My blog at Popular Woodworking- Make a Marking Gauge for CurvesIf you work with curves, you need a marking gauge that can deal with curves. Me, I make chairs. So I need a gauge that can follow the curve of a seat so I can delineate the lines for the scooped-out saddle, the spindles and the “gutter” – a shallow and decorative channel on traditional chairs. I also need a gauge such as this for marking out the armbow and [ […]
- The Tools in the Bottom of my Tool ChestThe tools at the bottom of my chest are the heavy and expensive stuff – the planes and saws that get constantly used. At the back of the chest are my moulding planes. And the front wall of my chest has a tool rack that contains the stuff I need to grab without even looking at it. Let’s start with that rack. The Tool Rack From left to right: My […] The post T […]
- A Dovetailing Kit for BeginnersLast week I discussed the Zona Razor Saw and how it’s the ideal saw for beginning dovetailers. It’s just $12 to $15 and cuts extremely well. This saw got me thinking about what other inexpensive tools could fill out the kit for the beginner (or someone who is short on money). So here’s my best shot at this list. I’ve also included (at times) what I think is […]
- The Tools in the Third Till of my Tool ChestThe bottomost till in my chest carries the heavy stuff that isn’t on the floor of the chest, and stuff that doesn’t fit in the top two tills and has migrated downward. Three of my essential planes are here, as are some of my most important measuring equipment. When you keep most of your tools in one chest, little is non-essential material. Let’s begin on the […]
- Make a Marking Gauge for Curves
Author Archives: Kara Uhl
A Review of Mary May’s Book from SAPFM
In the Spring 2018 issue of Pins & Tales (the Society of American Period Furniture Makers‘ e-magazine), Martin O’Brien, a professional furniture maker, stone carver and well-known conservator, reviewed Mary May‘s “Carving the Acanthus Leaf.” “As an instructional text, it … Continue reading
The Living Wood
“Poets and painters have found in trees material for their art. If Gainsborough had been less successful as a portrait painter he would have given us some wonderful trees. As it is, in his few landscapes he has shown trees … Continue reading
Posted in Honest Labour, Uncategorized
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A Lesson in Sharpening
Editor’s Note: Richard Jones, the author of an upcoming book on timber technology, takes us back to the 1970s when he learned a valuable lesson in sharpening while in training. A perennial subject in woodworking magazines and forums is that … Continue reading
Posted in Timber Book by Richard Jones, Uncategorized
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My Convoluted Route To Lost Art Press
Editor’s Note: As Richard states below, his tome on timber technology is, indeed, nearing the finish line. For some people it appears it’s easy to release a book. Publishers occasionally give the impression of falling over themselves to offer improbably … Continue reading
Posted in Timber Book by Richard Jones, Uncategorized
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The Highlights and Lowlights of Writing About Trees and Wood
Editor’s Note: Richard Jones’s book on timber technology is designed, and Chris, Richard and I are working on final edits. The book will be available early this year. — Kara Gebhart Uhl In almost every project one can find good … Continue reading
Posted in Timber Book by Richard Jones, Uncategorized
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New Year’s Eve
“There is always something solemn about the passing of the Old Year. When we were young and the years were very, very long, each New Year’s Eve was an event, the more enthralling for its rarity, and the year ahead … Continue reading
Posted in Honest Labour, Uncategorized
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Mary May Now Offering Video Lessons and Resin Study Casts
Can there ever be too many ways of learning to carve acanthus leaves? My new book, “Carving the Acanthus Leaf,” has full and complete step-by-step instructions on how to carve a variety of different historical acanthus leaves using hundreds of … Continue reading
