This Week in Wood Rotating Header Image

New Tools

Feb 18th, 2010
by glennth.
No comments yet

I suppose that a woodworker may never have enough tools so it’s never really news when a woodworker gets some new tool.  I feel like I’m approaching a place where I can get increasingly choosy about which tools I get and when.  I have a nice selection of saws, chisels, hand planes, measuring and marking tools.  As I move through my practicing of various hand tool techniques I do find a small tool here and there that would be useful in simplifying the task.  My observation in these tools, unlike my previous power tool life, I am finding that these tools are simpler and more basic.

Here is a shot of my new tools:

On the top left is a divider.  In practicing my dovetails, I am getting increasingly happy with my cuts and fits of the joint but have noticed that my rough guesses at where to make pins/tails and how wide to make them is looking non-uniform.  While I feel that hand cut parts should have some non-uniformity to them, I would like a closer sense of symmetry just from an artistic point of view.  In watching various dovetail experts, I noticed that Rob Cosman uses dividers to get symmetry in his joints so that was my motivation.

Far right is a new crosscut carcass saw.  All my shorter carcass/dovetail saws are rip so I needed a crosscut for things like tenons.

In the middle is a goose neck chisel for cleaning out the bottom of mortises.

Lastly on the left/bottom are some Veritas bench pups which give me another bench tool for keeping material in place while working that material.

If I head towards making guitars as I fantasized in a previous post, I expect that I will need a few additional tools but hopefully not many.  Everytime I make a tool purchase means that I don’t have the funds to purchase wood for actual projects.

Tagged: · · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Re-sawing by hand

Feb 16th, 2010
by glennth.
No comments yet

As I move more and more of my woodworking to using hand tools, I have to try and experiment with different elements and techniques of hand tool applications.   My latest attempt is re-sawing boards which is most commonly done with band saws.

I have an increasing collection of saws.  I have a bow saw that I bought a long time ago (when hand tools were really just a glimmer in my eye and I was still power tool bound) and thought that this would be a great tool to start re-sawing boards with.  I found this wasn’t the case.  I’m not sure that it’s due to an improper tool choice as it may be to incorrect technique.  I found that in using the bow saw, that the blade was hard to keep parallel to the face of the board.  It wanted to turn (probably with the grain of the board which was not entirely parallel to the face) and I couldn’t get a straight cut.

After that attempt, I moved to a western style hand saw.  Specifically a 26″ rip saw.  This worked much better and I was able to get a nice straight cut.

After the board was re-sawn, I planed it smooth and it looked pretty good.  Here are some shots:

I think this is a good sign as I keep moving forward with improving hand tool techniques.

Tagged: · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Guitar Making

Feb 1st, 2010
by glennth.
No comments yet

For the past few months, I’ve been fixated with videos on Guitar Making or luthier work.

The first set of videos came from The Wood Whisperer (though actually a viewer’s contribution).  It’s a 3 part series done by a viewer that is trying for the first time to build a guitar.

I think after searching the internet for videos on the subject of Guitar Making (and there are a lot), that my favorite set is from Steve Dickie.  You can find Steve’s Youtube Channel here.  The reason that his videos are my favorite is that his are more thorough and detailed giving a prospective guitar maker a good idea of what is ahead in the process.  That’s not to say that there are not good bits in other’s videos but Steve has so much more than any of the other videos that I’ve watched.  There is one downside and that is that we are missing the end.  It seems like there should be a part 9 which includes the Bridge and Strings and finally playing the guitar.  Even with this shortcoming, I highly encourage you to go through his extensive set of videos if this is a topic of interest.

It’s amazing how much confidence that these 2 video series inspire in a prospective guitar builder.

Tagged:
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Dovetail practice

Jan 31st, 2010
by glennth.
No comments yet

Just a quick post.  In addition to the mortise and tenons, I have continued on with my dovetail practice.  I hope I’m reaching a significant milestone because I cut one of my best dovetails yet.  It was tight (except for one small corner) in all places.  A joint like that would be one that I could be very proud of in a real project.

Tagged: · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Mortise and Tenon Practice

Jan 31st, 2010
by glennth.
No comments yet

I’ve been practicing Mortise and Tenon joints for the past couple of days.

I’ve found some things out about hand cut Mortise and Tenon joints.

  • Shallow mortise/tenons are easier to keep square
  • Conversely, deep mortise/tenons are much harder to keep square
  • Deep mortise/tenons can be tuned a bit to make square after they are cut
  • Keeping the mortise inside the marking lines is simpler than I thought (probably due to sharp chisels)
  • Using drill bits to plow out material sounds like a great idea but is much harder than I thought.  In order to accomplish this, you need to have a center line in addition to the other marking lines for the mortise.  Getting that center line exactly centered is quite a challenge.  That of course doesn’t say anything about how challenging it is to get the drill bit to start in the middle too.
  • Shoulders are super important to get a really crisp/tight fit.  It can be tuned a bit too.
  • Square in all directions is harder than it sounds


My first few were pretty bad.  As you can see from above though, I finally did pretty well.  My next one wasn’t so good though but I was able to tune it up and get a pretty satisfactory fit.  I’m going to keep practicing though and hopefully get a really consistent fit.  My next project (see earlier post) will have quite a lot of these joints so I need to get it tight.

Tagged: · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Mortise and Tenon

Jan 27th, 2010
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

I decided that I should mix some Mortise and Tenon practice amidst my dovetail practice.  The real reason, is that I have done machine cut mortise and tenon but not very well.  Since this was a different technique given that I’m cutting them by hand, I was hopeful that I could do much better.

I used my new sharpened mortise chisels along with my new hand brace.  I’ve read that some people do the mortise entirely by chisels and I’ve also read that some folks use brace and auger bits to get the bulk of material out.  My first attempt at using the brace was a fail.  I had a center line to center the bit on but my first attempt was off.  It’s not really possible to put it back on center once a hole is started.  My second attempt with the brace was better but still off.  I used an awl to mark the center line and was only barely outside of the center.  I suspect this second time was not keeping the brace level and plumb.

So after these two fails, I used just the chisel.  WOW, that was the way to go.  I was able to keep with in the lines and it didn’t take much effort to cut the mortise out.  Of course, I’m getting really good at sharpening so I can attest that the chisel was very sharp.  I followed the technique to ease up on the shoulder marks.  Using this, the walls of the mortise were nice and square.  I was very pleased.  I did learn that a goose neck chisel would be very useful.  I had a tough time cleaning out the bottom.  I know the bottom doesn’t have to be as nice as the walls but I still wanted the mortise to it’s finished depth.

On to the tenon.  I used the mortise to mark the tenon.  I did my rip and crosscut cuts.  I found though that I didn’t make one of my rip cuts deep enough and it caused me to go way to deep on a crosscut cut.  Even with this, I tried the mortise and found it was fat (whew!) so I was able to pear it down to fit nice and snug.  Though with the too deep of cut, the tenon broke off on the final fitting.

I will try and do this again and see if I can take some pictures for the next posting.

Tagged: · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Standing Laptop Desk

Jan 23rd, 2010
by glennth.
1 comment

As I said in my previous post, I think that my next project is a Standing Laptop Desk.  I decided to search Google Sketchup to see if there were any ideas that were close to what I had in mind.  I found one that is very close.

The basic dimensions for this project would be 40″ long legs with the legs being 2 1/2″ by 2 1/2″ thick.  The table top will be 18″ deep and 30″ wide.  Due to this table top size, I believe that I could have one drawer in the center.  Instead of the bottom shelf, I’d rather have cross members connecting the legs and an additional one in the center from side to side.  I think this would look nice out of the maple that would tie into the other furniture in the room.

As to the music stand, I think the same design without the drawer and having a desktop dimension of 18″ deep by 24″ wide.  Obviously, a tilting top needs to be on the music stand.

Tagged:
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Next Projects

Jan 22nd, 2010
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

I am thinking, as I work more and more at my workbench (see Updated Shop Tour for pictures), that I will have to build one myself.  I am figuring out that certain vices function differently and that I may need to apply different ones to my preferred bench.  This picture is close to what I see as most functional to me.

I think that the few things I would change would be the tail vice which I’d like to be a twin crank vice.  I’m also wrestling with the notion of having storage or not under the bench.  My current bench has storage but the center support is not an option.  That all being said, I’m not willing to work on a piece of shop furniture at this point so I’ll put that one off for a while.

I think that my next project will be a standing height small laptop desk for my music station.  I may make 2 and have one (or both) have desktops that can be slanted so that I can use one for a music stand.  In this type of project, I expect to use mortise and tenons.  I also want it to be made of solid wood.  I have some nice tables in the room my music station is that I think is made with maple so that may be my wood choice.  I may also see if I can come up with a design for a music book and sound equipment stand.  My biggest goal with all these pieces is to make them look like furniture rather than quickly put together shop pieces.  Tapered legs, mortise/tenon joints and other details would contribute a lot to this.

Tagged: ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

More dovetail practice – oak

Jan 17th, 2010
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I have taken a path to practice hand cut dovetails.  In the first round, I worked with poplar.

Now, I’m down the path of using oak.  My first attempt (back before Thanksgiving) was a disaster.  I had forgotten how easy it is to split oak and I did split the oak when I tried to force together joints that were too tight (by quite a bit).

Today, I took the lessons of my previous attempt and to it slow and didn’t use force on either cutting the dovetails or fitting the dovetails.  Getting the joints tight enough to not have gaps seems harder with oak but after a little patience, I succeeded in a decent first attempt.

I’m using a Lee Valley/Veritas dovetail saw.  I think my biggest issue is cutting a square/straight cut.  I am having to adjust them by parring them down and that does not give me the best fit.  I will keep working with the oak and hopefully, this practice will be able to be applied to other hard woods as well.

Any readers who have had more experience and success that have any advice, I would love to hear from you.

Tagged: · · · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Kids Project – Toolbox

Jan 17th, 2010
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

Xander (my oldest, 5th grade) is doing a research project on woodworking.  He decided that part of his research needed to be practical and so we have covered tool usage, technique, and safety.  In addition, he wanted to build a project.  Mitchell, of course didn’t want to be left out.

We decided on a simple traditional toolbox or caddie.  The kids saw pieces and sanded them.  They did some hand plane work and finished the boxes themselves.  I think they are pretty pleased with the results though I think they now expect to take some of my tools for their toolboxes.

Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Updated Shop Tour – Detailed

Jan 16th, 2010
by glennth.
1 comment

Since well before Christmas, I’ve been working on a background project.  Making my work areas more efficient.  In the couple of little projects that I’ve done since this Summer, I’ve realized that a few things needed to be moved to a better location.  Here is the results:

Main Workbench:

Rather than building a bench from scratch, I bought one.  Many of the inexpensive benches are very light so I’ve anchored it to the floor for stability during planing and such.  With the bench, I’ve made various bench hooks and such which have proven very useful.

Next a Dedicated Sharpening Bench:

This bench was my quick and dirty attempt at bench building.  Rather than get rid of it, I’ve turned it into my dedicated sharpening station with my Tormek, water stones, and granite stations.  I love having this set up all the time.  I’ve already been more inclined to sharpen blades when they start cutting funky.

Tool Cabinet:

I designed and built this tool cabinet with scraps from my shop.  It has turned out very well to house my chisels, measuring tools, and hand planes.  On the outside, I’ve got magnets holding my measuring tools.

On the inside are my chisels, hand planes, files, marking gauges, and mallets.

Hand Saws:

Next to the tool cabinet, I have my various hand saws.  This is a collection that is still being developed.  Based on reviews and trials, I’ve selected some of the basic saws I need.  I’m really focusing on Western saws though I have a few pull/japanese saws.

Next to the main saws, I have more saws along with my brace and hand drill.  This is also the port to the dust collection shed (see later in this post).

Sanding Station

I have a Rigid sanding station sitting on top of my Craftsman toolbox which holds hammers, screw drivers, wrenches, plyers, and such.

Router Table and Planer:

I have a cabinet (originally a flip top but I found that it didn’t work nearly as well as my fantasy) which houses my power planer and my router table (again I chose to go for a kit from Benchdog instead of designing and making one of my own).

Drill Press:

I have a Delta bench top drill press on a shop made cabinet.

Bandsaw:

Here is my Delta 14″ bandsaw.  I need to get a new blade and tune it up.

Festool:

Here is a shop made bench with a Festool work surface on top.  In the cabinet is my routers and bits and other non-Festool hand power tools.

Here are my Festool tools including a vacuum, circular saw, sander, jig saw, Domino.  I love my Festools (including the rail guides which I have in various sides).

The rest of the shop:

Notice that my dust collection is outside the shop.  Dust collection includes a floor sweep and 2 flex hoses on either side of the shop that can connect to the router table, bandsaw, planer, sander.

Basically, I’ve optimized my 12′x16′ shop space for hand tools and some limited power tool usage.

Tagged: · · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Another new tool – Brace and hand drill

Jan 11th, 2010
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

Yesterday, I made a post about getting a new tool (which arrived today).  I forgot that I had also ordered a Hand Drill (eggbeater drill) and Hand Brace.  As I move to using hand tools, this is a new set of tools that I’m excited to use and experiment with.  I have hand drills and a drill press that I expect to still use but I’ve seen Saint Roy, use braces and hand drills and been impressed at how quickly they do their job.

I expect that keeping the tool square and plumb to the work surface will be  a challenge until I develop some skills with the tool.  If there is any advice from anyone on usage, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Tagged: · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Expecting New Tool – Low Angle Jack

Jan 10th, 2010
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

Having your hobby live on a tight budget, you have to save and buy up.  This can take month and requires a great deal of patience.  Well, my patience is paying off.  I had saved up so that I could buy a few tools.  One that I’m very excited about is a Lee Valley/Veritas Low Angle Jack Plane.

I already have a Leigh-Nielsen Jack Plane.  I’ve got this one set up as a rough tool.   I wanted another plane about the size of a Jack for doing slightly finer work, much like a Jointer Plane but not as long.  Some boards are just too small for using the Jointer but smaller planes like Block Planes are too small for the board.

Another way would be to get a different blade but I also wanted the benefits of the low angle plane so I figured it would compliment my other hand planes.

Tagged: · · · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Not Woodworking – Electrical Soldering

Jan 6th, 2010
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

About 2 years ago, I went out and got a “real” soldering iron under the supposition that the crappy Radio Shack (or “Shack” as it is now known) was the cause of much of my bad soldering both electrical and plumbing.

Well, this was the first time that I had a need for electrical soldering (circuit board component).  You see, my car alarm remote (for Kathy’s car) wasn’t working and I thought it might be the battery.  Much to my surprise when I opened it up, the entire battery holster assembly just popped right out.  After a few false starts, I actually soldered it back on and it works.

I wonder how this might help plumbing soldering!

Tagged: ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post

Back to practicing dovetails

Nov 14th, 2009
by glennth.
Comments are off for this post

I’ve mentioned in the past that I am practicing hand cut dovetails (see Practice Update).  Our family had a run with the flew so it’s taken a few weeks to get back into a normal groove.  I haven’t been to the shop in almost 3 weeks – not good.  I’ve cut up some blanks.  This time I’m doing OAK instead of POPLAR.

Dovetail practice - oak 1

I’ve tried one attempt and it was a disaster.  I’m apparently using too much force/muscle (which I tend to do since I have some).  OAK is very hard but it seems a bit brittle compared to the poplar too.  I managed to split the blank I was working with.  This is due to force and maybe I need to sharpen my chisels (though I’m sure they are pretty sharp).  I’m going to do some sharpening and try a more gentle approach and see if I can get this done.  Wish me luck.

Tagged: · ·
Email This Post Email This Post
Print This Post Print This Post