Dovetail Therapy!

I was due to start a well overdue batch of high angle smoothers but decided to enjoy myself instead!
Here's a small run of desk boxes with all 112 dovetails cut and fitted, which took 7 1/2 hours of concentration. This afternoon I remembered one of James Krenov's quotations 'It's not work I enjoy but working accurately'
Each box is in a different wood, from the front, brown oak, American walnut, English walnut and European oak. The first three were all air dried and much easier to work. The European oak was brittle and required extra care. I have matching burrs lined up for the panels on each of these, more of that another day.

New Work Bench Finished.

This has been on my 'to do' list for some time, and a post Xmas lull has given me the time. This is my take on the classic Scandinavian bench with a shoulder vice, there is nothing better for dovetailing!
I owned an original bench made by Lief Carlsson who's father made James Krenov's bench http://www.workbenches.se/en/index.php and it was wonderfully made thing. Although there were a number of niggles I had with the design and so after 4 years I sold it to a friend.
The main change I made was to make the shoulder vice much smaller, it's opening capacity is halved to 4" which is plenty for any work I do and it brings me much closer to the work. This also meant that the reduced overhang didn't require the support of a fifth leg which was always getting in my way. Instead I just reinforced the leg and added some nice curves.
The other changes I made were to greatly shorten the vice handle, make the frame flush with the edge of the top, lower the main rail so I could work seated and raise the overall height to a much more comfortable 37".

You'll also notice the construction was greatly simplified by not having any cross grain timber requiring large dovetails. I just simply went for 4" timber all the way through which makes it as solid as a rock. I decided to stick with the tool well, not so much for it's usefulness, but to reduce the weight of the top as I intend to take this bench to shows.

Instead of the traditional hugely complicated tail vice, I installed a very neat inset vice made by HNT Gordon http://www.hntgordon.com.au/bench-vices.html This took less than an hour to mark out and fit. Having a 1/2" router with spiral bit certainly speeded up material removal. Personally I don't use a tail vice but this will be useful at shows for customers trying out my planes.
An article on the making of this bench will be appearing in Furniture and Cabinet Making magazine and I'll be doing a YouTube video on both the bench as well as the vice in the near future.
It took me 30 hours to make spread over 2 weeks and measures 5' long x 27" wide x 37" high. The main top is 20" wide and the working area is 12" wide x 4" thick.
I put it through it's paces today and it's a pleasure to work with!

Plane Making Course at West Dean College Available to Book Now!

At last, the weekend course at West Dean College is available to book. It runs from 1st - 3rd of May and we'll be making the high angle smoother shown in the foreground above. Please note the planes we will be making are going to be in Bubinga rather than Lignum (see picture below of the last class). I have some very hard stock which is bang on quarter sawn so they will be both attractive as well as very functional. The £265 cost includes all the materials and the college has advised that you ring rather than book online for the first couple of weeks due to computer work. Please make sure you ask for your 5% online discount though!
The current summary mentions making a plane adjusting hammer but this was part of the format when the course was run over 3 days instead of 2, so we won't have time to include this.
The course is aimed at intermediate woodworkers rather than beginners and as always if you're interested don't leave it too late!

Customer Projects

Here is a fine cabinet by John from Switzerland, it is made with Barbados mahogany and demonstrates a wide range of woodworking skills.
Barbados mahogany is a very close relative of Cuban mahogany and is not commercially available any more.

A heavy duty pestle and mortar made from true lignum another banned wood. This must weigh a ton!

Some more lignum.

Wonderful book matched doors from more of the barbados mahogany, it looks like a monster rising from the flames! Thanks John for sharing the pictures.

To finish we have a couple of before and after shots from a happy customer in New Hampshire.
Below are some dovetails without the guide...

...and here is Shauns first attempt with the guide, much better!!

The Walnut Man.

If you are ever looking for fine English walnut then my friend Andy is your man! (Andy is taking the photo). Here's his website http://www.primetimber.co.uk/news/?page=8 the news section has some very interesting posts.

He travels all over the country looking at walnut trees and goes to amazing lengths to get out the trees he wants. This looks like a wind blown tree which is great because some of the best stuff is in the root ball.

I don't think the suspension with take any more than that!

And here is some of what makes the hard work worth while.

 Andy filmed a short video of a walnut log being sawn, I wish I had the money and space for one of these saws! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge6wWzntTtU

Computer Model of Toolbox Mark Two, New English Workshop Corse.

Simon has produced this three D computer model of my toolbox mark 2. It's fascinating to watch and he hopes to be putting a link through to the dimensions shortly for those of you interested.
For those attending the New English Workshop course in the summer it's a great insight into what you'll be making in just five days!

Tool Chest Article in F&C Magazine.

The latest edition of F&C magazine has just come out. It has a nice 5 page article on the making of my latest tool chest, complete with drawings and dimensions.

This is the chest we will be making on the five day course I'll be teaching in the summer. At the last count 12 of the 16 places are already booked, so don't leave it too late if you want to come!

There are five other courses being organised at the same time with some famous names coming over from the US including Chris Schwarz, Peter Follansbee and Roy Underhill. For more details on all the courses http://www.newenglishworkshop.co.uk/

In its making the tool chest is really more of a large jewelry box than a small tool chest. Techniques include accurate hinge fitting, piston fit tray, dovetails (of course!) and a soft closing lid. Accuracy and attention to detail are the order of the day (or week) and everyone should go home with a completed chest made entirely by their own hand.