Author name: Enthusiast

Yesterday was the first time in 20 years I wished for an electric sander. I’m finishing up a new table design and am just about to finish all the surfaces before assembly. The only problem is that this maple trashes every plane iron after about two strokes. I’ve seen this happen with exotics such as purpleheart that naturally have a lot of silica. And with a stick of Douglas fir […]

The post This Maple Eats Tools appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I thought it might be fun to share just a few of the projects that have been running through the GS Haydon & Son workshop this last week. Our bread and butter is architectural joinery, windows, doors, stairs, built-ins etc,, however, being located in a small rural market town does keep an interesting variation running through. The oak letters above are from a client whose family used to run a […]

The post A Week In Our Shop appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Just a reminder that the corporate Friends and Family Sale runs through 11:59 p.m. EST tonight. You get 40 percent off just about everything we produce by using code “FFSUMMER40″ at checkout. I recommended a few of my other favorites late last week; here’s another: “Arts & Crafts Furniture Projects, 2nd edition” – only $13 and change right now for 42 classic designs and step by step instruction. — Megan […]

The post Still Cheap appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Woodworking author and instructor Jeff Miller is a furniture designer, craftsman, teacher and author. His books include “The Foundations of Better Woodworking” and “Chairmaking and Design” among others. (Also, don’t miss Jeff’s new Design & Techniques for Building Curvy Furniture DVD). His furniture has been shown in galleries and shows nationwide and is included in the Decorative Arts Collection of the Chicago History Museum. This September Jeff will be teaching at Woodworking In America. His sessions will cover bent lamination […]

The post An Interview with Jeff Miller appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Just a reminder that the submission deadline for the 2015 PWM Excellence Awards is June 14 (voting will open for the Readers’ Choice winner from June 17-24). In short: There is no entry fee – the only thing you have to lose is a few minutes work by filling out a form. You can enter up to five projects across the five categories (Casework, Cabinets & Bookcases; Seating; Tables; Boxes […]

The post Enter Your Best – You Could Win $1,000 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Scene: Mid-project in a chest-build class. Stage focus, a single bench with a busy student. Commotion all around at other benches just outside the lighted center stage. (Instructor enters from shadow stage right, voice heard before being seen) Instructor: Be sure to focus on your line, sawing to the waste side, keeping your dominate eye, wrist, forearm, and shoulder in line with the saw. Use the whole saw blade, after all… […]

The post Don’t Play the Cards, Play the Person… appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.