Sunday, 10 January 2016

Walnut Chest From WV USA


Here are some shots of a nice little four drawer chest sent by Brian, a customer from WV in the US.
He used the 1:7 guide for the dovetails.


He sent the pictures after seeing my article in F&C and the drawers are remarkably similar in construction with wedged and tenon rear, inset from the back. The melamine surface is used for Brians glue ups as any excess glue just pops off.


The drawer fronts are black walnut, the sides are poplar and the rear panel is ship lapped in pine.
A nice job!

Friday, 8 January 2016

First Time Dovetails


When customers first get their dovetail guide it's a good idea to get some practice in before making any furniture. Making a dovetail alignment board is a great way to do this, especially if you leave the pieces over long, so if you make a mess you can cut them off and start again. I did a YouTube video a while back.

Arjen from The Netherlands sent me a couple of photos of his first attempt at dovetails and he's made a very good effort, not as tight as he would have liked but it should glue up nice and strong.


Tuesday, 5 January 2016

This Weeks Tools on E Bay.


All of the tools I have for sale this week weigh less than 2 kg, so postage to the UK and overseas is much more reasonable, good luck! First up is a nice Spiers Plane O Ayr smoother
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151933514141?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


  A Marples slitting gauge
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151934138952?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Spiers shoulder plane
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151933486537?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


 A rare Spiers dovetailed bullnose plane
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151934158201?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Norris No 7 shoulder plane
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151933496547?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A Norris No 18 shoulder plane.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151933504401?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

And finally an early Spiers wedged smoother
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151933475786?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Saturday, 2 January 2016

January Issue of F&C, Article on Piston Fit Drawers


Happy New Year everyone!
The latest edition of Furniture and Cabinetmaking is out now. I have an article on the making of this miniature four drawer chest showing how to achieve piston fit drawers.


There is a full exploded drawing with dimensions if you'd like to build your own.


Other articles include and interesting one on compound angle joinery.


...as well as the new neat hinges for box making.



All rounded off by some French polishing by the editor.
Incidentally Derek is now running courses at West Dean College, the next one is on making a Moxon vice, details here https://www.westdean.org.uk/study/short-courses/courses?type=short&filter_category=Woodworking+and+furniture+making&page=5



Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Loads of Customer Projects to End the Year!


I've had lots of customers projects sent through over Christmas, if there is anyone I've missed out or got wrong I apologise now! First up is Matthieu from France with a lovely curvacoeus wall cabinet, it looks too good for his workshop!




Next is Krenov style plane made by David in the UK, 10" long with a 1 1/2" Hock blade, made from Bubinga with a beech wedge. It looks very comfortable but maybe a shorter wedge would make blade adjusting easier.


Dick from Tennessee made the spice cabinet based on an article in Fine Woodworking by Steve Latta. It's made from Wenge, a very hard brittle wood and not one that's easy to dovetail. There are more than 100 dovetails in this little cabinet!


The accent wood is poplar.


Kevin from the UK has been working on his wife's Christmas present all year, not an easy one to hide! I guessed it was oak but it's actually burr lime.


He joined the two halves and to continue the waney edge all the way round added end pieces as well.
These were glued in the middle with loose dominoes further out to keep things flush and allow for wood movement.

Looks great!

Tue from Cornwall makes pieces from driftwood found on his local shores and this is as rustic a dovetailed table as you will ever see! I love the old paint.


And finally a pair of dovetailed side tables from Hussain in Germany. These were a present for his girlfriend and the first woodworking project he had ever done! He should be very proud especially attempting dovetails that thick on a first project.

Anyway thank you for all the pictures you've sent in over the year, keep them coming.
I wish you all the very best for 2016!

Monday, 28 December 2015

OOUCHI DOVETAIL CHISELS ON E BAY


My last set of Oouchi chisels, they have seen very little use and come fully prepared and sharp.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151929721838?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


Also up is a great 607, flat top, Bedrock jointer
 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151929700887?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A classic Norris No 2 with a very tight mouth, a good user.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151929788344?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


A good user Norris 61, again with a very tight mouth.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151929757636?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

And below, one for the collector, a fine brass Scottish smoother with a pierced heart and shield lever cap. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151929778320?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
There are a few more listings as well so please check these out.


Saturday, 26 December 2015

The Unplugged Woodshop Toronto


Tom Fidgen is just opening a new woodworking school in Toronto, an exciting as well as nervous time for him. He has been asking tool makers from around the world for contributions to the shop for the benefit of students and there have been some very generous donations so far. Terry Gordon from HNT Gordon in Australia has supplied a fine selection of his wonderful planes (above).
Tom is doing a series of videos on the unboxing of these gifts and you can access these by becoming a member on his webiste http://www.theunpluggedwoodshop.com/
Philip Marcou sent his fine planes from New Zealand (below).


Shane Skelton sent some of his wonderfully made saws.


And I sent a good selection of my own tools across.
There will be more unboxing videos in due course followed by videos of how the various tools performed, which will be even more interesting.