Author name: Enthusiast

When I wrote about the 50 or so essential hand tools you need to make furniture in “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest,” I neglected to include my cork sanding block in that list. I think the reason I forgot was that the block is as essential as my marking knife. I know the tendency today is to eschew abrasives and finish projects straight from the tools, but that’s a pretty new […]

The post In Praise of the Cork Sanding Block appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

As some readers will know, I’m working on a book about English Arts and Crafts furniture for the books division of Popular Woodworking. As the deadline gallops toward me, alternately provoking bouts of insomnia and hyperventilation, my work schedule has finally allowed me to start on the book’s final project, a hayrake table designed by Ernest Gimson in 1908. It’s a simple design with the usual parts: four legs, a stretcher […]

The post How I Made a Notched & Tenoned Joint for the First Time appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

We are running a 30% sale on a huge portion of our store this weekend through the 6th of July! This is a great chance to stock up on popular titles from Popular Woodworking. This sale excludes products in our store from third parties, The Art & Craft of Cabinet Making and other non-discountable items. With that said, there are many titles that the FREE30M coupon code will work with. SHOP NOW […]

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This week’s book giveaway celebrates the release of a new book on building tiny houses and backyard buildings (from sheds to studios to recreational retreats). “Building Small” is written by David & Jeanie Stiles, who have authored numerous bestselling books on building sheds, cabins, workshops and other small structures. The book is a bit of an outlier for our category, but it’s filled with great fundamental building instructions that cover everything […]

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I love routers and this elliptical router jig makes me love them even more. I’ve made countless circles with router jigs over the years, but this simple jig for creating a multitude of oval shapes is slick. Ovals are tough because it’s a mathematical equation to get the shape correct. While I love routers, I’m not so fond of math. By creating an elliptical jig you take the math out […]

The post Elliptical Router Jig for Any Size Oval appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I’ve been trying for weeks to write this editorial; it is difficult to do because my idealist view competes with reality. I have long been ambivalent about woodworking shops and classes specifically for women, because I don’t want them to be necessary. But they are. Also, I don’t want to seem as if I’m trying to be the voice of all woodworkers who happen to be women. No doubt our […]

The post ‘Woodworker’ & ‘Woman’ are Separate Nouns appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.