Category Archives: Make a Joint Stool from a Tree

‘One of the best ‘how-to-do-it-books’ of the last and present century.’

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

For those of us with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge about traditional American tools and furniture, there is one name that makes us all tip our hats: Charles F. Hummel of Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. Hummel’s impressive career as … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 11 Comments

Stumpy the Art Stump Project – in a Weekend

Posted on December 21, 2012 by

With only days before the Christmas holiday, I stumbled (literally) on a project idea in the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago. Step 1: Find a stump as big as your bottom. Step 2: Cut it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Books in the Works, Furniture of Necessity, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 21 Comments

3 New Reviews

Posted on November 24, 2012 by

Tim Talma reviewed “Make a Joint Stool from a Tree” by Jennie Alexander and Peter Follansbee in the latest issue of “Period Furniture,” the newsletter of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM). Talma seized upon the fact that … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree, The Anarchist's Tool Chest | 3 Comments

Other Kinds of Joint Stools

Posted on November 6, 2012 by

I’ve made lots of joint stools over the years. Right now, I have a few underway, (see above) and a joined “form” to go with them. A form is just a stretched-out joint stool, such as this one I shot … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 8 Comments

A Joint Stool, Ruhlmann Style

Posted on October 24, 2012 by

For your viewing pleasure: Steve Schafer sent along this photo of a joint stool that he built after asking himself the following question: “What would Ruhlmann do had he lived during the American Federal Period?” The stool is made from … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 13 Comments

If They’d Had a Biscuit Joiner…

Posted on September 13, 2012 by

… then they would have had joints that failed suddenly instead of slowly and gradually – like a mortise-and-tenon does. I know this after dropping an anvil on a lot of joints. If they’d had a router, they would have … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 121 Comments

Without a Scrap of Crap

Posted on September 7, 2012 by

People regularly ask what my favorite woodworking books are. It’s a tough question because I really love writings about dead trees that are printed on dead trees. Most of the books I like are ones that altered the way I … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree, Personal Favorites | 31 Comments

Joint Stools Built by Readers

Posted on August 18, 2012 by

“Make a Joint Stool from a Tree” has been out a while now, so once you’ve digested  your copy, go get at some oak and let us see what you came up with. Hopefully summer will let go soon, so the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 6 Comments

Peter Follansbee on Hatchets

Posted on July 23, 2012 by

Since the publication of “Make a Joint Stool from a Tree,” many readers have asked what sort of hatchet they should buy to get started hewing the legs for their joint stools. Peter Follansbee, one of the two authors of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 12 Comments

The New Lie-Nielsen Froe Designed by Drew Langsner

Posted on July 19, 2012 by

Joiners, green-woodworkers, chairmakers, et al: Your “where-can-I-get-a-good-froe” problems are solved. Some people like old tools, some like new tools. Some use both. For years, I have used old blacksmith-made froes. It requires some good luck to find old examples that … Continue reading →

Posted in Books in Print, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree | 20 Comments