Tea Tales

Subscribe by: Email / RSS

Squarely

Square

NEW FROM LEE VALLEY TOOLS Do you keep a 6″ inch metal rule close at hand while in the wood shop? I do, every minute. There’s one in my tool tray, one in my apron pocket, another one over on the sharpening bench for the…

In Stages

a sharpening system

Tom.

I was wondering what sharpening kit you use? I have the shapton glass-ceramic stones and although I love them I have gone through two of the 1000 grit stones in the last few years. Do you use or know anyone that use the professional shaptons?

‘Arts Weeks’ in England

FROM ACROSS THE POND

Hi Tom,
I’ll be fascinated to see how all your shop changes materialise in time, new bench and tools etc, good to hear.
On my own front I’ve been making a few visits in the Cotswold hills and villages to a selection of furniture makers, one particular being Waywood Furniture…

It’s in the Intonation

This is just an observation...

Most of the woodworkers I meet know how to play a musical instrument.

From string to wind and wind to wood, what ever.

Point is most woodworkers seem to naturally have or gain through repetition, a sense of rhythm while we work with hand tools, we’re musical even if we don’t actually play instruments.

When the Bow breaks

and there's still work to do...

Not so long ago I took apart my bow saw to transport it and when I reassembled it and put tension back on -
SNAP !
; (

Damn…

always right in the middle of a project.

Well, I better fix it.
It went something like this.

Exterior Wooden Door

CUSTOM MADE DOORS

This exterior wooden door, made completely by hand using locally harvested white oak was commissioned by a local client. The family live in a beautiful ‘heritage property’ here in Toronto that comes along with certain benefits and possible grants to help finance portions of projects…

wardrobe visit

winter went alright-

so much happening around the woodshop i need to catch up in a later, longer entry but for now I finally got a shot of a piece i made in october..ish..november?? all a blurr now-the war drobe is doing well on the 5th floor of their inner city condo…

A Walk through the Valley

WOODWORKS 2011

I was invited to speak at the Ottawa Woodworkers Association annual event this past weekend and had an inspiring time to say the least. Let me start by saying thanks again to all of the members who were able to attend and a big shout…

working wood…

what can I say ?

it’s been pretty busy around the wood shop and i’m getting closer and closer to some new projects i’m looking forward to sharing with everyone -

something soon i hope !

from saw benches to wood classes, magazine articles and new CD promotion followed with another wave of wood classes and magazine articles and new…

Turner Needed…

Dave needs your help

I received a letter from Dave in Whitehorse, YT asking me about the 5 drawer side table you’ll find a few photos of in the Gallery section of Made by Hand.

The table design is kind of a ‘country-cousin’ of one by Garrett Hack with the most obvious difference being the…