Blog Series

A Frankenchair

Part 1: An Inspired Moment?

The previous owner of our house installed a hot tub 25-30 years ago, and I was able it keep it going for the last 10 years we've own it with practi...

Part 2: Prototyping a Base

With one of the salvaged shell sections selected,  I worked on a number of overlapping tasks in repetitive iterations - looking at orientation, sea...

Part 3: A Curvier Approach

I spent a lot of time online looking at images of mid-century modern chairs looking for inspiration for the base.  I kept coming back to this recli...

Building a cane

Part 9: Hole for the peg, shaping begins

This morning’s progress was marking the position for the hole in the tenon, [IMG_9240.jpeg] [IMG_9241.jpeg] [IMG_9247.jpeg] Then offsetting it b...

Part 10: Shaping the handle

About two hours more work (for two handles) mostly with a spokeshave and a knife, but also with some rasp work and a pencil to mark what I want to ...

Part 11: Shaping the handle more, grain filling, and fitting the tip on the shaft

90 minutes in the shop this morning, but quite a bit of progress. First, I shaped the handle a bit more. When Greg tried it on Friday, we made mar...

Alphorn Experiment

Part 3: Making the Straight Sections

From a design perspective the straight sections were much simpler than the bell.  Each section was divided into two identical halves so I just need...

Part 4: Joining the Straight Sections

I am finally getting around to posting the next chapter.  So the next step was figuring out how to join the sections so that they were both secure ...

Part 5: Joining and Completing the Bell

The last step before applying a finish to everything was completing the bell.  As I mentioned at the end of Chapter 2 about making the bell on my C...

Just for Fun

Part 1: Box-work Continues

   The Oak-sided Box that was begun in the "Starting Over" blog had Its top cut off and its corners pinned... [20250818_133507.jpg] Cleanup of the...

Part 2: Hinge Attachment and a Handle

   The hinges were glued to this latest box while held closed by the Vise, and weight was added as a sort of "clamp" to hold them on while the glu...

Videos

Part 1: Fales Patent Plane - History of Otis A Smith and Amos Fales

 Have you ever encountered a woodworking tool so versatile it seems to defy the limitations of its era? The Fales Patent Plane is one such tool, a ...

Part 2: Build a Stick Chair

After finishing my stick chair almost a month ago, I finally got the video done for it. They were both a lot of work! [2025-08-31_07-12-42.jpg]...

eBay

1 entry

Part 1: Solid Oak 4-drawer Machinist Toolbox

I keep an eye on eBay for machinist toolboxes.  Found this one for $120 (!!) and it absolutely delivers on that price! It wouldn’t compete with the...

Hints and tips that some may not have heard of.

Part 47: Safer Stop-Block for my Mico-Mark mini tablesaw sled.

[image.png] Boys and Girls,   I was tossing up whether to make this a project, hint blog or just append to my Micro-Mark Sled.  However, after cons...

Part 48: Does your drill kick back out of spite?

Boys and Girls,   I can handle all the abuse yazall like to toss at me about my penchant for  Fe$tool stuff [-2023-04_0013890.png] however, it's ni...

Part 49: Defrosting Your Ice Maker.

[IMG_3939.png]    Boys and Girls,   Yazall know I like to spin a yarn [Spin a Yarn.png] so let me tell you about the chilling tale of my Samsung fr...

RECALLS

Part 21: DeWALT Recalls more than 1.2 Million Miter Saws Due to Injury and Laceration Hazards

This is an old recall from August 2022.   • Recalled DeWALT Model DWS779[Image] • Recalled DeWALT Model DWS779 with date code[Image] • Recalled DeW...

Part 22: Hart Consumer Products Recalls Nailers Due to Injury Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Walmart

 This recall is from November 2021. [Image] • Hart 18-Gauge 2” Brad Nailer[Image] • Hart 18-Gauge 2” Brad Nailer with location of Model Number[Imag...

Part 23: TTI Consumer Power Tools Recalls RIDGID Framing Nailers Due to Laceration Hazard

    [Image]  Name of Product: RIDGID 18 Volt Brushless 21-Degree Framing Nailers and RIDGID 18 Volt Brushless 30-Degree Framing Nailers   Hazard:  ...

Overlay Panels for a Car Project

Part 23: More Tailgate Panel Work

Back to the tailgate panel build. This story left off with the completed blank for the trim around the logo. I chose to use the CNC to cut the inne...

Part 24: Bed Side Panels

 The final panels to build go on the sides of the bed over the fenders. Way back in Part #3 I made templates for these panels. [image.png]   At tha...

Part 25: More panel prep

[image.png] It’s time for a visual treat. Each round trip to see Michael takes 3 ½ to 4 hours driving. That plus 2 to 3 hours at his shop makes it...

How it's made

7 entries

Part 5: Headlights (made without a lathe)

Below the making of a headlight without using a wood lathe. The model, size and types of wood used are fully customizable. Thanks for watching.  T...

Part 6: Fenders

Below pictures of the way how I make complicated fenders. [1 Fenders v4.jpg][2 Fenders v4 (2).jpg][3 Fenders v4 (3).jpg][4 Fenders v4 (4).jpg][5 Fe...

Part 7: Engine and hood

Below pictures of the way how I make a front engine with a integrated hood. [07 Engine v7 1.jpg][07 Engine v7 (2).jpg][07 Engine v7 (3).jpg]