Taming Some Quarter Sawn Sycamore
When I first started making the boxes for a show I ordered a couple of board feet of Quarter Sawn Sycamore. Based on the pictures from Woodworker's Source I've linked to here. Well, the pieces...
View ArticleTails Around the Corner, A New Box Series
Tails Around the Corner I've had this idea playing around in my head for quite some time now so decided it was time to act on it. Since I'm one of a biz zillion folks on Etsy that makes custom...
View ArticleWhen It Rains It Pours: Etsy Order, Class, & A Plane Seminar
Well, you've all heard that expression and this week that proved to be true for me. I've been talking with Christian and Jerry at Woodworker's Emporium here in Las Vegas. They are starting a new...
View ArticleWoodworking Plane Seminar at Woodworkers Emporium, Las Vegas
Beginning of the Seminar This weekend, Woodworker's Emporium here in Las Vegas had their first of what is being called First Saturday seminar at their location on Arville. I was lucky enough to...
View ArticleUpDate on Latest Etsy Custom Order and Mystery of the Planer
First of all, what the heck happened to our spring like weather? Over the weekend I washed and put away what I call my "winter over-alls", the heavy stone-washed Carharts with the double knees and...
View ArticleAm I a Hybrid Woodworker?
You don't have to read too many woodworker's blogs or have discussions with other woodworkers to see that there is more than one school of thought when it comes to woodworking styles. Having been...
View ArticleEnjoying the Process vs. Power Tools --- Worth It?
Hand Crafted Lid Pull of Leopardwood The inspiration for the custom box I'm making for a client in Toronto came from a box on my Etsy store that had a pull made from a knot that came from the Pine...
View ArticleIt's All About the Wood
I spent a couple of hours this morning preparing stock to make more boxes for the Etsy Store. This is that "grunt work" portion requiring mostly power tools. It starts off by hand as I plane one...
View ArticleThe Finish --- Last Thing Applied but First Thing Noticed
Final Coat Comparison As a teacher I'd always stress to my students the importance of taking their time on the finishing process of whatever project they were working on. My standard reply to...
View ArticleWhere's the Rest of Your Mallet?
Half a Mallet You may have seen my Facebook entry where I purchased a new mallet made of flame Birch but until I get it there's still work to be done! Not only am I working on the second series of...
View ArticleFOUND -- The rest of my Mallet!
Easier With a Handle If you read my last blog you know my mallet that I've had for 40+ years finally decided it had done its last joint and broke at the handle. I considered taking the Dutch way...
View ArticleGetting Ready for the Hand Tool Class
As of today there are 7 students enrolled in the Hand Tool Woodworking class that starts this Thursday at Wooditis here in Las Vegas. I've spent much of the morning preparing the stock for the...
View ArticleWhat -- Making Candy in the Shop?
Candy Thermometer but no Candy First of all the exciting news is that my entry of the Sapele Hall Table was excepted into the Design in Wood competition sponsored by the San Diego Fine Woodworkers...
View ArticleFirst Class Meeting 5-9-2013
After all of these years teaching there's still a bit of apprehension whenever I start a new class or meet a student for the first time. I've told myself that's a good thing; having had...
View ArticleSummer is Here -- 99.3 Degrees in the Shop @ 5:00pm
Oh boy, I think it's pretty early in the year for hitting 100 degrees in the shop but Mother Nature probably doesn't care what I think. Now comes that crucial time where any glue ups will need to...
View ArticleWhat's a Bench Hook? 2nd. Meeting of the Hand Tool Class
You may recall that the first project for the class currently held at Wooditis Studio and School is a bench hook, a project I refer to as Project Over-Kill. Why you may ask, well I've taken this...
View ArticleIt's Been a While!
Since Diane and I are planning to try a craft fair I need to focus more on building inventory. Doing the boxes is different from building furniture on a custom basis because you really have no...
View ArticleNew Box Series -- Lidded Finger Joint
As I was wrapping up the Slanted Dovetail series of boxes I was also beginning work on another run of the Lidded Finger Joint series. I'm not kidding, I need to get to an easier, less time...
View ArticleLidded Finger Jointed Box Assembled
One of the things that sets these boxes apart is the brass pins in the fingers. These are quite time consuming but I think, they're worth it. The process begins with pre-drilling the fingers on...
View ArticleThe Question is not ……..
…….. what's it worth? Rather it's this: what is the public willing to pay during these economic times?First Coat of Watco This morning I did the final sanding and applied the first coat of...
View ArticleAlmost a Production Shop (Yikes!!)
Let's start with the end product of the production work and go from there:Di's Rag Dolls, My Display I may have mentioned that Diane and I are gearing up for a Craft Fair that's held here in...
View ArticleHow to Make a Torsion Box Shelf --- Not Unplugged!
In my last blog I talked about the drudgery of doing work on a production basis. For the life of me I could never understand why the junior high school shop curriculum suggested we incorporate a...
View ArticleCraft Fair Display Shelves
In my last blog I gave a tutorial on how to make the torsion box shelves we'll be using in our display for the craft fair we're hoping to be juried in to this fall. One of our main concerns is...
View ArticleI'm Moving !!
Well, I'm not moving physically but my blog is:http://woodworksbyjohn.com Please keep following me on Wordpress, my new blog address is:http://woodworksbyjohn.com This is post number 408 that...
View ArticleLike to have YOU follow my NEW BLOG
I've checked out my stats on the new Wordpress platform I'm now using for my blog and website. When I compare the number of followers I had on this site to the number on the new one I'm feeling...
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