Popular Woodworking Editors' Blog

The Wall Street Journal just reported that Stanley Works and Black & Decker are merging in an all-stock deal valued at $4.5 billion. Black & Decker shareholders will get 1.275 shares of Stanley for each Black & Decker share they own, and Stanley will own 50.5 percent of the newly create company. To read the “Journal” post, click here. There's a longer story on the merger here, at 247WallSt.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, November 02, 2009 4:52:18 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [2] 

Discover our picks for the 12 Best New Tools of 2009 in the December issue of Popular Woodworking – if you’re a subscriber, you should be getting the new issue any day now (it will be available on newsstands late next week).

While I can’t reveal the Best New Tools here, I can tell you that it’s a good year for small makers (though some major manufacturers won kudos as well). Here’s one hint (for those of you who have been reading the blog throughout the year): Christopher Schwarz got the first of these in, and Glen Huey and I each placed an order within days of using Chris's (and in a reversal of traditional gender color dichotomies, mine is blue; Glen's is pin...er...red).

Also in the December issue:
• Compact 12-volt Drill/Drivers – we test six to see which one bores and screws the best – for the best price. (They’re pictured above, if you care to take a guess as to the Editor’s Choice winner.) And, read about 18v drill/drivers here to compare them to their smaller, lighter cousins – and see which is right for you.

• An elegy for Sam Maloof – John Economaki writes about his friendship with this maker of iconic, elegant furniture

• An elegy for James Krenov – Ron Hock remembers one of the most influential woodworking writers in recent history

• Bibliophile’s Bookcase – This large, Shaker-inspired bookcase provides plenty of book storage, with two drawers to boot

• Build a Boomerang – Making a boomerang (or a bunch of them) is simple and fast – and these fun projects will set your head spinning

• Shooting Boards – Small work is safer and easier to size when you work with a handplane and a ell-made shooting board

• Seamless Curved-panel Glue-ups – With careful layout, you’ll be able to hide seam on even the widest panels, even when the grain throws you a curve.

Plus, an “I Can Do That” recycling station, an inside looks at a Pennsylvania Spice Box in Arts & Mysteries, finishing with Gel Varnish and much more.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, November 02, 2009 1:18:53 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [1] 

Norm Abram sat down with Publisher Steve Shanesy at the July 2007 AWFS show in Las Vegas

We've just received a press release stating that, after 21 seasons, The New Yankee Workshop is ceasing production. Host Norm Abram will, however, remain on PBS on the This Old House series.

"We've had a great run, built challenging projects, met wonderful woodworkers, and received loyal support from millions of viewers," stated Norm Abram, in the release.

The New Yankee Workshop web site will remain available online.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Friday, October 16, 2009 3:05:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [10] 

Yesterday, Glen Huey squeezed out equal amounts of Old Brown Glue and Titebond liquid hide glue onto two glass plates, then we walked around the offices accosting F+W employees, thrust the plates under their noses, and said, “Here – smell this!” We got some strange looks – especially when I whipped out the camera. But most people were game, even though Glen prefaced the sniff test with, “Which one smells worse?” Now if a stranger (we don’t get out of our area much) walked up to me with unidentified brown gooey stuff on a plate and said, “Which one smells worse,” I’m pretty sure I’d recoil and decline to participate. But just about everyone was game, and the results were surprising.

Glen is working on a liquid hide glue story for the Winter 2009 Woodworking Magazine (on newsstands Dec. 15), and one objection we’ve heard to hide glue is that it has a rather noticeable and pervasive scent (though that’s usually in reference to cooking hot hide glue). So, we were trying to get a consensus on which liquid hide glue was most offensive on an olfactory front, just for fun. Among the woodworking staff members, 100 percent picked Old Brown Glue as the most redolent.

We then took the test to the staffers for our art and writing magazines, a couple support staff people, IT and creative services. Among the non-woodworkers, Titebond was the smelliest. I don’t know what that tells us…except that if you’re on a date with a woodworker, go for eau de Titebond.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Thursday, October 15, 2009 11:53:01 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [6] 

I'm the smallest person in our shop, yet I inevitably gravitate toward the largest projects. For the February 2009 issue of Popular Woodworking, I built a Shaker-inspired stepback that serves as a flat-screen entertainment center. Then, I decided it looked lonely in the living room, and built a Shaker-inspired case-on-case shelving unit with two drawers in the bottom. That one will be in the December issue of Popular Woodworking (which hits newsstands in the middle of November). Both of them are 7-1/2 feet tall (which is key, because it means I don't have to dust the top – no one can see it).

But Chris is currently building a 13'-long walnut bench, which is a replica of an original from the White Water Shaker Village meeting house. The project will be featured in the Winter 2009 issue of Woodworking Magazine (on newsstands in mid-December). And after watching him wrestle with 13' boards (and serving as his outfeed table), I think I'll stick to 8' and under. Chris, the large-project title is yours.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Thursday, October 08, 2009 2:27:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [4] 

Among the many entertaining and informative activities at the Woodworking in America: Hand Tools & Techniques conference was the Hand Tool Olympics, run by the Society of American Period Furniture Makers. In a booth set up in the marketplace, attendees got to test their hand-tool skills against competitors – or learn a new skill. I, for example, had never ripped a piece of rough lumber until this weekend. Thanks to Dean Jansa and Mike Siemsen (who were staffing the booth at the time along with Mark Arnold), I now know how…though I need a great deal of practice. I also saw a young man of perhaps 12 years old cut his first set of dovetails, with a helping hand from Dean – and the dovetails were quite good (which goes to show what you can do when you have no fear of failure).

First, thanks to the event sponsors, who provided tools for the participants to use, and for the winners:
• Lee Valley and Veritas for the low-angle jointer planes for the Shooting Sports
• Mike Siemsen School of Woodworking for the rip saws (sharpened by Mark Harrell at Technoprimitives) for the One-Meter Dash and for the crosscut saws (also sharpened by Mr. Harrell) for the Crosscut Extravaganza event.
• Mid-West Tool Collectors Association for the 10"-sweep braces for the Brace Yourself For a Hole in One event.
• Bad Axe Tool Works for the backsaws used for Greco-Roman Tenons event.
• Di legno Woodshop Supply for the marking knives and mallets for the Pins First or Tails First event.

And now, the champions and raffle winners in each category:
One-meter Dash (a 36” rip cut through 1 x12): Champion Roger Wicks; raffle winner Jeff Hildebrand
Shooting Sports (square a ripped edge with a jointer plane): Champion Lowell Johnson; raffle winner Paul Dzioba
Crosscut Extravaganza (crosscut a piece of 1 x 12): Champion Paul Arnold; raffle winner David Gilbert
Brace Yourself for a Hole in One (bore a ¾ hole in a piece of 2 x): Champion Bryce Gardner; raffle winner Emily Bonham
Pins First or Tails First (hand-cut a 3-pin dovetail joint): Champion Warren Mickley; raffle winner Andrew Hartley
Greco-Roman Tenons (3"-long, 3/4"-thick tenon on 2x4): Champion Graham Hughes; raffle winner Howard Steier.

And yes, that's Arts & Mysteries author Adam Cherubini in the picture, trying his hand at the One-meter Dash. Even had Adam been eligible to win, Roger Wicks beat him handily.

Thanks again to our Hand Tool Olympic sponsors, and thanks to all of you who came to the conference. And for those of you who couldn't make it this time, there are more stories and pictures to come.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, October 05, 2009 12:41:35 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [4] 

When I told Christopher that I had finished making and painting my screen door, had hung it and added the hardware, he asked to see a picture. I didn't have one. "No picture? Didn't happen," he said.

Did too.

I ended up using three 3" cabinet hinges instead of traditional screen door hinges, simply because the leaves were narrow enough to fit the application. But I used 3" screws on the door frame, and 3.5" screws on the jamb. That door isn't going anywhere. I went traditional on the handle hardware, using a reproduction latch from House of Antique Hardware. I'd never installed a tube latch before, but I didn't have too much trouble (other than finding a 3/4" bit in our shop that didn't look like it had been gnawed upon).

The hardest thing was fitting the door to the frame. As you can see, the house is old. Nothing is square. Nothing is level. Nothing is easy. And, because I used 3.5" screws that I didn't feel like taking out and putting back time and again, and I don't have a bench at home, I thought it would be easier to fit with the door hanging. Sigh. But, after a little (OK, a lot) of work with my trusty block plane and a float, I got it swinging pretty.

So Chris, here's your ocular proof.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 7:45:53 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [6] 

Glen Huey is picking up a trailer tomorrow morning, then we’re loading the workbenches up for the trip to Valley Forge, Pa., for the Woodworking in America: Hand Tools & Techniques conference Oct. 2-4. We’re bringing Christopher Schwarz’s Roubo and Holtzapffel benches, my Gluebo and Bob Lang’s 21st-Century Workbench. First, though, we have to clean them off. (I was going to pick on Bob here – that’s his bench pictured above – but frankly, mine’s not a whole lot cleaner at the moment).

There’s still time to register for the full conference (and there are still a few $100 shopping sprees for the WoodworkersBookShop.com available for full-conference registrants). But if you have only a limited amount of time, you can purchase Single Session passes on site for $35 each. That means you can spend an hour or three in the marketplace (for which admission is free), then take in a class with Roy Underhill, Toshio Odate, Chris Schwarz, Mike Wenzloff or any of the other hand-tool gurus we have lined up for the conference. Check out the schedule here.

We hope to see you in Valley Forge. Now I’m off to clean my bench.

– Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, September 28, 2009 1:00:08 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [4] 

The “Gluebo” has been put through its workholding paces lately as I’ve been working on a 33" x 84-1/2" screen door for my house. I stayed after work on Friday to rout a 1/2" x 1/2" rabbet in which the screen panels will seat, and my bench is plenty long enough to securely clamp the door between the end vise and a bench dog to hold it in place for routing. I did, I admit, have a frisson of trepidation about routing on my new bench before we get to show it off at Woodworking in America next week (routing is not my strong suit; I’m always fearful of tipping the router base and ruining my workpiece, the bench, my hands…). But, because the long edges of the door hung off the sides of the bench, I didn’t have too much fear until I got to the ends. But no problem – I just moved slowly and carefully, and all went well.

Also, while I’ve been vocal about wanting to move my bench against a wall (it would be nice to have easily accessible hanging tool storage), it was easy to walk around the bench as I routed; I didn't have to move the bench, or reposition my work. (Now that I’m done with that though, I’m eyeing a wall space again).

Then, I clamped the screen door into the leg vise with support from the board jack to trim the tenons and wedges flush at the through-mortises. Rock solid.

And as you can see, the large bench also came in handy for painting; I used Painter’s Pyramids to lift the door off the benchtop, and again was able to walk around the entire thing to easily get a coat on. Now it just needs a few more coats of paint to help it defy the elements.

When it came to attaching screen to my mitered frames, I was able to secure the interior of the frame across a bench dog and the adjustable “Wonder Pup” from Veritas, which allowed me to stretch the screen across the frame for stapling, without having to worry about flexing the frame as I pulled the screen snug.

All in all, I have nothing but love for my new LVL bench…except that it looks “pink” in a lot of photos. It’s actually a deep brown/red – the color of dried blood (I bloodied my knuckles on the “Pet Screen” – that stuff is seriously tough – and briefly thought about wiping it onto one of the legs. But I opted for a clean shop rag).

The bench will be featured in the November 2009 issue of Popular Woodworking (mailing to subscribers now, and on newsstands the second week of October). You can see a video tour of the bench here. Plus, we’ll be hauling it to Valley Forge for Woodworking in America: Hand Tools and Techniques, Oct 2-4 — and we've extended the "Early-Bird Discount through Sept. 27.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, September 21, 2009 1:30:55 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [10] 

I've been (slowly) working on a mortise-and-tenon screen door for the front of my Victorian house; I wrote a few days ago about the construction. Late on Friday afternoon, I routed a 1/2" x 1/2" rabbet in which to seat the screen inserts, and I put together the screen frames. The plan is to go into the office/shop tomorrow and paint the frames, then tack on the screening (I've no idea how to do that – I'm leaning toward wire staples, but if you have suggestions...).

First, however, I thought I'd best pull off the existing aluminum screen door and framing, and see what horrors were hidden underneath. The last few owners of this house did some, uh, interesting installation and repair jobs; I'm always bemused/shocked/terrified/disheartened by what I uncover when I pull up carpets, replace trim, etc. Under the screen-door framing, I fully expected to find rotting and/or missing trim; terrible, multiple attempts at hinge mortises; and who knows what else. I was prepared to spend at least a day prepping and repairing the jamb before I could even think about fitting and installing my new door.

A former owner, the guy who installed the aluminum screen door, is a bonehead (and Steve B., If you're reading this, I'd say the same to your face). Down one side, he used nails instead of screws, and in the intervening years, said nails got covered with eleventy billion layers of caulk. Ugh. But once I scraped off the caulk and levered the nails out from the backside of the framing, I was able to get at them with nail pullers. That, however, is going to be the worst part of the job. 

The original trim is in remarkably good shape; I won't have to match or repair any moulding at all. And, on the decorative moulding there's only a layer of two of...shellac? varnish? so the lines are still crisp; a gentle scraping is all it will take before I'm ready to paint.

Now I'm just hoping the new door goes in with as little trouble as the old one came out.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:02:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] 

Sometimes, great woodworking tools come in very small packages – and at a very small price.

We just received a few samples of the “GripSharp,” a combination pencil grip and pencil sharpener that slides over the business end of any common pencil. With just a few twists, the sharpener removes wood from the pencil, but the blade doesn’t touch the graphite. While this leaves a long bit of the graphite extending past the supporting wood, you leave the GripSharp in place, and it supports the graphite.

If you pull the GripSharp off of the pencil, the marking end will look strange (and snap off easily), but why would you? The GripSharp provides a comfortable, ergonomic grip, and you’ll always have a sharpener handy – literally at your fingertips.

However, because the GripSharp removes only wood, it doesn’t provide a sharp pencil point on the graphite. So if you use a pencil for, say, marking out dovetails, you’ll still want a mechanical pencil (we like .5 mm, high-polymer graphite) on hand. But because it produces a thick point, the GripSharp is the ideal tool for turning any pencil into a marker for rough cuts.

It’s available in a range of colors, for only $2.89 each. For more information, visit the company’s web site (gripsharpco.com).

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Friday, September 18, 2009 1:52:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [5] 

In the Sept. 9 e-mail newsletter, I included a small picture of my new LVL bench (featured in the upcoming November issue). On top of it was a wooden screen door I’m making to replace the nasty aluminum one I now have. I’m just excited that after four years with the magazine, I finally have a bench large enough, and with great workholding solutions, on which to make a 33" wide x 84" tall project. (I’m the smallest person in our shop, yet I habitually build the largest projects). Anyway, I got a surprising number of questions about the door – so here are the answers (and now I’m sorry I didn’t bother to take step photos).

First, I measured my door opening, then added a 1/4" or so to accommodate fitting the finished project – I expect that to be the most difficult part of the project, because in my 1895 house, nothing is square (or level, for that matter).

I decided to go with poplar, because I plan to paint the door with several coats of exterior-grade latex. Were I using a clear finish, I might have opted for teak, cedar or cypress, because they hold up well in exterior applications – though I’d have added a few layers of spar varnish for good measure. But poplar is cheap…and so am I, which is why I decided to make the door myself instead of ordering a custom one. But I did troll a lot of custom door sites for design inspiration.

I had to balance my plan decisions with the tooling available to me. I knew I wanted to use traditional wedged through-mortise construction, and we don’t have any 1/4" bits for the mortiser that can cut much beyond 2" deep. So I decided on 4" wide stiles. For visual balance, I also opted for 4" wide rails for the top and center, and a 6" bottom rail. Not only do the extra 2" at the bottom visually ground the door, the wider rail adds strength – and will hopefully discourage the cats (at least 2" worth of discouragement, anyway) from trying to jump through the screen to get at the many stray cats that hang around my porch (anyone want a cat? I have a few to spare – and they’re already altered. Seriously – I’ll even throw in a bag of free cat food).

So $38 later, I had a pile of 5/4 straight-grained poplar, ready to work. I milled it flat on the jointer and planer, cut the two stiles to length at 84" strong (yes, I’ve just slipped into carpenter jargon) and all the rails to length at 33" strong. I marked out the three mortises on each stile with a 3/4" shoulder at the top of the top rail and a 1" shoulder at the bottom of the bottom rail, and 1/2" shoulders for the rest. I really don’t know why – it just seems sensible that the two places at the outside edges that will bang hardest against the frame should have a stronger shoulder.

Then I set up the mortiser with a 1/4" bit, did my best to center it perfectly across the edge of my stock, and started plunging. I cut all three mortises on the first stile a little better than 2" deep, the flipped it end for end and cut them again – that way, if you don’t get the bit perfectly centered, the mortise still ends up in the center (if a little larger than you intended). Then I flipped it edge for edge, and followed the same procedure on the other side. The holes met in the middle (after I cleared the dust out with a screwdriver). Then I cut the mortises in the other stile, and took an ibuprofen break. (I have a bad right shoulder – mortising hurts. Wah.)

I measured the width of the mortise carefully, and set up the dado stack on the table saw to cut the 4"-long tenon faces (with repeated passes). Because the shoulders are inconsistent, I cut them by hand with a carcase saw, and cleaned up after my cuts with a chisel (I simply must work on my hand saw skills). A test fit revealed that two of my tenons were a wee bit fat, so I cleaned those up with a float (a shoulder plane would work, too). Once everything fit well with hand pressure, I eyeballed the middle of each tenon and cut a kerf.

Then it was over to the band saw to cut some long, narrow wedges from my poplar offcuts. I used an old toothbrush to spread glue on all surfaces of both the mortise and the  tenon, then fit all the joints together, and quickly moved on to the wedges. As I mentioned, I did a poor job of cutting the tenon shoulders by hand. So while the plan was to wedge the center of each tenon, the reality was that I had to wedge some of them at the top and/or bottom as well. I’m told this is actually a traditional approach…so yeah, I meant to do that. I checked for square then clamped it up to dry and went home for the day. The next day, I stopped in to take it out of the clamps and used Jameel Abraham’s new carbide-tipped "Skraper" to remove the squeeze-out. That little tool works like a champ (and for the moment, it’s available only at the Benchcrafted booth at the Oct. 2-4 Woodworking in America in Valley Forge, Pa. – admission to the marketplace is free, so come by and check it out).

Now, the door is stored against the back of my workbench. This weekend, I hope to find time to rout a rabbet for the screen inserts, make the screen frames, and decide on the hardware (which will be by far the most expensive part of the project).

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Friday, September 11, 2009 3:04:51 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [5] 

• What: A Backstage Pass to Whitewater Shaker Village and Freud Tools Demo
 • When: Saturday, Sept. 12. Freud demonstrations at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.; tours of Village throughout the morning and early afternoon
 • Where: Whitewater Shaker Village, on Oxford Road between New Haven, Ohio and the Butler County Line (directions will be provided for those who RSVP to Megan Fitzpatrick)

Get a backstage pass to Whitewater Shaker Village and take a step back in time. Whitewater is the only one of four Ohio Shaker villages retaining most of its original buildings in their original settings. Nowhere else in the state is there such a significant collection of original Shaker buildings – 22 in all. These buildings, and the grounds on which they are built, represent the lives of those sincere, peaceful, hard-working people who believed that every labor was an act of religious expression and should be done to perfection.

For nearly 80 years, this once-thriving Shaker village (located northwest of Cincinnati) was nearly forgotten, but recently the Friends of Whitewater began the process to return Whitewater to its former glory. Buildings are being discovered, documented and renovated. It’s important for you to get a first-hand look at work in process as well as the potential the village has to offer.       

Freud Tools is sponsoring the event, and will have one of the company’ great mobile workshops on hand. In this fully equipped woodworking shop on wheels, Freud provides clinics and shares its commitment to training woodworkers about cutting tools and why innovation in cutting tools is important.

During the day, Freud representatives will present two woodworking clinics. In the first clinic Freud introduces its new Premier Adjustable Rail and Stile set. This router bit set allows woodworkers to mill tenons of any length – everything from stub tenons to wedged through-tenons. Long tenons translate into joints with more strength and as a result, your doors will stand up to years of use and could last forever.

The second clinic demonstrates the Freud way to create glass panel doors. There’s no better way to trick-out a cabinet or display case than to add glass doors. During the clinic, watch the entire process of creating glass doors from milling the stock to assembling the door to setting the glass and applying the glass stop.

Space is limited. Reserve your slot by sending an e-mail to Megan Fitzpatrick, and directions will be sent forthwith.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:13:56 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] 

Second only to our love of woodworking is our love of good food (OK – some of us would put that first, actually). So as we get ready for Woodworking in America: Hand Tools and Techniques (Oct. 2-4 in Valley Forge, Penn.), we asked some locals to weigh in on their favorites cuisine.

Mario Rodriguez, who’ll be teaching you to make better dovetailed drawers at the conference, has a couple favorites for filling out your drawers:

• White Dog Cafe (Contemporary American)
This restaurant combines culinary influences from all the cultures that comprise the United States, and emphasizes quality wares from local sustainable farmers. The Café is located in the University City area of Philadelphia (about 24 miles from Valley Forge). I’ll take a double helping of the Artichoke Bacon Risotto (it’s a side dish).

• Fork (New American Bistro Cuisine)
Awarded “three bells” by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the bistro emphasizes ingredient-driven seasonal and artisanal offerings. Put me down for the house-smoked pork chop with local peaches, and a side of herbed quinoa with olives. It’s about 26 miles from the conference…but traffic may make it an hour drive. Nonetheless, the menu reads like it might be worth the trip.

Chuck Bender, who’ll be teaching Inlay and Stringing, recommends:

• Black Lab Bistro (American Casual Contemporary)
Chuck says this Phoenixville bistro (which is about 5 miles from Valley Forge) has the best food around, but he adds that it’s BYOB. I checked out the menu; Goat Cheese Gnocchi – I’m sold. The signature house dish sounds awfully good, too: pan-seared Duck Breast and Divers Scallops in a black currant sauce.

• Iron Hill Brewery (American Cuisine)
This brewery is famous for its artisan beer (Senior Editor Glen D. Huey has had the pleasure of sampling more than one), with offerings ranging from a light lager to a tar-colored “Pig Iron Porter.” Plus, they have an award-winning selection of hand-bottled ales and lagers. The food sounds spectacular, too. (There’s even a handful of gluten-free offerings – but I’d be hard-pressed not to try the Steak Frites). The Iron Hill Brewery has several locations, but the closest seems to be in New Wales, about 18 miles from the conference site.

• Tequilas (Upscale Mexican)
If a mouthful of Mexican spice is more up your alley, this restaurant offers tequila made on the premises. And Chuck says the restaurant interior is a real treat for woodworkers. I do love a good mole sauce, with a shot on the side…Tequilas is about 25 miles from Valley Forge.

• And let’s not forget the sandwich for which Philadelphia is famous. There’s no consensus as to where to find the best Philly Cheesesteak – Philly Pats and Geno’s are always a good bet, but Chuck votes for John’s in Frazer (27 miles). (Feel free to disagree with his choice in the comments.) Chuck's parting shot: “Try Tony Luke's for the best roast pork sandwich in the world” (about 28 miles from Valley Forge)

Adam Cherubini (the guy in the breeches and funny hat, who’ll be talking about joinery planes) likes:

• Jessop’s Tavern, in New Castle, Del. (near Winterthur), where they have, and I quote, “Yummy shepherd’s pie.” He also recommends a walk through the town after dinner, especially in “The Strand” where many 18th-century houses offer a glimpse of what early Philadelphia was like (as long as you ignore the power plant across the water).

• The City Tavern in Philadelphia, where the menu and dining experience is inspired by 18th-century Colonial America. Braised rabbit is a menu staple, and Adam heartily recommends the house-brewed beers.  It’s about 25 miles from Valley Forge.

• Smith and Wollensky
While Adam says they have great burgers and split pea soup, he’s really sold on the Rittenhouse Square location (in the Rittenhouse Hotel, about 25 miles from Valley Forge). Adam writes, “Somewhere on the square lived David Deshler who commissioned (someone) to build a set of Chippendale chairs that Popular Woodworking readers should recognize.  (I suspect he’s referring to his year-long Chippendale Chair project – the final installment is in the November 2009 issue.)

Adam has one warning for those who venture into the city: “Unpaid parking tickets mature much faster than savings bonds.”

If you have Philly-area favorites, please post ‘em below!

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, August 31, 2009 2:47:43 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [6] 

Yes – it’s another post about my clothing purchases. Contain yourselves.

I loved this skirt. I bought it when I was 16 or 17 – when I apparently thought “sexy” was an ankle-length, gathered-waist suede skirt. (Nothing like being completely covered in cow hide to attract a young man, eh?) I wore it throughout college – but it seems to have shrunk. I haven’t been able to fit into it for 15 years (and I’m not sure I’d want to wear it now, anyway). But I hung onto it, moving it from apartment to apartment, and finally to the auxiliary closet in my house (where all my old clothes go to die).

But now, I’m glad I kept it. The buttery brown suede is just the thing for lining one’s vise faces (though the first cut was a little painful to make). Here’s how to do it (with thanks to Editor Chris Schwarz for the lesson – and for the record, those are his hairy knuckles in some of the pictures, not mine):

Measure the vise chop, then cut the suede to fit. If you can’t get it cut perfectly, it’s better to err on the side of a little small, as you don’t want bits of suede hanging over the edges of your vise chop.

Then, grab a sheet of wax paper and tape it in place opposite the chop’s face; this will keep the glue from sticking to the leg and top of your bench. Grab the yellow glue (though if you’re not afraid to mix your cows, hide glue would work, too), and squeeze a goodly amount onto the backside of the suede, and spread it out. Pay careful attention to the edges – that’s where it’s most important that you get enough glue for a good bond.

Now apply the sticky-backed leather to the face of your chop and smooth out all wrinkles. If your vise chop cinches tight along all its face to the benchtop and leg, go ahead and cinch it tight and let to glue set for an hour or so. If, as on my leg vise, you have a parallel guide that pivots the vise slightly toward the top edge of your bench, insert a block of wood that’s as deep as the suede-covered face, cover it with waxed paper, then cinch the vise tight (that way, you ensure equal pressure along the entire suede-glued face). You can also stretch painter’s tape across the suede to hold it tight while it dries.

After a half-hour to an hour, un-cinch the vise and scrape off any squeeze-out with a dull screwdriver, or some other implement that won’t tear the suede. Do this before the glue dries completely – you don’t want any bits of hardened glue on the vise; that could mar your work.

Now you’re ready to go to work – just after you hide the evidence – and hope your mother doesn’t read the blog post about your having cut up an expensive skirt…for which she probably gave you the money. 

Disclaimer: No cows were harmed in the making of this blog. They were harmed 25 years prior.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Friday, August 28, 2009 2:43:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [9] 

At last year’s Woodworking in America conference in Berea, Ky., the sessions that sold out the fastest were on saws and saw sharpening. So at this year’s Hand Tools and Techniques conference (Oct. 2-4 in Valley Forge, Penn.) we’re offering tons of opportunity to learn to sharpen your saws.

For those who register for the conference, there will be walk-in saw sharpening and sawing clinics in the Hands-on Bench Room throughout the weekend so that every one who signs up for the conference has a chance to find out how it’s done – and try it for him or herself.

We’ll have saw vises set up, and files and other accoutrements available, so that anyone who wants to can bring in their saws and learn how to hand-sharpen them, from the fleam to the rake to the set. Plus, we’ll have saws on hand for practice, in case you can’t bring your own. And if you need a lesson in saw use, we’ll be happy to provide that, too.

Saw experts Mike Wenzloff and Ron Herman will be demonstrating in the Hands-on Bench Room throughout the weekend (see the schedule for specific times – though both promise to be there additional hours as well). And when Mike and Ron are busy elsewhere, we’ll have the room staffed with experienced sawyers and sharpeners who can set you straight on all things saw related.

So if you are awash in dull saws, this is your best chance to watch the masters – and give it a try for yourself.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Thursday, August 27, 2009 3:53:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] 

Adam Cherubini volunteers in the Pennsbury Manor Joyner's Shop, demonstrating 18th-century hand tool techniques. (photo by Kari Hultman)

Set aside a little time before or after the Woodworking in America: Hand Tools and Techniques conference (Oct 2-4 in Valley Forge, Pa.)  – ‘cause really cool stuff is just an hours’ drive away.

Mercer and Fonthill Museums
The Mercer Museum, operated by the Bucks County Historical Society, is an unparalleled collection of objects from of everyday life in 18th- and 19th-century America – more than 40,000 tools and artifacts representing more than 60 early American trades including woodworking, shingle-making, printing and metalworking, plus numerous examples of early American furniture and folk art. At the Mercer, you’ll find one of the world’s best hand tool collections. Almost all of the 55 exhibit areas display the tools and products of early American craft, and life in the pre-industrial age.

The collection was amassed by Henry Mercer (1856-1930) and his house is also a museum on the same site. Fonthill Museum is a 44-room concrete castle with more than 200 windows, and an interior elaborately decorated with handcrafted tiles. Many of Mercer’s original furnishings and effects remain in the museum, which stands as a testament to Mercer’s vision.
Information (including directions from Valley Forge) about the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Museum can be found on the web.

Winterthur
Winterthur was the country estate of Henry Francis DuPont (1880-1969), which DuPont and his father designed in the style of 18th- and 19th-century English country estates. DuPont was an avid horticulturalist and antiques collector, and the gardens and furniture collection at the museum are spectacular. But perhaps the most incredible attraction of Winterthur (for woodworkers, anyway) is the Dominy family woodworking shop – a reconstruction of the shop used by four generations of craftsmen who worked in East Hampton, N.Y., from the mid 1700s to the mid 1800s. It’s an astounding array of tools (more than 800) in an original environment, which gives a glimpse at what it was like to be an American rural woodworker more than two centuries ago. For more information on Winterthur, visit its web site.

The Wharton Esherick Museum
This national historic landmark is an incredible architectural gem built from traditional materials in new forms, with curved stone walls, a multi-colored tower and a patchwork floor of wood scraps. Esherick built his studio during four decades, and his evolving artistic styles are reflected in the building’s design and details, all of which he crafted. Just before his death in 1970, Esherick spoke of his studio as an autobiography executed in wood. A guided tour through the museum reveals more than 200 pieces of the artist’s work, including sculptural wood furnishings. And on display from Sept. 13-Dec. 31, 2009 are selections from the museum’s 16th annual woodworking competition. This year’s exhibit, “Step Right Up,” features nine library ladders. For more information, visit the museum’s web site.

Pennsbury Manor
Pennsbury manor is the recreated home of William Penn (1644-1781), one of the founders and “Absolute Proprietors” of the Province of Pennsylvania. A member of the Quaker religion, Penn was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom who came to North America in 1682 as governor of Pennsylvania, and shortly thereafter began building his country home. After Penn’s death, the estate fell into disrepair and all visible traces of the original plantation has vanished.

From 1933 to 1942, the Pennsylvania Historical Commission reconstructed the site, including the Manor House, the outbuildings and the landscape, working from Penn’s original instructions and archeological evidence. Today, the home is open as a museum; and every Sunday, volunteer interpreters (including Popular Woodworking’s “Arts & Mysteries” author Adam Cherubini) dress in period clothing and present aspects of 17th-century life. You can often find Adam in the Joyner’s Shop. Visit the manor's web site for more information.

Photo courtesy of, Pennsbury Manor, administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

In addition to these and myriad other museums and historic sites in and around Valley Forge, there’s a wealth of shopping from the King of Prussia mall (the world’s largest retail mall) to chic Mainline Philadelphia boutiques, fall foliage tours, gourmet food (more on the food in a later post), music and more.

For comprehensive information on Valley Forge and the surrounding area, visit the Valley Forge Convention & Visitors’ Bureau web site and the Buck’s County web site.

And if you live in the Valley Forge area – or just know a little something about it – please leave additional suggestions in our comments, below.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:38:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [4] 

A couple weeks ago, I bought a skirt and some, er, ladies undergarments. But they’ve been sitting in their bags, tags attached, since I brought them home. I guess I’ve just been too busy to put them away.

Recently, I’ve had to replace a washing machine, have my box gutters relined and have the house painted. But these somewhat-expected expenditures are not what’s undermining my clothes-purchasing habits. Last weekend, I crossed the woodworking Rubicon.  

With just enough discretionary funds to order the apron plane I’ve been wanting from Veritas, I packed up my car and drove to the Woodworking in America conference last weekend. At the first free moment I had, I hustled over to Wally Wilson in the Lee Valley booth and placed my order. Then, I walked back toward the Popular Woodworking booth to check in with Linda Watts, our art director, who was running the bookstore for the weekend. I stopped along the way to say hello and chat with other toolmakers and sellers, and struggled mightily to avoid looking too closely or covetously at the tables full of seductive wares.

Then I got to Dave Jeske’s Blue Spruce Toolworks booth. He had a lovely olive-green lignum vitae-handled fishtail chisel that I simply couldn’t resist. So I pulled out the credit card and scrawled my signature, and said I’d be back on Sunday morning to collect my new tool. So the skirt will have to be returned (it’s olive green, too, so that’s a even trade, right?). Dave also had a couple chisels with blue polymer-infused maple handles that would look great with the mallet I bought from him a few months back. But I already have chisels in both the sizes he had on hand, so I resisted that Siren’s song.

On Sunday, I went back to pick up my purchase. As Dave was wrapping up the fishtail chisel, I picked up the 1/2" blue dovetail chisel again. Then I pulled out the credit card.

So I guess it’s fair to say that last weekend, Dave Jeske talked me out of my skirt, bra and panties.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, August 17, 2009 5:47:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [14] 

Last week, we posted a blog poll to see what you thought about adding a benchtop table saw to the “I Can Do That” arsenal of tools (a basic but good set that allows the beginning woodworker to make solid and handsome pieces). As of the time I wrote this, we had 616 votes; more than 86 percent responded “yes” – we should add a benchtop table saw. So we decided to ignore your democratic vote (for now) and add a router (we’re still deciding on the make and model).

I realize this reeks of election tampering, but allow me to explain. Many of the comments against adding the table saw were convincing. And, our initial thoughts were that a table saw would allow rip cuts, so stock could easily be made into smaller sticks. But we do already have a circular saw and jigsaw in the kit, both of which can be used for ripping. And with a guide, an edge off a circ saw needs the same amount of cleanup for joinery and panel glue-ups as does one off a table saw. And for tenons, there’s the added cost of a dado stack – but how to cut the mortises?

Several readers suggested a band saw – and we agree it’s a useful machine (not to mention the powered saw of choice for many British woodworkers). And others suggested the router. When we met to discuss the poll results, we agreed with the router camp.

A router allows us to add decorative moulding to projects (beyond what the big box store has in stock – and at a lower price), cut dados, rabbets and grooves, and cut both mortises and tenons. Plus, it’s a hand-held tool (unless we add a simple router table, of course), which is more in line with the “I Can Do That” philosophy.

We’ll start out with a few basic bits – a 3/4" pattern bit with a top-mount bearing (Senior Editor Glen D. Huey’s go-to bit). A rabbeting set (editor Christopher Schwarz’s selection…though he almost went with a 1/4" spiral upcut) and a 1/2" pattern bit (Senior Editor Robert W. Lang’s choice – he doesn’t like to be locked in to a 3/4" groove). I chose a 1/4" roundover bit…a holdover from my home renovation (I ran the shoe moulding about a year ago – it’s still stacked neatly in the dining room).

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Tuesday, August 11, 2009 8:35:38 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [11] 

Editor Christopher Schwarz and I have been busy building a Roubo-style bench for an upcoming issue of Popular Woodworking. The twist on this one is, it’s made from Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), an engineered product usually used in construction. You can read more about the build in a number of posts over on the Woodworking Magazine blog.

Chris is out of the office for a few days, and in the meantime, I was tasked with breaking down the bench (it’s bolted together for easy breakdown transport) and painting the base with milk paint (Real Milk Paint in “Red”), then adding a topcoat of wax. On Tuesday afternoon, I put on the first coat of paint, and because I made it fairly thick, I almost got away with one coat…and almost ran out of paint. On Wednesday morning, I thinned the remaining paint with water, let it slake for a half-hour or so, then added a second coat that was closer to a wash coat.

Milk paint dries quickly, so by early afternoon, I was ready to wax. And that’s where I ran into trouble…

First, I used butcher’s wax, which flashed off white. When I tried to rub it out, the not-very-smooth surface of the LVL (I should have sanded more, I suppose) made it tough to get into the troughs…and I was left with a mottled white atop the brick red beneath. Not pretty. And we’re shooting the cover shot next week. Panic ensued.

I popped out to the hardware store for a medium-hard natural-bristle brush, thinking maybe I could rub out the wax that way while getting into all the crannies. Nope; that was a waste of $5. Glen Huey and Bob Lang suggested I try floor wax instead, and told me that “wax cleans wax” thus a coat of the amber-colored floor wax would lift off the white. With trepidation, I added a coat of the floor wax, waited for it to flash, then wiped it off. Whew! They were right. The floor wax lifted the butcher’s wax, and rubbed out fairly easily. Floor wax – better than Valium for calming panic.

But the wax-on, futile-attemp-at-wax-off, panic, trip to hardware store, panic, and new coat of wax put me behind. Way behind. I was supposed to bolt the base back together yesterday afternoon, so that Chris could show it off to his father (he’s visiting from Charleston, S.C.) this morning. And I was supposed to start and finish the “I Can Do That” project for November before lunch (we're shooting that tomorrow morning). But when Chris and his dad showed up, I was still frantically wiping off a final coat of wax.

So they helped me bolt the base together (OK – I pretty much watched, while picking out the waxy paint from under my nails, while Chris and Dr. Schwarz put it together). And in the meantime, I managed to get the ICDT project done too…by talking Glen into doing it. Thank you, Glen!

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:42:53 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [5] 

You’re perhaps familiar with the “I Can Do That” column in Popular Woodworking, wherein we design and build a simple yet handsome piece using mostly dimensional lumber (though we’ve ripped a short piece a time or two with a jigsaw) and a simple (but good) set of tools.

There’s a free PDF manual on the web page that shows and tells how to use all the tools in the ICDT kit. And, most of the plans and instructions we’ve published in the ICDT column are also free on the site. The goal is to help beginning woodworkers make something they’ll be proud to show off for years to come – not something that will be kicked to the curb (as were the many L-bracket bookshelves I built lo these many years ago) once their skills and toolkits grow.

Currently in the toolkit we have a sliding compound miter saw, a circular saw and a jigsaw among the power saw selections. We’re thinking of adding a benchtop table saw so that longer rip cuts are possible. That would allow us to expand the types of projects we offer – without breaking the wood budget. Six 1" x 1" x 36" pieces aren't cheap – but a 1x8 that can be ripped quickly on the table saw into six pieces is far more affordable.

We reviewed benchtop table saws for the October 2009 issue (which will be arriving in subscriber mailboxes in a couple weeks), and we think the new saws are pretty darn good – especially for a beginner, or someone with a small shop (not to mention hand-tool users who need a table saw occasionally).

So what do you think? Does a benchtop table saw belong in the I Can Do That shop? Please cast your vote in our poll below.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Tuesday, August 04, 2009 8:37:28 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [23] 

Senior Editor Glen D. Huey was out of the office last week, purportedly teaching a class on building a tea table at Acanthus Workshops. But on Friday, I got a photo via e-mail from Chuck Bender (the founder of Acanthus Workshops), and it doesn’t look to me as if Glen was working very hard. So, just to embarrass Glen (one of my favorite pastimes), I’m holding a “Caption the Photo” contest. Whomever supplies the funniest caption (if you make me expel Diet Coke from my nose, you win) in the comment section by 2 p.m. Friday, July 17, will get a free copy of our newest CD: “The Arts & Mysteries of Hand Tools,” which you can read more about in the post below, or here.

(And yes, I realize the intrinsic irony of offering a hand-tool-related prize for any contest featuring Glen.)

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, July 13, 2009 5:05:56 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [156] 

On our newest CD, “The Arts & Mysteries of Hand Tools,” we've collected everything Contributing Editor Adam Cherubini has written over the years – from his first "Arts & Mysteries" column in April 2005 to his most recent in August 2009 – 31 stories in all.

Plus, you'll find hand-tool articles from Popular Woodworking on sharpening, handplanes, chisels, saws and more!

All of the articles are in an easy-to-search and easy-to-use pdf format.

Here's a look at some of the highlights:

• The Ultimate Hand-tool Shop
Ideal bench placement, convenient tool-storage solutions and a dedicated sharpening station are the key considerations in creating the "perfect" hand-tool shop. Once these are established, there's rarely a need for a larger space, no matter how many hand tools you acquire.

• 18th-century Standing Desk
This seven-article series walks you through period design and construction techniques as Adam builds a handsome standing desk for his shop.

• Hand Tools in the Modern Shop
Discover the simple steps anyone can take to quickly become an accomplished hand-tool user – from mastering the essential skill of sharpening to using planes, chisels and handsaws like a pro.

Order your copy today – just $19.95!

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, July 13, 2009 4:49:59 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] 

To all our Chicago-area readers: We would (of course) love to have you join us for the weekend, or even just one day, at the St. Charles Woodworking in America Furniture Construction and Design Conference (Aug. 14-16 at Pheasant Run Resort). But if you can’t make it for the conference sessions, you can visit the Marketplace for just $10, and test-drive some of the latest tools (vintage ones as well) and woodworking products, from Lee Valley Tools, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, Micro Fence, D.L. Barrett and Sons, Brese Planes, Woodpeckers, Blue Spruce Toolworks, Tools for Working Wood and many more. Check out the complete list of exhibitors here. You can buy tickets ahead of time here, or just pay at the door. Parking is free. We hope to see you there!

Marketplace-only tickets for Woodworking in America: Hand Tools and Techniques (Valley Forge, Pa., Oct 2-4) are also available by clicking here.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Monday, July 13, 2009 12:55:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] 

For those of you who made it to the Cincinnati Lie-Nielsen Travelin' Hand Tool event, you know how great it was to get your hands on a huge range of Lie-Nielsen tools, meet the folks behind the name, and listen to Chris Schwarz wax prolific about hammers...and what they do to planes. (If you missed the show, become a fan of the Popular Woodworking Facebook page and you can see pictures).

Well, Lie-Nielsen is taking the show to Rochester, N.Y. on July 10 and 11, at the Rochester Woodworker's Society (noon-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday). In addition to hands-on training from Lie-Nielsen folk, the Rochester Woodworkers Guild will be giving demonstrations. (And by the by, every penny Chris Schwarz makes off his DVD sales is donated to a woodworking charity.) Admission is free. Visit the events page at lie-nielsen.com for more information.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Thursday, July 09, 2009 4:17:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] 

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner: Congrats to Craig Parker. Answers are at the bottom.

We're in the midst of a cover test for the October issue of Popular Woodworking (you can cast your vote here), and as always, the editorial staff has placed friendly bets on which will be the winner. We've each placed our "avatar" atop our favorite cover (or the one we think will garner the most votes).

What does this have to do with you? If you can correctly guess which avatar represents which staff member you can win a DVD. The first respondent to correctly match all the avatars to their staff member will win a FREE copy of our latest DVD: "Turning Basics for Furniture Makers with Steve Shanesy."

Entries must be e-mailed to Megan.Fitzpatrick@fwmedia.com. And to make it a bit more challenging, I'll tell you that Senior Editor Glen D. Huey and Publisher Steve Shanesy are out of the office – which leaves the remaining five staff members...and I'm not giving their names. (OK, four...as you have to e-mail me – but my avatar is a gimme, anyway.)

The answers:

Luke Skywalker: Drew DePenning; Dwight Schrute: Chris Schwarz; Bullwinkle: Bob Lang; Phone Wire Man: Linda Watts (she made this sculpture!); Shakespeare: Megan Fitzpatrick.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 11:24:48 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] 

We are pleased to announce George Walker as an addition to the Woodworking in America: Furniture Construction and Design Conference (Aug. 14-16 in St. Charles, Ill.). George's session, "Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Design," will be at 6 p.m. on Friday. (That's also the title of his excellent new DVD from Lie-Nielsen Toolworks; you can read a review of it here.)

At this session, you'll discover how period woodworkers easily sized door frames, table aprons, crown mouldings and more, with proportions based on architecture, and how these time-tested principles still apply to both modern and traditional work. You'll learn the fundamentals of proportions, forms and the classic orders. You'll pick up practical skills to help you unravel the design behind a great piece of furniture. Mastering proportions will unlock your creativity and increase your design confidence.

Plus, George will be set up for at least a couple hours every day of the conference to demonstrate his methods, answer questions and more.

Check out all the speakers and sessions – and register now at WoodworkinginAmerica.com. (And if you've already registered, you don't need to sign up for this new session – just show up!)

Monday, July 06, 2009 2:53:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] 

Franklin International stock is not publicly traded – a crying shame ’cause I could use a no-fail get-rich-quick plan. Editor Christopher Schwarz is building another bench; Franklin International makes TiteBond Glue.

In theory, I’m building a bench. When I first began dabbling in woodworking a few years ago, Chris gifted me what I think was his first bench (maybe it was his second; it’s hard to keep them all straight). Since then, I’ve gravitated toward hand tools, but often struggle with workholding on my bench that’s better-suited to power tools. So when he’s not in the middle of a project (and sometimes when he is), I sneak over to Chris’s Roubo where the surface is long and level, and the workholding is easy.

This new bench, which Chris has written about on the Woodworking Magazine blog, is being made from LVL (laminated veneer lumber). Chris has never worked with the product before, and that’s just too much temptation for him to resist. And I’m happy to let him lift, joint and rip these heavy, splintery, 8'-long behemoths – I seriously doubt I could do the work. I’m content to serve as an outfeed table, clamp-getter, glue carrier…What I didn’t count on was having to wipe up a gallon of glue from the floor. Seriously. A gallon. After ripping the LVL, we laminated it back together in four-piece chunks with the plies facing up (and down) – in large part because it looks cool that way. Chris poured the glue, and I spread it with a 4" roller.

Chris admits he’s often been accused of having a glue problem. But in his defense, he says he’s experienced only one de-lamination in all his years of building benches – and that one de-lam was because he was young and foolish…and took the poor advice of a more experienced but parsimonious woodworker. So now, he pours on the glue. Lots of glue. You know how when you glue up a panel and you look for tiny beads of squeeze-out along the seam? Apparently, when making a benchtop, what you’re looking for is Angel Falls.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Thursday, May 14, 2009 4:56:06 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [7] 

So this was supposed to be an at least vaguely amusing post about Woodworker's Safety Week. You see, Kari Hultman (a.k.a. The Village Carpenter), posted a funny blog entry in honor of Safety Week with pictures of her dogs.

Now, you could say that I'm a bit of an ailurophile – so I came up with an idea (in retrospect, it was an idea doomed from the start), to use one of my cats' paws as if it were a toothing plane. So just before we left work today, Editor Christopher Schwarz (also a cat lover) took a few passes on a piece of pine with a toothing plane, and I took it home to mock up a picture of my youngest cat scratching furrows in the board, then a picture of her claws with little plastic sleeves (cut from coffee stirrers) to show how to properly store your pawlane (say it fast -- it almost works) when it's not in use.

Yeah, that didn't work so well. I have furrows in my arm instead.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

Friday, May 08, 2009 9:06:52 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3]