I figured that making the upper book cases for our family room, wouldn’t be a big deal. After all they were simply three equally sized, open shelved cases. What could be hard about cutting them? Well I soon found out that when working with wood, sometimes “size does matter” Before your mind starts heading for [...]
For Artisans Benefits Sign Up Share Home Blog About Us Back To CustomMade.com 08.31.10 : CustomMade member Erik Wolken shares some insight about green woodworking More Thoughts on Sustainability by Erik Wolken When last I visited the issue of am I green enough I was reluctant at best to take on the moniker of a green maker , but considered myself at least on the right path . Now the subject has come up yet . again I was recently approached to join a website selling eco friendly art to the the design trade . So once again I must ask myself if I am worthy to join such a select group My first thought in responding to the request was to chant my mantra , I am not your typical green maker who uses groovy bamboo recycled plastic and Forest Stewardship Council certified wood in their work . I
I needed to handle up a hot cutter, a tool used by blacksmiths to cut pieces while they are hot. This is an unusual shape in that it has a curved blade. The head can be reversed on the long handle and the tool is struck with a hammer to make the cut, in this [...]
For Artisans Benefits Sign Up Share Home Blog About Us Back To CustomMade.com 08.27.10 : CustomMade at IWF Atlanta 2010 If you are now or ever were into woodworking the chances are pretty good that you’ve heard of or even attended the International Woodworking Fair The IWF is the largest showcase of machinery , materials , supplies and services in the Western Hemisphere for these and related industries . 8221 Whether you work in remodeling furniture recreation or make anything from custom boats to custom musical instruments there is something at IWF for you . The show’s slogan is Bringing it all together” and with eight floors and two buildings worth of space to fit all of the woodworking industry’s names and faces , I’m sure they’re doing a good job fulfilling that slogan . This year ,
For the first time, the games leave Europe and come to the United States ~ The 2010 World Equestrian Games are coming to Lexington, Kentucky. In recognition of this momentous event, we are offering a special discount on our Custom Carved Grooming Totes. Mention this blog post and receive a 15% discount on our Heirloom [...]
I got some nice curly maple and decided to make up some more tool handles. I make square/octagonal tapered handles and all of my shop tool handles match, including a broom handle.
I used the pistol grip saw that I just made to rip the square into 4 sections. I added the clamp to help hold [...]
For Artisans Benefits Sign Up Share Home Blog About Us Back To CustomMade.com 08.24.10 : Custom made all the way down to the floor The following publication was coordinated by our friend Tanya and written by Irina Zhorov over at BarefootFloor BarefootFloor has their own blog featuring home ideas , remodeling advice , DIY tips , and more . Special thanks to Tanya and the rest of Barefootfloor for sharing with us today If you’ve ever wandered around the royal palaces of Versailles or those of St . Petersburg , chances are you craned your neck in every direction trying to take in the overwhelming amount of decor that gleamed and glittered and begged for attention with its meticulous detailing . Even looking at the floor elaborate custom floors with custom inlay work - one wonders how
Well I got to spend several hours in the shop on my days off and finished up a hand saw and this toothing plane. I fitted up the blade, then to my horror it stuck out 1/16″ more on one side than the other. I immediately checked the body of the plane and everything was [...]
Well I finally got it finished, had problems with punching the holes in the blade. The steel proved too difficult so after sharpening a twist drill bit, I used a gear drill to make the holes for the rivets. I upset some barbs on the edge of the tapered tang with a cold chisel. These [...]
Let me make one thing perfectly clear, I am not commenting on the quality of the steel used then and now. I am not saying that the old steel was better than the new steel, I have no idea and for this discussion, I really don’t care. That is not the point. For the quality [...]
A while ago, I found a really interesting looking piece of wood - it was cut from the outer aspect of a huge bubinga log. The tree was a monster, almost 400 years old, and for that reason, this piece - which contained bark and exposed sapwood - was able to be sawn flat.
I made one of these saws back in the 1970’s while working at Conner Prairie Pioneer Settlement. Sold it some years later and always wanted to make another, so I did. I had the blade, the end of an old saw that had been made into other things. The blade was kinked and broken, so [...]
The broken leg also had some damage and missing wood on the foot, so I made a couple of cuts to square off the damage and used the remaining part I cut off the top repair tenon to replace the missing wood. Because it was too difficult to clamp, I relied on the fact that [...]
Reader feedback continues for June's Miter Saw Stand. Are you building one?
I need to make one of these in order to trade for some materials that I don’t have. It is a toothing plane with the blade set vertically. I based it on the shape of my little English coffin smoother. I marked out the mouth and throat and transferred the marks to all sides with [...]