Woodworking Posts

3D Design and 3D Carving using Digital Tools I’ve been writing about Digital Woodworking and CNCs for a while now and when it comes to techniques, for the most part, I’ve kept the topics focused on introducing basic processes and concepts that are useful to woodworkers who are new this world. There’s a lot more digital woodworking basics still to be covered, but that can wait. It’s summer and time […]

The post From Design to CAD to CAM to CNC: Part One appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Sometimes a workbench isn’t about planing a board. That’s when a power tool-friendly bench can be your friend. For woodworker’s that have a garage shop, space is a premium, and that’s when storing tools, and having a place to use tools are paramount. With this clever bench you can store and then have a place to use shorter (router table, table saw, jointer) power tools and taller (spindle sander, benchtop […]

The post Power Tool-Friendly Workbench appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I posted on my Instagram yesterday (and above here) a duck my grandfather, Emmett, carved shortly before he died. He trained as a cabinetmaker in high school (at Manual in Louisville), and worked briefly as a woodworker for the L&N Railroad (I have his railroad hatchet) before World War II intervened. He joined the Army Air Corps and served in Europe. After the war, he became a jewelry salesman (I’m sure […]

The post An Apron for Woodcarving (Or, How to Not Annoy the Person Who Cleans Your House) appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I wrote the post below in…I’m not sure – 2010 maybe? I was reminded of it last weekend when Kathy, a second cousin (I think I’ve got the relation right), asked if I still had the plans for the stools my grandfather used to make for all the kids in the family. I think it’s her husband who wants to make one for their grandchild.  I made the stool as shown […]

The post Wilde Got it Wrong (Plus Plans for a Child’s Step Stool) appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

In the next few months, I’ve got a lot of furniture to make, as Josselyn (my partner) and I just moved to Cincinnati from Maine. Last week, I built a new coffee table for our place. This week I’m building us a new kitchen table, in between getting settled in my new job here and figuring out where to buy lumber (and food, clothing, etc.). Later this week I’ll post […]

The post Big Ol’ Sliding Dovetails appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Last month I taught two short classes in Germany – a rare exception to my vow to avoid teaching and instead focus on new furniture designs. The reason I taught those two classes is quite personal, so I won’t discuss it here. But during the classes I was struck by an odd question I’ve struggled with for 30 years: Is it a good idea for students to personally like their […]

The post Like Your Woodworking Teacher? Maybe You Shouldn’t appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.