Author name: Enthusiast

I’ve been woodworking for a little over thirty-five years (I was barely out of diapers…I swear!), and in all that time I’ve done just enough veneering to know that there is a lot more about veneering that I don’t know. It’s one of those specialty woodworking areas that has it’s own set of tools, expectations and base of knowledge. While I know how to rip and crosscut a board to size on […]

The post What I Don’t Know About Veneering appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I’ve been cutting a lot of large-scale sliding dovetails and rabbets lately. And when these housed joints get to a certain size (think of a dovetail socket that is 4” wide and 30” long) it’s much more efficient to saw out the walls by hand. When I need the rabbets or sliding dovetails to be bang-on, I clamp a batten to my work to guide the saw. I use a […]

The post A Tip for Handsawing Rabbets & Sliding Dovetails appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

As always I’m very grateful to anyone who makes the time to comment on my postings here, and I do my best to respond in a helpful manner. On the back of my last write up on the wooden try squares, Shawn was kind enough to ask a question about my workbench and in particular the vise – so I’ve put together a quick workbench review. There is a bit […]

The post Workbench Review: A Classic Joiner’s Bench appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

James Hamilton, also known as Stumpy Nubs to his throng of online fans, is an advocate for constantly finding new and innovative ways to streamline workflow in the shop. Whenever a problem arises or something seems like it should be easier he frantically eats a donut and then sets his mind to finding a solution (at least that sounds like the process from the conversations we’ve had with him while editing […]

The post 5 Tips for Your Homemade Workshop appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Re-setting a tang into a loose handle is a challenge I take often, but in the case of my newly acquired W. Butcher gouge, I wanted to do the job with extra reverence. I was so impressed by the quality of my new – but actually very old – gouge, that I was willing to spend the time and do careful restoration work. (Read more about setting tangs and about […]

The post Restore a Gouge Handle, Part 2 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Buying vintage tools through the mail can be frustrating – and expensive if the seller does not allow you to return the item. My favorite way to buy old tools is – hands down – in person and at a meeting of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association. If you need tools and cannot buy new ones, join this fantastic organization and attend a regional meeting. Problem solved. This point was […]

The post A Tale of Two Hand Drills appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.