Earlier this year, for no reason that I can discern, I decided that I wanted to build a spinning wheel. I had no particular interest in spinning, nor any need for a wheel. The best explanation I can come up with is that I am drawn to the past, and the old way of doing things, and I thought it would be interesting to build a machine from scratch.
Continue reading “Traditional Spinning Wheel”
Earlier this year, before the world changed, I built myself an Architect’s Table, following the design and plans in Tom Fidgen’s book, The Unplugged Woodshop.
Continue reading “Architect’s Table”
Following on from my last post, the next phase of this project was the box and drawer. Fairly straightforward dovetails fo the box, and fitted to panels top and bottom with dowels. The bottom dowels go straight through into the box supports and the top dowels go straight through into some beading. Continue reading “Gentleman’s Valet #3”
I’ve never done any inlay work before, but I got a beading tool for Christmas with some blank cutters so I decided to give it a go. I took a thin slice of the sycamore and planed it smooth before cutting it into strips about 1/8″ square. Continue reading “Gentleman’s Valet #2”
A few weeks ago I started work on a new project: A Gentleman’s Valet. The plans once again came from Tom Fidgen’s book, The Unplugged Woodshop. The Valet is a small box/table on a stand, with a drawer, a rail and a coat hanger. It is a retro object, that in times gone by a gentleman might have used to hang his jacket and keep his wallet and glasses on. Continue reading “Gentleman’s Valet #1”
The glue-up for this project was not without its difficulties. I am reminded of a post a made a while back documenting the glue up for my workbench. On that occasion I nearly haemorrhaged blood from my eyes with the struggle to save the project. This wasn’t quite as bad as that, but it was a real struggle to reproduce the results of the dry-fit whilst fighting against the open time of the glue, a struggle that saw me pounding with a mallet; threatening the wood with violence; swearing like a drunken teenager; and cursing the day I ever took up woodworking. I finally collapsed in a heap of regret, embarrassment, relief and joy. “Never let the wood tell you, ‘no’!” Continue reading “Architect’s Chair #4”
Ok, so where were we? Oh yes, a hoofing great cock-up. With the original hub basically a write off, I went ahead and started on another one. I went with just walnut this time, two pieces glued together. The laminated walnut and cherry of the original didn’t really fit in with the feel of the piece (at least that is what I am telling myself). Continue reading “Architect’s Chair #3”
Marking out for the hub dovetails had me feeling a bit anxious. I wanted to get these joints just right, so each stroke of the saw, and each chop with the chisel was very carefully thought out, so as to avoid any mistakes. As things fell out, I needn’t have worried. The process went very well, and the joints fitted practically perfectly…
…not to worry though, I still managed to bollocks things up in end. Continue reading “Architect’s Chair #2”
Well, it’s a been a while. I’m useless at keeping up with New Year’s resolutions. The truth is, I have been doing a lot of wood-turning recently, and I don’t tend to blog so much about that. Well, that’s my excuse anyway. Continue reading “Architect’s Chair #1”
Late last year, I posted about a leather working box I was quite pleased with, and remarked that “I must try to post more often in future. I feel a New Year’s Resolution coming on…”
Well, that worked out well, didn’t it?
goatboys woodshop 