My blog at Popular Woodworking- 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 […]
- The Best Dovetail Saw for BeginnersI get asked all the time about which dovetail saw is best for a beginner. It’s a difficult question because saws now come in a crazy variety of prices and configurations, from Japanese dozukis to premium handmade Western saws to well-manufactured mid-range saws. So I usually duck the question and suggest the person try out the saws in our shop and decide for […]
- The Tools in the Bottom of my Tool Chest
Category Archives: From Truths to Tools
The Graphic Rule
This excerpt from our latest book, “From Truths to Tools,” speaks to a rather esoteric, but highly useful, rule for use with scaled drawings: Here’s a typical, traditionally drawn small boat plan: To find the dimension of any particular part … Continue reading
Posted in From Truths to Tools, Uncategorized
8 Comments
The Hidden Hexagon
You may remember this page from the introduction to “From Truths to Tools“: We’ve had a few folks ask about the “hidden hexagon” mentioned in the text, and we think it’s time to share the answer with everyone. This also … Continue reading
Posted in From Truths to Tools, Uncategorized
38 Comments
Spiling Batten
This is an excerpt from “From Truths to Tools” by George Walker and Jim Tolpin; Illustrated by Andrea Love. Just out of curiosity, let’s see what happens when we draw a circle, then switch the dividers’ legs around. Being sure … Continue reading
Posted in From Truths to Tools
8 Comments
Geometry in Time for the Holidays
In the spirit of the holidays, let’s perform some simple, ancient geometry to create the iconic symbols of the two religions celebrating major holidays this month. You’ll need only a compass, a straightedge, a piece of paper and a couple … Continue reading
Posted in From Truths to Tools, Uncategorized
8 Comments
Carvers & Compassers: Save This Date
I am pleased to announce that Mary May and George Walker will be at the Lost Art Press storefront on Dec. 9 to celebrate the release of their new books. Mary, the author of “Carving the Acanthus Leaf,” and George, … Continue reading
‘Carving the Acanthus’ Will Ship Early
We just received word from our printer that “Carving the Acanthus Leaf” by Mary May shipped to our warehouse yesterday, two weeks ahead of schedule. That means our warehouse will receive the books next week and we should be able … Continue reading
Solving Spans with Sticks, Strings, Sightlines & Stones
In this excerpt from our book, “From Truths to Tools,” we show how the carpenter/geometers of antiquity used the simplest of tools – those mentioned with almost annoying alliteration in the title – to solve for an unknown distance. … Continue reading
Posted in From Truths to Tools, Uncategorized
4 Comments
