Hand Tools Archive 2008
Ellis Walentine
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Well, folks, I've been to a lot of woodworking shows and conferences in my day and I must say this one is among the best. The tools, the makers, the celebrities, the setting, the intimacy (only 350 attendees were accepted), the positive energy, the enthusiasm, and the quality of information exchanged are all top shelf. I'll be posting a mug gallery of toolmakers tomorrow, but for now, enjoy some candid shots of the Popular Woodworking Woodworking in America Conference, Day One. Check back tomorrow for the next installment from the show.
. . . Ellis Walentine, Host |
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Panel discussion on modern tool tolerances, moderated by Chris Schwarz.
Don Weber practices his yodeling while turning a bois d'arc spinning wheel shank on his foot-powered spindle lathe.
Tom Lie-Nielsen shows off some of his latest creations, including three new fishtail gouges, a tongue-and-groove plane, a carbide burnisher, a drawbore pin, a chamfer plane and some corner chisels.
Ron Brese (right) of Thomaston, GA, displays three of his infill planes.
The Lee Valley booth had this tribute to Karl Holtey, the fabled Scottish plane maker who couldn't make it to the show.
Mike Dunbar demonstrated the use of drawknives and spokeshaves.
Roy Underhill and Frank Klausz put on quite a show. This contraption of Roy's is an antique device that routs the triangular recesses for brass inlays in try square handles.
Konrad Sauer brought an array of his infill planes. He's got a 16-month backlog at the moment. His wife and son are here for moral support, not to mention a weekend escape from the harsh Canadian climate. :-)
At the morning hands-on sharpening seminar in the college woodshop, Adam Cherubini helps a participant reform a plane iron bevel on a diamond plate. Attendees brought their own stones and tools to sharpen under the attentive eyes of the presenters: Adam, Ron Hock, Deneb Puchalski and Christopher Schwarz.
The Blum Tools booth featured ingenious (and sturdy) torsion box workbenches and some innovative hand planes featuring blades that are the equivalent of insert tooling.
Reproduction plane maker Jim Leamy showed a stunning array of his plough planes -- triumphs of ivory, precious metals and exotic woods.
The new Veritas dovetail saw was a real show-stopper with its injection-molded spine of stainless steel powder, carbon fiber and polymeric binder. The weight and heft make it feel and handle like a
Michel Auriou demonstrated how his rasps are made, one at a time, by hand using tetrahedronal punches and calibrated hammers, not to mention a keen eye and a steady hand.
This doughnut-shaped Auriou cutter is a circular rasp meant to be driven by a 5" angle grinder. Its smooth contours and aggressive rasp teeth make it ideal for carving large surfaces.
Kevin Drake (right) tries his pull plane technique with one of Harrelson Stanley's Japanese smoothing planes. Kevin managed some nice seven-foot shavings.
Frank Klausz appreciated the feel of the new Gramercy Tools dovetail saw, with its .018 saw plate and smooth, aggressive cutting action.
This group of troublemakers seem to have enjoyed the evening beer-and-wine reception.
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