Wood Grain Matters
A well-designed piece of furniture has proper function, form, and beauty. Each of these three points can be a book in itself but I want to focus on the topic of beauty. Beauty consists of the right size, look, color, and even the correct wood choice. And when choosing the wood choice to make up […]
New Tool for an Old Technique
The other day a packaged arrived at my shop. Inside was a new tool that could prove to be a game-changer in woodworking. Now any reasonable woodworker would be thrilled to get a new tool to use in their shop. But in this case, I am almost dreading this one. Before I explain what’s in […]
Getting Better
In my town, “getting better” is the topic everyone is talking about lately. COVID 19 patients are recovering. Stores are slowly opening. And grocery stores are replenishing their shelves. People are slowly seeing signs of improvement. But that is not the topic I’m referring to today. I’m talking about getting better at woodworking. People always […]
Keeping with Tradition
I don’t like change. I typically have a method or system that I like to stick with it. However, with that being said, I do like to learn to read and educate myself. So why then is it so hard for me to change my traditional ways when I learn something new is actually better? […]
Selling your Furniture- A Small step that equals BIG results
For the last 22 years, I make a living as a furniture maker and I’m going to share with you a tip that really helps me sell my furniture to a potential new customer. Now let me start off by saying that this is not an online technique or strategy. It’s also not for selling […]
New Life to a Tired Finish
By David Shepherd Most all of us that has made the trip to the local hardware store to get the supplies we think we need to try and breathe some new life into that tired piece of furniture, or the kitchen cabinets. In most cases, it is always a dreaded job. All the sanding, stripping, […]
Leaving Your Mark
As woodworkers it’s often said, it’s important to leave our mark on what we create. Scott Phillips of the American Woodshop is a big advocate of telling people to sign their work. It makes sense. We are creating a thing that will last a lifetime, if not multiple lifetimes. So we should be signing our […]
Setting Goals in Woodworking
New year resolutions. It’s stated that 89% of people who set a new year resolution fail in keeping it. In fact, most people fail within the first 12 days. It’s probably why most folks tell me, they don’t even bother to make goals. I too, in the past, have fallen victim to setting goals and […]
Being in the Woodworking Spotlight!
I think it’s fair to say we all like a little bit of attention. We post pictures on Facebook or Instagram and we enjoy getting “likes” or “thumbs up.” It makes us feel good. It makes us feel as if we are noticed by others and they pay attention to us. But can it cross […]
Simply BEST
As a fulltime woodworker I am constantly on the lookout for tools. Not necessary new one, but old tools. I feel a bond to the craftsman before me that held the tool in his/her hands. Knowing that the sweat of the worker is trapped in the pores of the wood. And now my DNA is […]
Woodworking Lessons in Music
When I walk into my shop and flip the lights on, it’s an enjoyable moment. For the next several hours I know I’m going to be able to create something and express myself through my hands. The wood has a way of speaking to me and tells me what it wants to be formed into. […]
How Many is Too Much?
This is a loaded question. Ask someone how much money is enough money, and they will probably say, “one million.” But ask a millionaire that and they will probably say “two million.” But as you know I am a woodworker, and that is not the topic in this article. So surely I must be referring […]