose "Save Target as"
Karn, Me and D.J. DePree
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Furnitology ProductionsAs most follow and look to Sam Maloof, James Krenov, or Nakashima for their readings and inspiration, I look to the ground breaking furniture manufacturer, DJ DePree who lives on through the firm he created; Herman Miller.
I'm very excited to present this interview with Karn Adams a Retail Development Specialist at Herman Miller and hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.
D.J. DePree is our greatest furniture manufacturer.
Enjoy the history and answers that Karn so wonderfully provides.
Â
Brandywine River Museum
00/00/0000, 00:00 | The Village Carpenter
N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth's paintings figure prominently in the galleries at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA.Photos of the artwork are not permitted, however I was allowed to photograph this elaborately carved coat of arms which originally adorned the pediment of the Dauphin County Court House in Harrisburg—Pennsylvania's capital city.
The carving, created in 1861 by E. Omensetter, was constructed with four horizontal pine boards used as a backing for the pine relief carvings that were attached with nails. Originally painted, the coat of arm's colors were worn away by weather and age.
The state's motto, "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence," is deeply carved into the banner, and the other design elements are also representative of Pennsylvania. The ship symbolizes the state's ports and vast commercial network; the American eagle is the traditional symbol of liberty;
the horses protect and honor the motto; the plow represents coal and mineral resources; and the wheat and corn depict Pennsylvania's agriculture.I love the chunky gouge marks and stylized eagle and horses. The beefiness, the deep shadows, and the folksiness of the design seem to accurately portray PA, which is replete with farmland and steeped in history.
While I enjoyed the Wyeths' and other artists' paintings, I found myself lingering in front of this piece longer than any other.
262 - Safety Week Sawdust and Your Lungs
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Matt's Basement Workshop PodcastIt's the beginning of safety week and here at Matt's Basement Workshop I'm planning on sharing with you my take on three very important safety issues, starting today with sawdust safety.
When most of us think of sawdust safety we think of fires and explosions due to sparks and accumulated piles. But I think of health issues first and foremost. If not properly contained, sawdust poses a major health issue not just on the woodworker, but their families too.
A couple of good links to visit includeOSHA's Woodworking eTool, Gregory Machinery and also some of my previous episodes that deal with dust collection include, Episode #9 "Dust Collection", Tips From the Scrap Pile No.30 .
If you have the time, please take the new listener survey, click here. And don't forget to drop me a line with your questions, comments and suggestions, especially since Hendrik is back in May and we're talking about starting a small woodworking business. Just drop us a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com.
Also, Hendrik is starting his annual three part finishing seminars:
Part 2 "Hand Finishing and Rubbing Out" - May 10th or 24th.
Part 3"Antique Restoration Techniques" - May 31st or June 7th.
So if you live in the Toronto area or feel like visiting it, and you want more information about Hendrik's finishing seminars, send an email to info@passionforwood.com
For some great woodworking classes in the Chicago area visit Jeff Miller's website at furnituremaking.com.
Listen to today's show by clicking on the player below
To download directly to your computer just Right Click and Save Target as
アメリカの第一人者に学ぶ椅子づくり/ Chair making class by American master craftsman
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Masashi's woodworking diary
グリーンウッドワーク協会ではこの秋、アメリカのグリーンウッドワークの第一人者、ドリュー・ランズナー氏を講師に招き、椅子づくり講座を実施します。
岐阜県でとれた生の木を使い、人力の道具を用いて美しい椅子に仕上げます。
制作するのはラダーバック・チェアと呼ばれる欧米の伝統的な椅子です。
Green wood chair making class by American master craftsman Drew Langsner takes place this autumn at Gifu Academy.
We make a traditional ladderback chair out of local green wood, using only hand tools.
ランズナー氏は、３０年以上グリーンウッドワークに取り組んできた、世界的に有名な木工家です。アメリカでCountry Workshopsという工房を主宰し、多数の講座を実施しています。伝統的な椅子づくりについて詳述した「The Chairmaker's Workshop」という本の著者でもあります。
Mr. Langsner is a world's famous woodworker who has been pursueing his career for more than thirty years. He runs various craft courses at his Country Workshops. He is the author of 'The Chairmaker's Workshop'.
講座は前期と後期に分かれています。生木からつくる部材を、しばらく乾燥させるためです。
前期の３日間は、丸太から各部材を木取り、一部を蒸して曲げ、形づくるまで。
後期の３日間は組み立てる部分のホゾ加工から、組み立て、座の編み、仕上げまで。
どちらか一方の参加も可能です。
参加料は前期、後期とも２４０００円を予定しています。
宿泊費、食費が別途必要になります。
受講者数は８名限定で、残りわずかです。
ご希望の方はお早めに、グリーンウッドワーク協会までお申し込みください。
The chair making class consists of part A and B.
On part A we cleave logs to get chair parts, steambend and shape them.
On part B we drill mortises and cut tenons, assemble and weave the seat.
You can book either part A or B, or both.
The tuition is 24,000 yen for each part. Room and board is not included.
We accept eight bookings for each part. Contact Japan Green Woodwork Association.
アメリカの第一人者に学ぶ〜グリーンウッドワークの椅子づくり
講師 ドリュー・ランズナー
会場 岐阜県立森林文化アカデミー 森の工房
前期 ９月２７（土）〜２９（月）
後期 １０月１８（土）〜２０（月）
いずれも９：００〜１８：００
Green wood chair making class by American master craftsman
Instructor: Drew Langsner
Venue: Forest Workshop, Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture
Part A 27-29th September 2008
Part B 18-20th October 2008
9:00-18:00
Review...
00/00/0000, 00:00 | PhilsvilleWas pleased to turn on the computer this morning and find this review......
Glad you liked the plane, Chris!
I better get back in the workshop, then :)
Cheers
Philly
More Radial Arm Saw Adjustments
10/11/2008, 04:41 | A Woodworking Odyssey
It has been years since the radial arm saw came into my shop, and I have not used it at all because it was not set up accurately. I've been working on fixing this over the last two weeks, and I'm getting quite familiar with the settings.
The thing that took me longest, was getting the table to be nearly perfect in its alignment with the saw arm. I had spend hours trying to get this right, and I was getting nowhere until I learned the trick from a book called Fine Tuning Your Radial Arm Saw, by Jon Eakes. The secret was to adjust four reference points on the table and use a crescent wrench as a lever for fine positioning. This simple trick was a huge revelation, and once I learned it, adjusting the table was done in under an hour. I'm sure I could do it in under 30 minutes now if I needed to do it again.
I'm now most of the way through testing and adjusting the saw. I hope to finish tomorrow and start ripping stock for the storm windows I need to build. I guess I just needed a big project (ripping and chopping the stock for 5 storms) with a deadline (winter) to motivate me to get this machine working. There was no way I was going to rip all that stock by hand.
Some thoughts on dovetails - part I
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Sauer & Steiner
For the last several weekends, I have been working on our kitchen drawers. I have just crossed a major milestone - there are more drawers completed than remain (only by 1... but it still feels great!). So I have had “dovetails” floating around in my head quite a bit lately.
There was in interesting thread about dovetails in one of the forums a week or so ago. The thread was titled “Skinny pins in hand cut dovetails”. After reading most of the thread - I started thinking on my own dovetail evolution - and the whys and how's of it. I have also had a bit of an epiphany moment sparked by that thread, and it has to do with the relationship between process and efficiency. I am fully aware that I may to step on a few toes with this one - and I am fine with that.
My goal with woodworking and planemaking is to become extremely efficient while continuing to improve my accuracy... and in that order. I make my living in the woodworking field - I have to be efficient. So everything I do is motivated by using the fastest method even if it means a slow initial learning curve - complete with bumps and errors. Sharpening is a perfect example. I made a very conscious decision to learn to freehand sharpen because once you know how - it IS the fastest way to sharpen. Sure, it made for a lot of frustrating sharpening sessions and the dizzying parade of sharpening jigs were quite tempting - but I can honestly say I am glad I stuck to my guns and learned to do it freehand. I am now fast at it, and don't hesitate to stop work to restore an edge. I will write more on freehand sharpening in another post.
Back to dovetails & efficiency. I believe that the dovetail joint is a functional mechanical joint that can be extremely beautiful if well executed. There are a lot of times when dovetails are used and they are not seen - and in these instances how it looks is less important (though they still need to be tight fitting and designed for mechanical strength). The drawer is usually to blame for all the discussion about dovetails - skinny pins vs fat pins, machine cut vs hand cut, spacing, angles, pin lengths etc. This is because these dovetails can be seen, and rightly or wrongly, have come to symbolize the quality of the piece they live in.
I decided that I would hand cut my dovetails for several reasons (in no particular order). I like the somewhat random and irregular look of handcut dovetails - they tell me that a person spent time making this - and I like that. I like skinny pins - especially in contrasting woods - they make everything look lighter and more delicate. I like irregular spacing. I tend to put narrower tails on the outside edges and gradually increase them as they get closer to the center. It means I don't need to do as much math and is really quite fast to lay out. Here is an example;
The tails on the top and bottom are 3/4", 1/16" pin, 1" tail, 1/16" pin, 1-1/4" pin. It makes for a somewhat rounding effect.
Once I made the decision to hand cut my dovetails it meant I needed to be as fast and efficient as I could be. To me, this means the goal is to be able to fit the dovetails off the saw - no paring. My friend Karen was over a few weeks ago and we were talking about this as we stood in a sea of kitchen drawer parts. I commented that I was going to cut to the line and not intentionally cut inside and then pare to the line. If I overcut and there was a gap - so be it. I would not scrap the drawer but live with it. I explained that I felt this was part of my learning process and working towards maximum efficiency. She gave me an affirming nod and agreed. As we continued to talk we realized that there are many woodworking schools out there that teach to cut well inside the line and to pare to get the right fit. Looking at that now - it seems a little off - it is teaching a process where the outcome is consistently a 10 hour dovetailed drawer! It may be beautiful and perfect - but the process strikes me as questionable - not to mention it is unrealistic to expect a client to pay for a drawer that took 10 hours to make. I would much rather endure the pain, suffering, and disappointment of a few gaps here and there knowing that I am slowly, over time, getting closer to dovetails that fit right off the saw (I am aware that I am building drawers for my own use and not for a client - so I do have the luxury of “learning” through my work). So with that in mind - here are a few examples of dovetails I have produced spanning my entire woodworking life.
This was the first furniture project I made with a drawer. The front is cherry and the sides are pine. Drat... it is a bit out of focus:)
These are the drawers on my left handed, shaker inspired bench. There are 10 drawers in all. The sides are 5/8" basswood and the fronts are 3/4" mildly curly soft maple. They are still a little clunky - but the spacing was starting to feel right on these.
This is a drawer in a table I built for my sister and her husband as a wedding gift. Skinny pins have arrived and are here to stay! 1/2" maple sides, 3/4" walnut front. Note the African Blackwood pull... I shaped them by hand... no lathe:(
Which brings us to the most recent dovetail project - the kitchen drawers. I have just finished 5 more kitchen drawers - here is a shot of the stack.
There was a magical moment that happened while building these 5 drawers - I did actually cut a set of dovetails that fit right off the saw. It is pictured below.
There are a few wee gaps - but after they were glued and planed flush, they were gone. And after this set - there was another set of 1/2 blinds and two sets of through dovetails that fit off the saw. This was most encouraging and confirmed to me that this longer road was the right road to take.
And hey... I have 7 more drawers to practice on!
木工家ウイーク/Woodworkers' Week 2008 in Nagoya
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Masashi's woodworking diary
写真をクリックすると詳細なファイルが表示されます。Click to enlarge.
２００８年６月３日から１１日まで、名古屋市で「木工家ウィーク2008」というイベントが実施されます。
これは、
Chairs—家具作家の仕事2008—
木工家３０人展'08
木工家がつくる木のスプーン展
という３つの作品展が異なる会場で同時に行われ、さらに
木工家ウィーク2008NAGOYA記念
「木工房からの仕事—今暮らしを考える—」
というフォーラムが、日本を代表する家具デザイナーであり建築家の長大作氏、近代の木工芸に造詣の深い諸山正則氏をゲストに開かれるものです。
木工家が大きなネットワークをつくり、社会へ発信していこうという、いままでになかった試みです。
これだけ多くの作家による作品を同時に見られるのは魅力です。
木工家３０人展'08には私が、
木工家がつくる木のスプーン展には、NPO法人グリーンウッドワーク協会代表の加藤慎輔さんと、森林文化アカデミー・木のコース卒業生の長岡かやさんが出展予定です。
ぜひ会場へ足をお運びください。
なお、記念フォーラムは予約を受け付けています。
右側の私のプロフィール欄からメールをお送りいただくか、
0575-35-3886 岐阜県立森林文化アカデミー ものづくり研究会・久津輪までお電話ください。
木工家ウィークのホームページにも情報があります。
'The Woodworkers' Week 2008' takes place in Nagoya from 3rd to 11th June.
It consists of three exhibitions and a forum.
The three exhibitions are:
Chairs -designer/makers' work 2008-
Works of Shin-ichiro Tani, Santaro Takahashi and Tomio Murakami
5-11 June 2008
9:50-20:00
Maruzen Book Store Sakae 4F
3-2-7 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
30 Woodworkers '08
3-8 June 2008
11:00-18:00
Denki Bunka Kaikan 5F
2-2-5 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
Wooden Spoons
3-8 June 2008
11:00-21:00
Lachic 5F
3-6-1 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
The Forum:
The works of furniture workshops
Mr.Daisaku Choh and Mr.Masanori Moroyama
8 June 2008
14:00-16:00
Denki Bunka Kaikan 5F
2-2-5 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
This is probably the first attempt in recent years for the Japanese woodworkers to make a network and launch events. It is going to be a rare opportunity to see many designer/makers' work in one place.
I will be exhibiting my works at 30 Woodworkers '08.
Shinsuke Kato, the director of Japan Green Woodwork Association, and Kaya Nagoaka, a graduate of Forest Academy, will show their spoons at the Wooden Spoons.
Come and see our latest works.
Wooden Rings
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Wood Rings by Simply Wood Rings
MyWooden Rings are made to last a lifetime. With just the normal care any
fine piece of jewelry is given and some furniture wax. I handcraft
every ring to bring out the warmth and honesty of the wood. Each ring
is hand formed from thin layers of wood chosen for its grain and
durability. learning how to make a wooden rings has been a rewarding
process of discovery which for me continues to this day. I have learned
that the wood which is chosen carries more than just its physical
traits but more than that the wood carries deeper meaning. Take white
oak for example, sacred to the druids and the Greeks, the oak is a tree
of strength, protection and durability. It represents inner fire,
courage and nobility of spirit. The birch symbolizes birth and new
beginnings. TheBirch is feminine in nature and is used for protection,
purification.
Visit me at web site At:
http://www.craftsman.etsy.com
Your one of akind wooden ring will give you the warmth of knowing that
the true value of a fine piece of handcrafted jewelry is knowing how
much meaning it
has.
(Click on
image for a larger
view)
