If you have a question about woodworking or our products, this is the place to get it answered – today.
Here’s how. Post your question in the comments section below. If possible, I’ll answer it. Simple.
But (and as Pee Wee Herman says, Everybody’s got a big butt)….
I reserve the right to ignore questions that are troll bait. Also, if you post a comment and it does not immediately appear, it has been flagged for moderation. First-time commenters are always kicked to moderation. Also, posting a lot of links, using hateful language or a lengthy message causes the software to flag it for moderation.
Your comment will appear after I approve it.
In other words, there is no need to keep posting a comment over and over.
“Sharpen These!” didn’t have as much of a ring to it.
I have been negligent in posting updates to the “Sharpen This (the Video)” series. Apologies. I am back on the wagon. (Or is it “off the wagon?” Anyway, more videos to come.)
The new Chapter 14 shows how I sharpen the wacky cutters for the Lie-Nielsen Nos. 48 and 49 tongue-and-groove planes. And how to set up the Stanley versions of this plane for best results. I also show the plane in use and give some tips for how to make better joints with it.
And, because I have been so remiss, I also do a short video on how I sharpen pocket knives and bench knives. (Knife-makers, please look away.)
Plus, Bean comes for a visit!
If you bought the video series, you should have received an email that gives you links to the new content. If you buy the video now, you will have immediate access to all the videos in the series.
As I write this, there is still room in Will Myers’ June 26-30 Build a Moravian Workbench class at the Pine Croft School of Woodworking – and that surprises the heck out of me. We get asked all the time if we’ll teach a workbench class, and the answer is a firm no. We don’t have the room or equipment for such shenanigans here – Pine Croft does (plus Will is a lot younger and stronger than we are, and funnier!). So if you want to build a solid bench – one that breaks down for travel – and have a good time doing it, sign up now!
And tomorrow at 10 a.m. (Saturday, Apr. 15) new sessions go on sale, including my October 14-15 Dovetailed Shaker Tray class…but I’d take the Oct. 7-8 class from the guy who first taught me dovetails: Kelly Mehler. He’s teaching a Dovetailed Candle Box – the very class I took with him two decades ago!
The candle box I made with Kelly’s instruction lo these many years ago. My dovetails look better now, but this box lives on my dresser to remind me every day that even gappy dovetails with chipped-off corners will stay together just fine. (And that practice really does lead to improvement.)
p.s. For those who don’t already know, Berea College bought Kelly Mehler’s School of Woodworking, so the classes are in that purpose-built shop, which is nestled into the foothills of the Appalachians, just south of Lexington, Ky., and close to Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill. In other words, it’s in a gorgeous location, and there’s plenty to do and see in the area, in addition to the classes.
Pantry Fields. The original house at right. The banana boxes at left. Photo courtesy of Anne and David Sears.
When Welsh chairmaker John Brown put down roots in Pembrokeshire, Wales, he and his wife, Anne, lived in two railway cars – Fyffes Banana wagons – that had transported fruit around the U.K. up until the 1950s.
The railway cars were used as living spaces for many years, until the 1990s when they fell into disrepair. But now Anne and David Sears have fixed them up and turned them into a lovely place to stay on their grounds that is near Newport, a nice seaside town, and Carningli mountain, Tycanol woods and Bluestone Brewery.
I’ve spent a few days at Pantry Fields while working with Chris Williams on his book “Good Work,” and can attest that the plot of land is gorgeous. A serene and green spot of great beauty.
It also is an important landmark for those who appreciate Welsh stick chairs. John Brown wrote his book “Welsh Stick Chairs” there and built his chairs inside an addition to the original house. (Which is now Anne’s studio.)
The grounds also include David’s workshop (he is JB’s nephew), where he makes furniture, bread, beer and other good things. They also have a showroom of the articles they produce at Pantry Fields, including Anne’s pottery, David’s furniture and the illustrations of Sally Seymour (Anne’s mother).
More photos of the accommodations are available at the Pantry Fields web site. Photo courtesy of Anne and David Sears.
The price is very reasonable for the space in the railway cars. Details are here.
Even if you have no interest in stick chairs, Pantry Fields is a lovely place to visit. And if you want to plan the ultimate trip to Wales, with stops at St Fagans National Museum of History and Tim Bowen Antiques, then staying at Pantry Fields is a must and a privilege.
As always, I have no affiliation. I just love the people and the place.
— Christopher Schwarz
John Brown in his workshop at Pantry Fields. It looks much different now. Photo courtesy of the family.
We have a new video available for sale today: “Build Your Tool Chest Interior.” In this video, I show you how I make and install the interior structures of a full-size English tool chest (in this case, an “Anarchist’s Tool Chest“) with three sliding tills and their runners, a combination hanging tool rack/backsaw rack, a floor till for full-size hand saws, and a moulding plane till.
Customers – both domestic and international – can purchase it here.
I’ve built dozens of these chests for customers, and have in some ways have refined the techniques for making the tills, tool rack and saw till, so they’re somewhat different than what is covered in the book, “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” (the beginning of the book – “Disobey me” – gave me license…and I think my approach makes the interior just a little easier to build and fit into the chest). Plus, with the exception of the thin till runners, everything is easily reversible (in case you need to seriously rearrange your tools, or the chest gets drafted for holding blankets).
You’ll also learn how to install the hardware: ring pulls for the tills, chest handles, hinges and a “crab lock.” You’ll also see how I installs casters (very carefully!), and a few options for keeping the lid open. Oh – and to finish (or not), and why (or why not).
The video ($24) is nearly two hours long and can be streamed (after logging into your Lost Art Press account), or you can download the video and put it on any device. The video is sans DRM (digital rights management), so the files can easily be moved to any of your devices (now and in the future).
You’ll also get a PDF with construction notes, and sources for the hardware, tools and finishes I show and discuss.