Woodworking Posts

Drawers from the William & Mary period (circa 1690-1730 in the Colonies) were often constructed in a manner that might seem odd to modern furniture makers. Rather than having the bottom ride in plowed grooves, they were often housed in rabbets cut into the front and sides of the drawers. The bottom would then be … Read more »

The post Cutting Drawers for a Period Chest appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

As my article on building the Southern Gent’s Mirror Stand – in the August 2013 Popular Woodworking Magazine (issue #205) – passed through design and begin routing (being passed from editor to editor for each to read and mark corrections), my terminology was called into question. “What are bump-cut tenons,” I was asked. As I … Read more »

The post Make Tenons Using a Bump-cut appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Most classes I teach end up being a “dovetail death march” (in a good way). There is a lot of traditional joinery, late nights, sore feet and little hope of finishing the project in five days. But this class on Roorkhee chairs at Kelly Mehler’s School of Woodworking promises to be different. If we don’t … Read more »

The post Roorkhee Chairs, Day 1 (Then What?) appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

As we pull up curbside I get out and follow a coworker inside, new sights and sounds adding to my nervousness. The hallway, filled with the acrid smell of sweat and cleaning fluid, feels a mile long. A new task master awaits. Youthful questions fill my head. Will this master be kind or harsh? Will … Read more »

The post First Day appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Woodworking fundamentals are what we all have in common – beginner, intermediate or advanced. We all use the basics. Some might say, in fact, that the only difference between expert and novice craftspeople is that the experts know and use their basic skills better than the novices. One of the best days I had in … Read more »

The post Woodworking Fundamentals – They’re for Everyone appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

At the HandWorks show in Amana, Iowa, last month, Veritas introduced publicly its newest innovation in workholding – a cam-lever hold-down that to me, looks like a duck. So until I’m told the official name of the tool, I’m calling it a Bench Duck. (I’ll likely call it that even after I know the official … Read more »

The post ‘Bench Duck’ – New Workholding from Veritas appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.