Author name: Enthusiast

Woodworking in America is just around the corner. It will be upon us in no time – that’s great news for you because now is the time to register (click here) and make travel arrangements, if necessary. For me, however, this means that I have got to get started on the outline for my classes, … Read more »

The post Woodworking in America: Classes I Plan to Attend appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

During the first three hours of my my class on building a trestle table, here are the statements I heard the students say the most. I cannot design. I can’t draw. I can’t come up with original ideas. I will just copy an existing design. Today is Tuesday. It’s only the second day of the … Read more »

The post Tomorrow, I Want to Hear that Snake Hiss appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

My second-floor shop is freakishly neat. The bench is mostly bare and the majority of my hand tools are stashed in my chest. The “overflow” hand tools (yes, I have maybe one or two) are in various boxes or hanging neatly on the wall. On the other side of the room, my computer desk has … Read more »

The post All for Want of a Proper Shop appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I’ve put my neck on the line with our newest offering – a soup-to-nuts reprint of “The Practical Woodworker” four-volume set edited by Bernard Jones (circa 1915). There was no question that the material was worth reprinting – because while no one book (or set of books) is truly comprehensive, this one comes pretty close … Read more »

The post ‘The Practical Woodworker,’ Now Back in Print appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Trying to teach design is like trying to push water uphill – or so I’m told. Despite the warnings and eyerolls from some fellow woodworking instructors, I’ve tried to build in a design component to the classes I am teaching this year. My design process is different. No heart chakras will be opened. No power … Read more »

The post Design: From Shaker to Snaker appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

When I teach woodworking, I talk a lot about monogamy. Not to your spouse (that’s your problem) but to your tools. I think it’s easier to learn to saw, sharpen and plane boards if you don’t jump around and use different handsaws, sharpening systems and bench planes. And when it comes to chisels, I’m super-monogamous … Read more »

The post The Theory of Chisel Monogamy appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.