Category Archives: Wood and Woodwork

Cedar Cigar Box

Posted on November 25, 2019 by

When I was a kid, a cigar box was something you made other things out of, not something you made.  But now I’ve gone and made a cigar box–by request.  Let’s hope this cigar box doesn’t meet the fate of … Continue reading →

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The Card Scraper Wallet

Posted on August 31, 2019 by

Many woodworkers agree that the secret weapon of smoothness is the card scraper.  But there are many different opinions on the best way to store a set of card scrapers.  (If you’re unfamiliar with this tool, it looks too simple … Continue reading →

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Flattening Your Oilstone Is Really Easy

Posted on August 23, 2019 by

While sharpening some blades this afternoon, I finally got sick enough of my dished oilstone to actually do something about it.  I’ve had this double-sided (soft/hard) Arkansas stone for probably 5-10 years and have never flattened it.  The soft side … Continue reading →

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Folding Outfeed Table for My Bandsaw

Posted on August 6, 2019 by

I don’t enjoy working with powered machines nearly as much as I enjoy working with hand tools, but I do rely a lot on my bandsaw for cutting down big pieces of wood into smaller pieces.  My main bandsaw is … Continue reading →

Posted in power tools, Tutorials, Wood and Woodwork | Tagged , , , , , , | 39 Comments

Want to Carve Spoons? Use a Template

Posted on July 31, 2019 by

On a spoon-carving forum I read, the question of templates comes up frequently.  A lot of spoon carvers say they “just wing it,” or as others put it, “just see what the wood wants to be.” Now, there’s no question … Continue reading →

Posted in Carving, handicraft, Musings, skills, Wood and Woodwork, Woodenware | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why Make Your Own Drawer Pulls?

Posted on July 25, 2019 by

I had finally assembled this dovetailed, built-in shoe cabinet for my kids shoes, and it was time to consider the hardware.  (This post is not about building the shoe cabinet, though I give a few construction details at the end. … Continue reading →

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One Last Bedstead

Posted on June 21, 2019 by

When my youngest child–my only son, R.–finally outgrew our old toddler bed (which I had originally built for his older sister, and which had then been passed down through the siblings to him, and which I eventually gave away to … Continue reading →

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A Beginning Woodworker’s Toolkit

Posted on June 14, 2019 by

If you want to begin doing woodworking with hand tools, it’s hard to know where to begin.  There are so many woodworking tools on the market.  A beginner’s tool kit need not be large, and you can do good work … Continue reading →

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How to Build Carpenter Bee Traps (That Look Nice)

Posted on May 30, 2019 by

Down here on the Gulf Coast, we have a lot of insect problems–mosquitoes, termites, fire ants, you name it.  Another common pest here is the carpenter bee, which is not at all aggressive, and a good pollinator to boot.  But carpenter … Continue reading →

Posted in Boxes, Build-Alongs, Gardening, Tutorials, Wood and Woodwork | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments