The passing of James Krenov earlier this month – following the passing of Sam Maloof – was the second major loss for the woodworking community is just a few short months.
Krenov’s commitment to furthering woodworking education is legendary. His books have inspired a woodworkers to rise to new levels, and the program he established at the College of the Redwoods in Fort Bragg, California has trained thousands in the craft.
To honor Krenov’s work and memory, Tool Crib has established a scholarship fund to help aspiring woodworkers attend the College of the Redwoods. By leaving a comment about your Krenov memories and signing up for their newsletter (It’s free), Tool Crib will contribute $5 to the fund.
Well, it happened to me Wednesday night. I was trying to make the proverbial ‘last cut’ of the night, was feeling tired, using the saw incorrectly and I got distracted when WHAM… I had a kickback.
I’m OK, just a few cuts up my arm where the board flew up and a bruised left index finger… but it could have been much worse.
That’s why it’s a great time to review the basic table saw safety tips. Read through this list and honestly assess what you do when you work at the saw. It just might save a finger or two…
Fortunately, he’s sharing his experience with us over at his new blog. During this extensive program, John will be learning about furniture design, stock selection and preparation, joinery and finishing. You can subscribe to John’s updates as he goes through this program and follow along on his woodworking journey.
Minneapolis, Minnesota based woodworker Kevin Brady likes to do his craft. He also likes to offer clear and concise step-by-step instructions to other woodworkers about how to build projects.
His pen making page is one of the best instruction pages I have ever seen on pen making. From wood selection to the final finish, Kevin takes his readers through the process, pointing out the tips and pitfalls of making a beautiful pen.
He also links to numerous sites offering pen kits, materials and know how, making this a complete site for the novice pen turner.
Why are nails referred to by ‘penny’ size? Why were homes burned to the ground to rescue common nails? Just what does the term ‘Dead as a Doornail’ really mean?
Find the answers to these and many other questions at this outstanding page run by the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association. This well-researched page tracks the evolution of the humble nail from the earliest of civilizations to today’s modern nail making factories which can spit them out by the millions.
While you may not give up your pneumatic nail gun after reading this page, it will at least provide you a glimpse of the fascinating history of this ubiquitous fastener.
At his website, Danny also offered several free tips, and this one has easy-to-follow instructions on how to build and use a box joint jig. Built from a few scraps of plywood and solid stock, this jig can be built in minutes and allows you to cut crisp, decorative joints for drawers, boxes, chests and other woodworking projects without a large outlay of cash.
There is some incredible woodworking being done across the United States, and craftsman Keith Cruickshank is on a mission to see who is doing the best work right in their own shops.
Keith has parlayed his love of woodworking and film making and turned it into a fascinating ‘on the road’ tour showing woodworkers demonstrating such valuable skills s inlay and banding, carving and turning. Also, there are many technique articles showing the use of chisels, planes and hand saws.
The footage is beautifully shot and the subject matter is enlightening. A must see.
