Anyone ever order from KM Tools? I ordered a marking gauge on 12/21 and it looks like it hasn’t shipped yet. I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt with the holidays but there have been seven business days in between and they are not responding to my emails. Is this the norm for them?

I feel like we are all beginners for a long time in our own minds. I have been at it for a few years now with a variety of projects under my belt. Recently had the opportunity to toss my name in for a directory of makers at my chip’s school. It surprised me how long it took me to have the confidence to commit. The deciding factor was a flurry of requests from friends looking for things made.

So what made you think that maybe you’re better at this than you think you are?

I feel like we are all beginners for a long time in our own minds. I have been at it for a few years now with a variety of projects under my belt. Recently had the opportunity to toss my name in for a directory of makers at my chip’s school. It surprised me how long it took me to have the confidence to commit. The deciding factor was a flurry of requests from friends looking for things made.

So what made you think that maybe you’re better at this than you think you are?

I swear I’m so tired of everyone wanting everything walnut that it’s like I roll my eyes whenever I hear it now. I find myself very drawn to maple, probably as a protest vote. The curlier the better IMO!

I swear I’m so tired of everyone wanting everything walnut that it’s like I roll my eyes whenever I hear it now. I find myself very drawn to maple, probably as a protest vote. The curlier the better IMO!

All I can say is that it’s…different. Gloves stiffening up as I’m applying because it’s literally drying that fast. Goes on beautifully. Kind of weird to be able to take the applicator I was using last night, dip it in the jar, it’s ready to use again! Using it to seal some old doors after stripping and before paint.

All I can say is that it’s…different. Gloves stiffening up as I’m applying because it’s literally drying that fast. Goes on beautifully. Kind of weird to be able to take the applicator I was using last night, dip it in the jar, it’s ready to use again! Using it to seal some old doors after stripping and before paint.

Doing my periodic sharpening sesh this weekend and decided to brush the plates with water and a brass brush and blow clean/dry with compressed air after each blade/chisel. Made a massive difference in efficiency and now instead of having to start at 240 to reset my primary bevel I start at 800. No one ever talks about it, but clean your stones way more frequently than you expect to!

Doing my periodic sharpening sesh this weekend and decided to brush the plates with water and a brass brush and blow clean/dry with compressed air after each blade/chisel. Made a massive difference in efficiency and now instead of having to start at 240 to reset my primary bevel I start at 800. No one ever talks about it, but clean your stones way more frequently than you expect to!

Curious to know how you all manage sharpening into your workflow. I keep a sharpening jig in my leg vise while I’m working. When it comes to chisels, I strop to maintain the edge until that no longer works and then I’m more likely to grab another chisel. Everything gets fresh edges in between projects. Planes are another thing. They really just get touched up, even though I know that I should be doing more.

Looking to hear what others do.

I have always enjoyed power tools, but as I get into finer and finer woodworking, the precision becomes more important to me and the project. As a result, this past year has been a major discovery of hand tools as I dial in my joints, etc more perfectly in a way that power tools have always failed me in the past.

Currently building a jewelry box, and the tight tolerances are making me strive for a level of precision that is too much of a risk with any power tool. I’m now working on 1/8” wide stop dados to accept drawer slides that honestly is too delicate to trust to anything else.

Just came here to rant. Thank you for listening to my TED talk.