Monthly Archives: December 2014

Cutting Tenons & End of Year Thoughts

First off, we’re experiencing a cold spell here for the end of 2014 and earlier had predictions of up to 3″ of snow on the Las Vegas strip!  Snow isn’t completely unheard of here in the desert but is somewhat … Continue reading

Posted in Hand Tool Woodworking, Johns Armoire, Mortise and Tenon Joint | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

2014 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 21,000 times in 2014. If it were a … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

DrawBored Mortise and Tenon; My Method

Work continues on my Armoire  and I’ve also received a deposit for one commission and a verbal approval of another — I won’t count on it until the check is in my hand which is scheduled for the 31st.  I’ve … Continue reading

Posted in Hand Tool Woodworking, Johns Armoire, Mortise and Tenon Joint, Tutorial | 3 Comments

Sculpted Cargo Shorts: Work Diary

The Chopped Challenge contest is over so I can now post this blog!  The title of this project is Heavy Starch and I’m happy to say they tied for third place in the People’s Choice award which gave me a $25.00 prize. … Continue reading

Posted in Carving | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Panels and Lap Joints

During the time that the dovetail joinery is being cut and fit, I’m also trying to make up  the panels for this project.  There are two needed for the door, plus two more for each side, and a small one … Continue reading

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A (much needed) Neighborly Diversion

As work continues on the Armoire the thought occasionally crosses my mind that this is a big undertaking!  Having discussed my procedure on the blog about how I intend to go about it and not hearing suggestions regarding other ways … Continue reading

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Measuring, Marking, & Keeping Organized

As I’m looking at the plans and pieces of material that will go into the making of my Armoire, I realize that this is a big undertaking!  This is on the scale of building my own house which, although I’ve … Continue reading

Posted in Hand Cut Dovetails, Hand Tool Woodworking, Johns Armoire, Tutorial | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Armoire Work Begins — Outer Legs

The Armoire project is quite challenging so I’m being very careful as the work progresses.  There are so many parts and pieces to the casework that labeling them properly is very important.  Starting with the legs shown here, a customary way … Continue reading

Posted in Hand Cut Dovetails, Hand Planes, Hand Tool Woodworking, Johns Armoire, Tutorial | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Preparing a Hock Blade for my #7

The plane I use for jointing my edges is a corrugated bottom, #7 Stanley that dates back to the mid 1920’s or so.  It has the original sweetheart blade that is laminated plus it has the low profile knob which … Continue reading

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John’s Armoire — First Cuts

With apologies to Rod Stewart and Cat Stevens who wrote the song — The First Cut is the Deepest but in a woodworkers point of view, the first cuts are the hardest!  As you know, I just bought quite a … Continue reading

Posted in Hand Tool Woodworking, Johns Armoire, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments