Author name: Enthusiast

  A frequently heard argument about Japanese planes is that they are harder to setup than Western planes. Recently, we filmed “How to Use Japanese Woodworking Tools” with Wilbur Pan, in Frank Klausz’s shop. So naturally, we had many conversations during the shoot, and one that came up was on just this topic. One of Frank’s favorite planes is a wood-bodied plane with a similar setup to a Japanese plane (tapping the […]

The post How to Setup a Handplane: It’s Easier to Learn How to Use a Western Handplane appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I’m a huge fan of installing a grippy liner on your bench vise. Wood faces grip your work OK. Add the right liner and the grip will become fantastic. Here are some details on choosing and installing a liner. What’s a Good Liner? Most people prefer leather, cork, felt or a rubber such as Crubber. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Peel-and-stick cork is fast to install but isn’t very durable. […]

The post Install a Grippy Liner on Your Bench Vise appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Some of you will file this under “Bleeding Obvious,” but few people ever discuss their “junk drawers” in their shops. I call mine: The Hardware Drawer of Last Resort. It has saved my butt a thousand times. Actually, it’s not one drawer. It’s five. The one shown in the photo above is the “random fasteners” drawer. Every time I install some hinges and have extra screws left over that don’t […]

The post The Hardware Drawer of Last Resort appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

The November issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine entered the mail stream yesterday to both print and digital subscribers – and it’s now available for single-issue purchase in both print and digital formats. Though I urge you to subscribe – it saves you money…and a healthy subscription base means less anxiety for me (said in my best Sally Struthers voice). Or share the love – consider a gift subscription for that neighbor who keeps […]

The post Popular Woodworking Magazine Nov. 2017 – Now Available appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

This afternoon I will broadcast “The Art of Spoon Carving” live on our Facebook page. I’ll start the show at noon EST. The show will play for one hour and I will offer a coupon code to purchase the video download or DVD at a reduced price in the comment section. If you haven’t seen the last two episodes of Live at Lunch on our Facebook page, this is a chance […]

The post Live at Lunch: The Art of Spoon Carving appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

If you follow my blog, you know that I have an affinity for striking tools. Check my entries on hammers, turned mallets and carved mallets (from branches) if you haven’t had a chance to read them before. A few years ago I purchased a set of brass head mallets from Lee Valley that I use occasionally. I liked them, so last year I ordered two more brass mallets for our […]

The post Two Brands of Brass Mallets appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.