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Author Archives: literaryworkshop
Old Names on Old Tools
Most old tools are anonymous–unless you knew the previous owner personally, there’s no way to tell who owned them before you did. But there are happy exceptions. Two of my handplanes have a previous owner’s name on them. And while … Continue reading
Posted in History, Wood and Woodwork
Tagged #3, A Robertson, etch, handplane, jack plane, name stamp, plane, R Kendall, restortation, smoothing plane, Stanley 3C
3 Comments
A Long Wall Shelf for Books
Bibliophiles face an ongoing problem: where to store the books? In our house, we have run out of places to put more full-sized bookshelves, so we have had to get a little more creative by using more of our vertical … Continue reading
Posted in Wood and Woodwork
4 Comments
How to Restore a Wooden Cutting Board
Wooden cutting boards are wonderful. I wouldn’t be without them in my kitchen. But over time, their surfaces get chewed up–especially if you keep your kitchen knives sharp. A wooden cutting board can go years and years before its surface … Continue reading
Posted in Tutorials, Wood and Woodwork
Tagged cutting board, cutting boards, handplane, maple, resurface
1 Comment
Hotel Spoon Carving
I travel for work once or twice a year. This summer it’s a week-long stay in a hotel, and I have evenings pretty much to myself. In such situations, I never want to be without my spoon carving tools and … Continue reading
Posted in handicraft, Wood and Woodwork, Woodenware
Tagged hotel, hotel room, sloyd, sloyd knife, spoon making, spoons, travel, wood spoon, wooden spoon, wooden spoons
1 Comment
From an Old Drawer to New Spatulas
People ask me where I get my wood for the spoons and spatulas I make. The truth is, I find it. Most of the time I salvage limbs and logs from downed trees, but sometimes I find wood in more … Continue reading
Posted in Wood and Woodwork, Woodenware
3 Comments
The Folly of “Prepping”
What is the best way to preserve a seed? I first came across this question in a gardening book, and it’s a trick question. The answer, of course, is to plant it. I have thought about that question a lot … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Kids, Musings, Wood and Woodwork
Tagged children, culture, food, prepper, prepping, preservation, preserve, skill, skills
11 Comments
Hardware Storage: Drink More Tea
Today was Workbench-Organization-Day. It’s amazing how cluttered my workbench can get over a few months. It took me a couple hours to toss all those forgotten scraps into the firewood pile, organize the pieces of When-I-Get-around-to-It projects, and–of course–collect and putting … Continue reading
Posted in Boxes, Wood and Woodwork
Tagged box, hardware, hardware storage, storage, tea, tea tin, Twinings
3 Comments
This Isn’t Me Anymore
Like a lot of guys, I used to collect weapons. Well, “collect” is probably too strong a word, but I’ve had various blades hanging on the wall for a long time. But the time has come to take them down. … Continue reading
Fake, Fraud, or Genuine? Book Review
Before there was Antiques Roadshow and YouTube videos that helped antique owners and buyers authenticate real antiques and uncover fakes, there was Myrna Kaye. Thirty years ago, in 1987, she published a book called Fake, Fraud, or Genuine: Identifying Authentic American Antique … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews, Wood and Woodwork
Tagged antique furniture, antiques roadshow, fake, fake antique, fakes, fraud, Myrna Kaye, The Patriot, worm holes
3 Comments
Piano Repair: Fixing a Broken Hammer
When a hammer breaks on our little spinet piano, I try my hand at fixing it myself. It’s a complicated job, with a few surprises along the way. Continue reading
Posted in repair, Wood and Woodwork
Tagged drill press, piano, piano hammer, piano keys, piano repair
2 Comments
