Category Archives: Wood and Woodwork

Essential Tools (For Me), Part 4: Joinery Planes

Posted on June 30, 2021 by literaryworkshop

There are two kinds of “essential” tools: all-purpose tools that you use for all kinds of jobs, and specialized tools that you use for just one operation. Up to this point in this blog series, I’ve featured tools in the … Continue reading →

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Essential Tools (for Me), Part 3: Spoon-Making Tools

Posted on June 27, 2021 by literaryworkshop

Because spoon making has been such a big part of my woodworking, I think it’s appropriate that I write my 350th blog post about the tools I use to make spoons, spatulas, and other wooden utensils. These are by far … Continue reading →

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Essential Tools (to Me), Part 2: The Dovetail Saw

Posted on June 23, 2021 by literaryworkshop

I don’t have a favorite tool. I really don’t. My “favorite” tool is whichever well-made, ergonomic tool will do the job I need to get done at the moment. But if I had to pick one, favorite tool out of … Continue reading →

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Essential Tools (to Me), part 1: The Stair Saw

Posted on June 20, 2021 by literaryworkshop

A few years ago, I realized I had stopped acquiring tools. Well, more or less. There are always one or two additional tools on my wish-list, and I pick up a new tool (or replace an inadequate one) every so … Continue reading →

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How to Not Grow a Business

Posted on June 11, 2021 by literaryworkshop

Most successful businesses have a growth mentality. But I don’t want to grow anymore. I want my craft market enterprise to shrink gracefully. Continue reading →

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125 Utensils in Three Weeks

Posted on December 9, 2020 by literaryworkshop

It was already shaping up to be a busy market season when somebody messaged me wanting to know if I could make 125 little spoons and/or spreaders. A local company wanted to put together gift baskets with locally-made items, and … Continue reading →

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The Art of Sanding

Posted on October 24, 2020 by literaryworkshop

Sanding is so easy to do that it is very often done badly. But sanding well is a skill just like any other woodworking skill. Doing it well takes good tools, good technique, and practice. In the world of dedicated … Continue reading →

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What’s in a Name?

Posted on September 28, 2020 by literaryworkshop

Since middle school, most of us have hesitated to let other people give us names. Name-calling is a basic tool in the toolbox of bullies and leaders of cliques. And even though our parents mostly gave us nice, socially-acceptable names, … Continue reading →

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Hurricane Sally: A Woodworker’s Perspective

Posted on September 19, 2020 by literaryworkshop

To employ the worst of literary cliches: “It was a dark and stormy night.” It really was. On the evening of Tuesday, 15 September 2020, Hurricane Sally slowly moved into the Alabama Gulf Coast. For the last few days, our … Continue reading →

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A Note of Encouragement to Beginning Carvers

Posted on September 18, 2020 by literaryworkshop

If you’re doing any wood carving these days, you probably belong to one or more Facebook groups for carving. Or you follow some expert carvers on Instagram. Seeing beautiful woodwork every day can be inspiring at first. But eventually it … Continue reading →

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