Beautifully Engraved Plane!

A while ago (actually a very long while!) I sent a cute little Slater chariot plane to be hand engraved by Ian Houghton http://www.spanglefish.com/metalstamps/index.asp
He's made me some name stamps in the past which are very nicely done but this is a whole different level.

He wouldn't say how much time he spent on the engraving but I guess it was considerable. The patterns are a perfect match on each side. Instead of payment he wanted one of my wooden hand planes which I have now stopped making, I guess I've got one more in me!

I particularly liked the Rio rosewood wedge on this plane with a mixture of sap and heart wood and a black line through the middle.

The detailing is superb, just remember when you are looking at this the plane is only 3 3/4" long.
It sits on the desk in my office (where I spend far too much time!) and is admired every day.

Great Wall Mounted Tool Cabinet.

Kevin, a customer from California sent over these pictures of his wall mounted tool cabinet and a very nice job he's done too!

There are a number of layers with doors opening to reveal more storage.

My dovetail guide was a great time savers with the dovetails for the carcass.

And here's a neat little way to hold his Lie Nielsen saws, although I wouldn't go closing the door too hard!

Customer Bench with Bench Crafted Classic Vice.

A couple of weeks ago I posted on a nice Roubo bench, made using the lamination method shown on my YouTube video. http://davidbarronfurniture.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/customer-roubo-bench.html
After careful consideration Nathan decided to fit a Bench Crafted Classic vice with a retro fit criss cross and here is the result. Apparently the gripping power is extraordinary.

OAK LINEN-FOLD PANELS

Stuart, a good friend of mine has been working for some time now on lots of these oak linen-fold panels for a large settee he has made. They are most hand carved and have turned out very well.

Stuart is well into his seventies but is an avid woodworker who seems to enjoy larger scale projects. As I've got older my back has certainly began to appreciate smaller projects, boxes are nice!

The style certainly seems to suit the interior of his converted barn very well.

Here are just two of the many tools he used to complete this fine project.

Furniture Making School in London

Helen, a regular customer, runs a furniture making school in North London, class sizes are small and there seems to be a Krenov feel to the skills, work and attitude.
See website here http://www.furnitureschool.co.uk/p/home-page.html

 
These look to be some seriously large dovetails which will test anyone's hand skills.
They have a number of set projects and the one that caught my eye in particular was this Nakashima coniod style chair, I would love to make one of these!
There is a waiting list for the courses, but rather than expand, Helen is keeping things small, intimate and manageable, very wise!

Lots of Tools for Sale on E Bay!

I'm having a clear out! These are just a sample of what's being sold.
You can see them all here http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/woodreddogdogdog/m.html?item=151819114824&hash=item23591fd948&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
Or just search for David Barron.
I'll be adding more over the next few days.

More from the European Woodworking Show

Here's a shot of the main two buildings taken before the gates opened on the second day. A truly wonderful setting and the weather stayed fine for the two day yet again.
As always there was a fine selection of food available, the Indian was very nice!

Outside the main barns there were many stalls and marquees, this one had a particularly entertaining host and displayed some fine archery equipment.

Richard Arnold was showing some of his fine collection of old planes.

And it was good to see Bill and Sarah Carter had made the journey down with a great display of planes. Bill is now 76 and still going strong, although maybe not making quite so many planes as he used to!

And on to Oliver Sparks, a superb craftsman who is following in the footsteps of Bill Carter, with some help from the master.

You can see his fine planes on his website http://oliversparks.co.uk/

The ones that really caught my eye (and hand) were his 'slipper' planes, extremely comfortable and great performers. I have one on order.
This was the most successful show I've ever attended, attracting woodworkers from far and wide. If you didn't get there this time make sure you're there in two years time.

European Woodworking Show , Day 1

It's been a great first day at the show, hoards of people lots of familiar faces and nice weather as well.
It's always nice when people bring along things they've made, and of all the things I was shown this was the star of the day. This young man from Germany had come over with his father and had been around all day. It wasn't until late on that I saw him with these two tubes wrapped in cloth which I had to coax him to show me. They were stunning!

They were made from cherry and maple with a coopered 8 sided construction, the joins were refined with a hand plane and were flawless, both on the outside and inside.

The end caps were dovetailed with some very fancy joints and again the fit was superb.
He explained to me how he coopered the dome, but even now I still don't know how it was done so well.

At around 18 years old with no formal training, this quality of work is amazing. My pictures don't do them justice.

Before the show opened Shane Skelton came over to show me his excellent saws. Made entirely by hand the fit and finish was immaculate. They are heavy and all the better for it, cutting cleanly through oak with ease.

Again my apologies for the photo, but the detailling was superb.

I had a go with the dovetail saw and was very impressed. He is a new kid on the block but I get the feeling he'll be around for a long time with work like this.

Lastly was a fine box in brown oak and ash, in the style of Peter Lloyd's boxes

A beautifully finished 'wave'.....

...and wooden hinges.

he also produced a pair of fine planes with a black corian infill.

....and this twin bladed well made cutting gauge.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring!