Woodworking Posts

About a month after I joined the Popular Woodworking staff (so three weeks after I learned to spell “rabbet”), I traveled to New Jersey with then Senior Editor David Thiel (he’s now in charge of our videos) for a woodworking show. I remember three things about that 2005 trip: I’ve never been so ill yet still ambulatory than I was that weekend; Harrelson Stanley taught me his side-sharpening method; and […]

The post Frank Klausz – The First Master I Met appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Here’s a little something that kicked off my crazy over the last year: Wanting a home that has space for a nice shop. For those of you who are new to this blog, I had my house on the market for six months in 2013, because though I do like the place (and have a put a lot of work and money into making it a nice home), when I […]

The post The 2014 Would-be Sybarite’s Gift Guide: Day 8 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Since taking my hobby woodworking more seriously I’ve tried a few different honing mediums, but I always seem to come back to the venerable India combination stone that’s used by all the joiners in our workshop. It’s always had a dash of oil when in use and think no more about it. However, most of my hobby projects are much smaller than the general joinery products I’m involved with and […]

The post Dry Honing appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Like last year, I am ending this gift guide with a tool that is a little expensive but will change your work to the core. (Last year is was an EasyWood Full-Size Rougher turning tool.) This year it is the best mortising gauge ever made: the Veritas Dual Marking Gauge. Anyone who has worked with me knows that I am crazy in love with the Tite-Mark marking gauge, which is […]

The post The 2014 Anarchist’s Gift Guide: Day 8 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

I’m spoiled. I’m in the enviable position of trying out new tools that come into Popular Woodworking. Sometimes I take them home for testing, if I’ve a project there where I’ll be better able to put a tool through its paces. (Ethics – as well as the need to take good pictures – dictate that I always return the tools right away.) Yesterday, I half took the day off. Yes, […]

The post The 2014 Would-be Sybarite’s Gift Guide: Day 7 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

You do not need a complete set of 11 chisels from the 1/8” up to the monster 2”-wide chisel. Sure, the part of you that also collects Hummel figurines really wants a complete set, but most of the chisel sizes will go unused – even if you are an active woodworker. Your work and your hands will eventually tell you which chisel sizes you really need at hand. That’s the […]

The post The 2014 Anarchist’s Gift Guide: Day 7 appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.