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.

Customer Project, Nice Little Tea Cabinet.

Jason from Maryland sent me these pictures of a petite tea cabinet made recently as a wedding present. It measure 20" tall x 4 3/4" deep and 9 3/4" wide.

The carcass is cherry with a basswood rear panel and white oak shelves.
Notice how he has left the case dovetails slightly proud, a nice touch.

This was Jason's first time making both the carcass dovetails as well as the half binds for the drawer and he done a great job! Anyone for tea?

More Planes for Sale on E Bay.

A very nice, early Bedrock 606.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151922084455?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

A Veritas Medium Shoulder plane.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151922092644?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

An excellent Scottish smoother with tight mouth, A great user.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151922100325?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

A Spiers dovetailed smoother, nice tight mouth and large rear handle, another good user.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151922120920?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Below, an 18 C plane by S Tomkinson good mark.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151922110445?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

A slitting gage in good working order, just needs a sharpen.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151922120920?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

A rare American Vaughan and Bushnell premium smoother.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151922147519?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

The London School of Furniture Making

This small school based in North London is a very good customer and Helen who runs the school sent me these pictures of her students work. Here's a very nice deep box in mahogany with a pivot hinge lid. It's being proudly displayed by a very pleased student!

This is a similar style box but smaller  made from some wild grained ash, one of my favourite woods.
You can see more of the school and the work done there, on their website http://www.furnitureschool.co.uk/p/home-page.html

Dovetail Course Available to Book now!

West Dean College has just released the details for the next dovetail course I'll be taking. It runs over the weekend 6-8th May 2016 and costs £252 including materials. As always if you are interested don't delay as it books up quickly!
Details here https://www.westdean.org.uk/study/short-courses/courses/we6154-hand-cut-dovetails-made-easy

The course is for intermediate woodworkers, not beginners, and you will need to bring sharp tools along, although I will have saws and dovetail guide to borrow.

Each person will be making this dovetailed box complete with mitred lining and tilt top lid.
BTW these pics are of a students box, not one I made.

The course is intense but good fun and we are allowed to work on into the evening for those who want, or need to!

Adam Gamble Furniture

Adam Gamble is new customer and in our exchanges he told me he served a full apprenticeship at The Barnsley Workshop, lucky man! http://www.barnsley-furniture.co.uk/
A look at his website, which is still under construction, showed some wonderful workmanship. http://adamgamble.co.uk/

The piece that really caught my eye was this arts and craft style cabinet, clearly showing his Barnsley roots. Everything looks right about it, but it's the lovely details which really lift the piece, subtle but so effective.

Planes for Sale On Ebay

I've just posted a few more planes for sale on E Bay. Above is a very nice Preston smoother see the listing here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151914646082?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Next is a pre war Norris smoother, the adjuster needs attention but otherwise a lovely plane, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151914847594?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

An early Bedrock 5 1/2 jack in great condition http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151914862067?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

A rare Mathieson 4 1/2 smoother
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151914827602?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
And lastly below an equally rare Spiers No 14 smoother
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151914656463?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649