Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Excerpts from our forums Sandford Levy asked: Hi, I am a handtool newbie who has recently been working up to hand cut dovetails, e.g., I have been practicing cutting to a line at an angle appropriate for a dovetail with my Lee Valley rip dozuki (hmm… why is it so much easier in oak than in pine?). I … Read more
A good toolbox is essential for any woodworker, but nothing compares to the exceptional Studley Tool Chest. This stunning piece, measuring 20×40 inches when closed and 40×40 inches when open, houses an astounding 300 tools. The chest is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, made from mahogany, rosewood, ebony, and mother-of-pearl. Beyond its impressive functionality, the Studley Tool … Read more
by Derek Cohen I doubt that anyone here has used – over time – enough different “new” chisels to comment which is best. Some, however, may comment about one they like or their own preference. I use spokeshaves a fair amount, and can comment on my favourites. Spokeshaves are either bevel down or bevel up … Read more
by Kevin Kelly I’ve put together a summary of answers provided to me and others who have asked about what tools to buy, and hope it will make it easier and less time-consuming for other newbies than searching the archives. However, give that a shot anyway; you’ll find much more information than I can provide … Read more
by Dominic Greco 1.0 Introdution It was not by accident I became adept at repairing tools that had been submerged or exposed to excessive amounts of water. In September of 1999, Hurricane Floyd roared into Bucks County Pennsylvania. Before it was over, trees were toppled, power lines were torn down, and many of the local creeks … Read more
Hi folks, Well, I sent our esteemed webmaster Peter a copy of the only video we ever published, 16 years ago, of one of my oldest friends, Bill McCarthy, in the steam-powered woodworking shop that he set up in one of his barns. An avid historian who ran “Restoration Millwork,” a cabinet shop and architectural … Read more
One topic that has been widely debated on the WoodCentral forums is the issue of hand tools vs. power tools. Most woodworkers—but not all—would rather prepare and dimension stock with power equipment, saving their manual labor and hand tool skills for the final stages of a project-the joinery, final surfacing, and detailing. I asked our … Read more
Every summer, the woodworking industry converges on either Atlanta or Las Vegas for the granddaddy of all trade shows, a 4-day binge of ald faces, new products, and non-stop horse-trading among manufacturers, distributors, and consumers of everything to do with woodworking. The show also provides an opportunity for consumers to interact directly with company executives … Read more
Tools are at the intersection of the woodworker and his or her materials. Because woodworking is a subtractive process, practically everything we do with wood involves cutting it or subtracting from it in some way. No wonder power and hand tools are such perennial hot topics on the WoodCentral messageboards. Over the years, I’ve noticed … Read more
The global reach of the Internet came home to WoodCentral recently when a visitor from the University of New South Wales in Australia dropped by our messageboards to conduct some research on the topic of tool sharing. Apparently, around the world, many communities pool their resources by maintaining “tool libraries.” Our guest was interested to … Read more
There’s one thing all woodworkers have in common-tools. We couldn’t ply our craft without them. But, where, why, and how we acquire those tools is another matter, and the Internet is having a big effect on these choices. I asked our visitors, “Where do you buy your tools, and why? And, what drives your tool-buying … Read more
In the last 25 years, woodworking has become one of the most popular activities in America, largely due to the proliferation of tools, gadgets and information available. But there is still plenty of room for improvement, as our WoodCentral visitors noted in their replies to my latest survey question… “What improvements and innovations would you … Read more
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