Hello to all out there in wood land- just a quick note to say I’ve started a new Tom Fidgen Music blog over at www.tomfidgen.com for anyone interested.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
www.tomfidgen.com
Hello to all out there in wood land- just a quick note to say I’ve started a new Tom Fidgen Music blog over at www.tomfidgen.com for anyone interested.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
27/04/2010
craft
conceive
concoct
construct
compose
devise
fashion
sculpt
shape
model
make
produce
assemble
form
design.
conceive
concoct
construct
compose
devise
fashion
sculpt
shape
model
make
produce
assemble
form
design.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Unplugged Woodshop.com
New Web Site
Just wanted to let everyone know that my new site- www.theunpluggedwoodshop.com is now live!
I think readers of Made by Hand will be especially happy to hear that the new site features dedicated areas for all six of the book projects. Each area has FREE Sketch-up Models, and complete down loadable bench plans with expanded galleries and afterthoughts on each of the projects. Books have space limitations and a web site doesn't so I'm happy to include lots of additional pics and information that never made it into the book- I think these will prove very useful when you start making the projects in your own shops at home.
There is also a 'Readers Gallery' and I encourage anyone building any of the projects to send me some photos of their versions of these designs. It'll be a great way to see how design ideas can change and evolve from one shop to the next. You'll also be happy to know the new site is equipped with email subscriptions and RSS feed so it's easy to get the all of my latest posts sent directly to your email.
The gallery section features some of my other work and will be getting some more fine tuning with additional pics and text in the coming weeks.
And for those who don't yet have a copy of Made by Hand, you can order your signed copies there as well with a new section still being prepared with reviews and feedback from readers from around the world. This is always nice for people who are still debating whether they'd like to buy this book or not- some honest reviews from actual readers. I'm also working on a few updated posts that will clarify a few mistakes I made in the writing process. Sometimes writing about wood working procedures is far more difficult than the actual building goes and my book is no exception. I missed a few details here and there and found at least two areas I'd like to re-write...I find them a bit confusing when I read them so it'll hopefully help out others as well!
I'm very happy with the new site and I think you'll appreciate how much easier it is to navigate through. All of my past blogs and posts are there in an easier format, keeping themes and topics together in a well thought out manner.
I welcome you to stop by and have a look around- let me know what you like and what you don't like and as the weeks progress I'll do what I can to make it as good as it can be. I'll slowly be working towards having that as my only web site and will try my best to make the transition from this space to the next as painless as possible. Please update your bookmarks and links when you can.
In closing, I'd like to take a moment and thank Luis Martins (aka 'The Dovetail Kid') for all of the hard work and countless hours you've spent building this new site for me- I would never have been able to do it without you and you have my deepest thanks-
Keep well and I hope you enjoy the new site-
cheers!
Just wanted to let everyone know that my new site- www.theunpluggedwoodshop.com is now live!
I think readers of Made by Hand will be especially happy to hear that the new site features dedicated areas for all six of the book projects. Each area has FREE Sketch-up Models, and complete down loadable bench plans with expanded galleries and afterthoughts on each of the projects. Books have space limitations and a web site doesn't so I'm happy to include lots of additional pics and information that never made it into the book- I think these will prove very useful when you start making the projects in your own shops at home.
There is also a 'Readers Gallery' and I encourage anyone building any of the projects to send me some photos of their versions of these designs. It'll be a great way to see how design ideas can change and evolve from one shop to the next. You'll also be happy to know the new site is equipped with email subscriptions and RSS feed so it's easy to get the all of my latest posts sent directly to your email.
The gallery section features some of my other work and will be getting some more fine tuning with additional pics and text in the coming weeks.
And for those who don't yet have a copy of Made by Hand, you can order your signed copies there as well with a new section still being prepared with reviews and feedback from readers from around the world. This is always nice for people who are still debating whether they'd like to buy this book or not- some honest reviews from actual readers. I'm also working on a few updated posts that will clarify a few mistakes I made in the writing process. Sometimes writing about wood working procedures is far more difficult than the actual building goes and my book is no exception. I missed a few details here and there and found at least two areas I'd like to re-write...I find them a bit confusing when I read them so it'll hopefully help out others as well!
I'm very happy with the new site and I think you'll appreciate how much easier it is to navigate through. All of my past blogs and posts are there in an easier format, keeping themes and topics together in a well thought out manner.
I welcome you to stop by and have a look around- let me know what you like and what you don't like and as the weeks progress I'll do what I can to make it as good as it can be. I'll slowly be working towards having that as my only web site and will try my best to make the transition from this space to the next as painless as possible. Please update your bookmarks and links when you can.
In closing, I'd like to take a moment and thank Luis Martins (aka 'The Dovetail Kid') for all of the hard work and countless hours you've spent building this new site for me- I would never have been able to do it without you and you have my deepest thanks-
Keep well and I hope you enjoy the new site-
cheers!
Monday, January 18, 2010
New Offerings from Bad Axe
12 and 14" Backsaws
Bad Axe Tool Works- what more can I say? Simply put I find them to be the finest hand saws on the market today. I own an 18" rip saw and a 16" cross cut that you know if you're a regular here I use on a daily basis. I think they're incredible tools with the highest craftsman ship available but can understand why some beginners may have shyed away from them. Lets face it- these are big saws! For anyone looking for a smaller scale back saw or for someone who couldn't imagine working with the larger scale saws presently being manufactured, Bad Axe is offering both a 12 and 14" saw due out in late March.Buyers can watch for optional fasteners, with standard filings for the 14” saw at 11-12 tpi rip and 12-13 tpi x-cut. The 12” saw’s standard filing will be 12-13 tpi rip and 13-14 tpi x-cut. If these specs don't suite your work then Mark will happily custom file per customers request. Other Bad Axe news can be found on the new Bad Axe FaceBook page.
Cheers!
Bad Axe Tool Works- what more can I say? Simply put I find them to be the finest hand saws on the market today. I own an 18" rip saw and a 16" cross cut that you know if you're a regular here I use on a daily basis. I think they're incredible tools with the highest craftsman ship available but can understand why some beginners may have shyed away from them. Lets face it- these are big saws! For anyone looking for a smaller scale back saw or for someone who couldn't imagine working with the larger scale saws presently being manufactured, Bad Axe is offering both a 12 and 14" saw due out in late March.Buyers can watch for optional fasteners, with standard filings for the 14” saw at 11-12 tpi rip and 12-13 tpi x-cut. The 12” saw’s standard filing will be 12-13 tpi rip and 13-14 tpi x-cut. If these specs don't suite your work then Mark will happily custom file per customers request. Other Bad Axe news can be found on the new Bad Axe FaceBook page.Cheers!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
One for the Road
A Cabinetmakers Toolchest
Just a quick note to say that the new (and last?) issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine has an edited version of one of the chapters from my book. A Cabinetmakers Toolchest- project one. For anyone that doesn't yet have a copy of Made by Hand, this may be a nice way to get a good look at some of what's inside. The issue, #181, February 2010 also has the first instalment of George Walkers new column, Design Matters as well as a few other great articles. Watch for it at your local newsstands.
Cheers!
Just a quick note to say that the new (and last?) issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine has an edited version of one of the chapters from my book. A Cabinetmakers Toolchest- project one. For anyone that doesn't yet have a copy of Made by Hand, this may be a nice way to get a good look at some of what's inside. The issue, #181, February 2010 also has the first instalment of George Walkers new column, Design Matters as well as a few other great articles. Watch for it at your local newsstands.Cheers!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Readers Projects
Made by Hand
Over the past few days I've received a few emails from people who have either built pieces from my book or have taken some of the elements and incorporated them into their own designs. I can't tell you how great this is for me to see people working through the designs. It's a very exciting time for me and I wanted to share them with you here.
The first came from Christopher Lindsay at the Combray Furniture Studio.
Chris was building a contemporary jewelry making cabinet for his wife and decided to use half of the design from Project 5 (Picture Perfect) in my book. It's very interesting to see how he used half of the dimensions to create this beautiful bank of drawers. I also found it quite interesting to see how he left the sides of the cabinet open to show the drawer sides. This was actually something I considered doing in my own version of the piece. I don't recall if I mentioned it in the text but I also considered using glass for side panels...maybe the next one?
You can follow along with Chris through the entire building process on his great blog.
Well done Chris and thanks for sharing!
The second came from Richard Siudek of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Richard built his own version of Skinny Legs and All...the small side table, Project 3 in my book.
This is what Richard had to say-
"Hi Tom,
Well it is finally complete! There are a few mistakes but I certainly learned a lot and overall it was fun! The milling and dimensioning were done on a machine but the rest was by hand. I used some leftover ash which was not ideal from a grain viewpoint; the drawer fronts are walnut and the pulls were purchased."
It's interesting to see how the prominent grain in the ash plays through the tapered legs. Lots of nicely made dovetails here and a piece you should be proud to call your own. Well done Richard, and thanks again for sharing this.
And finally, another project from the book but this time a pair of shop bents.
For those of you who don't yet have a copy of Made by Hand, I should tell you that besides the furniture projects, the book also has a few work shop appliance projects and this one is from Larry Marshall over at Wood n' Bits Workshop. Larry blogged his way through the entire process of making these and I can say that I was laughing out loud while I read his posts. Some great writing and another great example of one of the book project. Thanks again for sharing Larry~
I really appreciate everyone sending in their photos and welcome anyone else out there to do the same! My new site will have a dedicated area where I'll post these and other readers projects. I feel that having these available will help others when they're working through their own versions of the pieces.
Thanks again and happy shavings!
Over the past few days I've received a few emails from people who have either built pieces from my book or have taken some of the elements and incorporated them into their own designs. I can't tell you how great this is for me to see people working through the designs. It's a very exciting time for me and I wanted to share them with you here.
The first came from Christopher Lindsay at the Combray Furniture Studio.
Chris was building a contemporary jewelry making cabinet for his wife and decided to use half of the design from Project 5 (Picture Perfect) in my book. It's very interesting to see how he used half of the dimensions to create this beautiful bank of drawers. I also found it quite interesting to see how he left the sides of the cabinet open to show the drawer sides. This was actually something I considered doing in my own version of the piece. I don't recall if I mentioned it in the text but I also considered using glass for side panels...maybe the next one?
You can follow along with Chris through the entire building process on his great blog.
Well done Chris and thanks for sharing!
The second came from Richard Siudek of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Richard built his own version of Skinny Legs and All...the small side table, Project 3 in my book.
This is what Richard had to say-
"Hi Tom,
Well it is finally complete! There are a few mistakes but I certainly learned a lot and overall it was fun! The milling and dimensioning were done on a machine but the rest was by hand. I used some leftover ash which was not ideal from a grain viewpoint; the drawer fronts are walnut and the pulls were purchased."
It's interesting to see how the prominent grain in the ash plays through the tapered legs. Lots of nicely made dovetails here and a piece you should be proud to call your own. Well done Richard, and thanks again for sharing this.
And finally, another project from the book but this time a pair of shop bents.
For those of you who don't yet have a copy of Made by Hand, I should tell you that besides the furniture projects, the book also has a few work shop appliance projects and this one is from Larry Marshall over at Wood n' Bits Workshop. Larry blogged his way through the entire process of making these and I can say that I was laughing out loud while I read his posts. Some great writing and another great example of one of the book project. Thanks again for sharing Larry~
I really appreciate everyone sending in their photos and welcome anyone else out there to do the same! My new site will have a dedicated area where I'll post these and other readers projects. I feel that having these available will help others when they're working through their own versions of the pieces.
Thanks again and happy shavings!
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