Continuing Education

Help is Closer than you Think...

This past week I've been watching some new DVD's I recently ordered from Lie Nielsen Toolworks. I'd like to share some thoughts specifically on Don McConnell's Traditional Molding Techniques: The Basics

If you've ever wanted to replicate an heirloom molding perhaps from an antique furniture piece or architectural application, or better yet adding a custom profile to one of your own original designs by way of dedicated hand planes; this production is an absolute must see.
Beautifully filmed at Lie Nielsen Toolworks in Warren, Maine, this instructional DVD offers an incredibly informative lesson in molding making techniques.
As far as the production goes, if you're already familiar with the Lie-Nielsen DVD's you'll notice that the picture quality, editing production and use of clear and easy to understand animations brings the 'wood working how-to video' to another level indeed...the soundtrack also serves it's purpose well creating a welcoming atmosphere to absorb the information.
Don McConnells instruction, pace and execution is seamless, professional and inspiring. It enables us to look well into the working hands of an experienced craftsman and answers the questions most asked when producing this type of work.

I've been gearing up to build an exterior, 'Heritage Door' for a clients home here in the city. It has an elaborate mix of applied moldings and will be an exciting project to finish off my Spring production schedule. The house is situated in Historic Cabbage Town, a protected neighborhood where you can stroll through beautiful tree lined streets and take in some amazing examples of house design, architecture and historic reference.
Wood working education is everywhere around us whether you choose to take a moment to stop and notice; from the instructional DVD to written pages in books or these living examples in museums and like my clients home here in Toronto, a designated neighborhood perfectly preserved for anyone to stop, look and consider the hows and the whys of wood working technique, design and application.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot...Wood Working Blogs aren't a bad place to Graze the Brain either!
Cheers.

Sawing out the Waste

The Bow Saw Approach

This post was inspired by Chris Schwarz' blog this morning dealing with the plus and minus' of using a Fret saw or a Coping saw for removing the waste between dovetails.
I too have struggled with the thicker blade of the coping saw and the seemingly less than ideal Fret saw market that exists; I have yet to find one I've enjoyed using...
'All you saw makers out there better get your gear on! '
Now that said I've been using my bow saw for the past few months and will probably never go back to the shorter throw of a Fret saw nor the clumsy feel and lack of decent blades for my Coping saw...
The Gramercy Tools 12" Bow saw, fitted with it's finest blade, (it came with three, a fine, medium and heavy) is hard to beat. I challenge anyone who has this saw to tell me what coping or fret saw on the market today does a better job at removing the waste when cutting dovetails. Seriously, I would love to know of a well made Fret saw.
If you don't already own a bow saw, maybe putting it on your-'list of tools to buy' is a good idea, you'll be surprised at how many times you'll be reaching for it. So a bow saw...when you get one...more specifically, get this one, try it out for cutting out the waste between dovetails; you won't be disappointed. It's a great deal at $139.00...actually I just checked the Tools for Working Wood website and it's 10% off right now! Geeze, like 'ol Joel was reading my mind!















This is a shot from two weeks ago; the bow saw on the bench in the background was used to saw out the waste in this difficult,'finger-jointed dovetailed' cabinet I'm building. Tough to beat indeed...

Shaping Wood

Away with you Straight Edges

This past week I've been working on a bench that is destined for my dining room on one long side of the trestle table I built last year. The lawn furniture my kids have been sitting on up until this point has been re-possessed...hee-hee; you think I'm kidding...
I'm using reclaimed Angelique for the main bench carcass and frames with some Mahogany off cuts for the top cross slats and hand rails. After spending my winter building cabinets, frame work and square straight surfaces, the arms on this bench offered a nice change of pace for me. Nothing straight, gentle flowing lines and all done by eye with spokeshaves, gouges, rasps and scrapers. It's a great place to be, shaping wood without any sense of structure; free form sculpting, a little off of here, a bit more of a sweep there. Liberating indeed!
I use Veritas spokeshaves and have been for the past few years; I originally purchased them when I was building boats and have found them to be extremely easy to set-up and work with. The flat bottom and curved sole were both used in this project. I haven't had a chance to try the Lie-Nielsen/Brian Boggs spokeshaves but would be interested to hear what people think of them. I'm sure being designed by Boggs and manufactured by LN they're superb. It's mostly the weight of the tools I'm mostly curious about, the Lie Nielsen models seem to be bronze and look like they'd have a bit more weight to them...something I think would be a real asset to the working of the tool.
I find this to be one of the more enjoyable elements of wood working-this shaping wood. The bottom frame pictured has bridal joints in the corners and the horizontal pieces are just sitting for now. I'm going to fasten them with only dowels so in a few years as my children grow and get taller I'll be able to take out the bottom cross piece and lower the sitting height of the bench. These bottom cross pieces were an after thought to raise it up to 3 and 4 year old height. A place for children to sit is also what inspired the flowing arms...a little gentler on the head when they bang into it! I'm gearing up for another long haul of projects and am going to try to bring some more of these techniques into my cabinetwork; a blend of sweeping frames and square, structured carcass'...I've been designing some new pieces that will easily blend these two design features...stay tuned.

WOODEN TOOL CHESTS FOR SALE

Custom Made Tool Chests

If you're a frequent visitor here you've already seen some shots of my new tool chest design, if however you found me by searching the internet, welcome! I suspect you were either searching for a tool box building plan or a tool chest for sale. Either way you're in luck. Due to the high web traffic, e-mails and comments on my new toolbox design, I've decided to set aside some time and offer these tool chests for sale. They're made from solid, local hardwoods and feature hand cut joinery and a few unique design features as well. They have a dovetailed tool till inside and hold a surprising amount of hand tools!
If you're interested in purchasing one, Please don't hesitate to contact me at tomfidgen@yahoo.ca
prices start at $650.00 usd.
Custom features and different wood species are also available.

If you're in the category of someone that wants to build your own and were looking for a tool chest design or building plan, then this one will be available in my new book, Made by Hand-Furniture Projects from the Unplugged Wood shop.
It's just at the editing stages and will be released through Popular Woodworking Books this November. Pre-orders will be available here and anyone purchasing a tool chest will get a free, signed copy.
The tool chests will also be numbered, signed and dated as well.
With that, the following pics show some of the design features I mentioned. Perfect for 'on-site' work holding applications.

First off is the detachable shooting board on the lid, very handy indeed.
















Next are a series of 3/4" holes that can be used with dowels or what I use is a Surface Clamp. Lee Valley carries this clamp and you'll never regret purchasing one.
With the three holes, a surface clamp and a small dowel, you can hold down a workpiece on the toolbox lid, use the front clamp holes for jointing edges, or cut some dovetails in the vertical position which is easy to do thanks to the small 'shelf' at the bottom. Line up the edge of the workpiece with the side of the shelf and you know your piece is plumb.
The back of the chest has a small shelf for laying those screws and nails in when on site as well as the option of more tool storage. I keep two back saws, two cam-clamps (used on site to hold the chest down to a flat surface while working)a small level and an engineers square. On the inside, between the tool till and large bottom section I can carry my 'must-have' workshop essential tools. You'll see specifically what that includes on my new DVD, A Beginners Guide to Workshop Essentials, which is included free with every book order! If I sound like I should be wearing a plaid suit and matching belt and shoes...I apologise. I'm just very pleased with this new tool chest design and am looking forward to sharing it with you.
Cheers!

More on Shop Made Tools

From the Unplugged Woodshop

In my last post I featured the new Large Spokeshave from Veritas tools here in Canada. The fact that I had an idea for a tool very similar in design to this makes me pleased that a company like Veritas is now manufacturing it. It's on my short list of tools to buy. Thinking on this shop made tool line I decided to look back through my shop notebooks over the past two years and found about a dozen different design ideas I've come up with. Nothing in there that'll solve Global Warming; who am I kidding, it wouldn't even draw a parade of rats behind me! Oh well...what is in there are some pretty cool ideas for some work shop aids and bench top appliances. A couple of neat new tool ideas and a few more new designs. I tend to write allot while I'm still waking up at 4:30 a.m. when I usually start my day, so I can sometimes forget what the hell I wrote from one day to the next! Things get forgotten about and later found and fresh again. That said, it'll be interesting to follow through on some of these ideas and build myself some prototypes. I'll keep you posted when I get around to it...put it on the 'long-list' so to speak.
Making tools is a ton of fun and it really helps you understand the angles, bevels and reasons why some planes can chatter and others can run on so smoothly. Why one saw cuts and the other tears. What makes a mallet feel good in your hand? One of the first tools I made in recent years was the Lee Valley spokeshave kit; a Christmas gift from my wife it really covered allot of good workshop techniques. From dimensioning wood to super accurate lay-out. Understanding angles and final shaping and finishing. From there I made a couple of hand planes and some sanding planes,
(readers of Fine Woodworking magazine may remember my Tip of the Month a few issues ago-the sanding planes pictured above.) a mallet and hammer and a little bow-saw my father in law cracked in half last year while limbing an old apple tree! My point is this: Try out new things in your shop whenever you can and time permits. Making your own tools and workshop aids is a great learning exercise for any woodworker at any level.
Try the link on the side bar for www.toolmakingart.com
you'll find lots of tool making inspiration there.
Another wealth of tool making information is: www.norsewoodsmith.com


Speaking of tool making and workshop appliances, due to all of the feedback, traffic and e-mails I get about wooden tool boxes, I'm going to offer a few for sale. I'll probably only have time to build six or so..it'll be first come first serve. In my next blog I'll feature some of the design elements and show some of the tool chests unique features.
A Cabinetmakers Toolchest.

From Tool to Toolbox

New Tool from Veritas

Have you ever been working on a project and wished you had a certain tool to make your job easier or more efficient? More specifically a tool you already know does not yet exist? The 'inventor' side of most wood workers I know have this happen to them all of the time; some wish they had a certain hand tool while others take the lead and go about building their own. I like you am no different and have designed and invented new and wonderful tool ideas here in my shop~ at least on paper that is...I'm really going to try to make up a few prototypes of some ideas I have rolling around the 'ol book shelf in my brain and will keep you posted when I do. One early morning last year I had one of these 'moments of clarity' and came up with what I thought would be a great extension of a common wooden bodied spokeshave. I thought about combining the mechanical advantages of a spokeshave set-up with the width of a draw knife. I thought that having a wider handle set up on a spokeshave and the ability to get a 'rowing' style grip would be beneficial to the piece I was shaping at the time.
Well needless to say I thought about the idea but never did get around to making one. Fast forward eight months and it seems that someone over at Veritas tools had a similar idea. ( ahh, just when I was getting ready to conquer the hand tool market! )
The new Veritas Large Spokeshave has just been introduced and I'd love to hear from you if you have one, used one or just your thoughts on the tool itself. I'm curious to see if it will indeed feel like a draw knife, having the extra weight and size but the luxury of fine tuning the iron for final smoothing as well as rough work.
Send me your thoughts...
Cheers!

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=62800&cat=51&ap=1

A Note on Chisels

I got a letter today from a fellow wood worker asking my thoughts on Chisels.
Thought I'd share my long-winded reply with you.

















Tom,
Learning more every day. Question. I need a quality set of bevel
chisels that will be passed down to grand kids. I like the Lie-Nielsen
but they seem pretty high priced. They will be used for pretty much
general purpose and some dovetailing.
Thanks

Reply:

Hi Ted,
Nice to hear from you again.
To answer your question:
For all around quality-you're spot on, the Lie-Nielsen chisels are top notch and will surely be around for the grand kids...maybe even more! A little pricey yes, but remember, when it comes to quality hand tools you really get what you pay for.
Lee Valley sells a couple of options you may consider; first off are their Hirsch Firmer Bench chisels. For a set of six you're looking at $129.00 Canadian. That's a pretty fair price for a middle of the road chisel. I purchased this exact set about four years ago and have been bashing them and sharpening them all along...they don't seem to mind one-bit. They certainly won't hold an edge like the Lie-Nielsen ones, but for what they are I'll recommend this set my first alternate pick.
Another option may be some Japanese style chisels...again you can find them at reasonable prices. You mentioned dovetails...these due to their shape would make them better suited for cleaning out tails and pins when working with dovetails.
Again, I have a nice little assortment and really enjoy using them. The rings usually need to be smacked about and stepped on....they tend to come from the 'manufacturers' loose. Not a big deal to fix. The 'canted' shaft from the iron up the handle is a nice touch as well; you'll see this makes allot of sense once you start using them. Better sight lines while you work and a more natural hand held grip because of the overall shape- really helps the wrists and forearms. Something to think about.
Here are a couple of links to Lee Valley Tools...

the Hirtsch Firmer style: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=46403&cat=1,41504

and the Japanese Bench style: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=46404&cat=1,41504,43500&ap=1

Have a look at the Japanese dovetail chisels as well: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=54872&cat=1,41504

Now, with all of that said and hind-sight being 20/20....
If I was just starting out I'd say to Hell with the 'sets' of chisels and buy one or two of my mostly used.
O.k. lets say today I'm cutting dovetails in 4/4 stock...To chop them out I may splurge and get a 1/4 or 1/2" Lie-Nielsen socket chisel... For cleaning out the waste, maybe a 1/8 and 3/8" dedicated Japanese style 'dovetail' chisel...
Now we have four really nice chisels. Not a fortune spent and we're content... At least until next week when we're doing really fine dovetails on a small cabinet door...The Veritas detail chisels are my choice hands down for small scale work. They were designed by Yeung Chan, a California cabinetmaker and I use at least two of these every day...seriously. Here is the link to them...Get the 1/4" and the 1/2". When you first hold them you'll think they're too small or light or fragile.....something you'd use building ships in bottles...well at least that's what I thought. A few days after getting them-they'll be like extensions of your fingers. Cleaning out the corners in dovetails- paring the waste on small tenons....chamfers...really, these are amazing.

Veritas Detail chisels: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=46035&cat=1,41504

Maybe a couple of more nice wide Japanese bench chisels-? 3/4" and 1".

That would be a really nice set indeed...a little pricey but you don't need to get them all at once. One or two, here and there...spread it out a little. Lord knows in the economic times we live who can afford to pay a small fortune for anything?
That said, this Christmas when Santa brings you my new book, Made by Hand, Furniture Projects from the Unplugged Woodshop, and you want to build a few of the projects in there; you'll need one or two mortising chisels....go back to Lie-Nielsen and buy a 1/4" and 3/8". I have the full set of them and can honestly say you won't ever be disappointed. And......I didn't but them all at once!! Over a span of a year or two.

So there you have it....
spend the $275.00 on the Lie-Nielsen set of five Bevel Edge Socket Chisels: http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?grp=1234

or 129.00 on the knock-about Hirtcsh Firmers...or ~ better yet...
build a custom set for about $600.00
buying one or two every couple of months or so....A year or two goes by- you have exactly the set of chisels you want and use. Gotta have some patience on this one...
the set of Lie-Nielsens are sounding better and better eh.?

That's my two cents...good luck and let me know how it turns out.
Cheers!

( sorry for the shameless book plug!! )