They have been found on homes for centuries, and still do the mundane work of channeling rainwater to where the homeowner wants it to go. They are wooden rain gutters, and they have a fascinating history.
That’s what makes this site run by WoodGutter.net so darned cool. It’s a look back into the history of these interesting bits of woodwork. Whether they were two boards nailed together into a V-trough or some ornately carved, these babies have an architectural story to tell even on today’s modern homes.
In western Africa, the challenges that need to be overcome are daunting. The Moringa Community is an organization that is seeking to improve the lives of the residents of Ghana by teaching important skills such as food preservation, textile arts and industrial skills – such as woodworking!
That’s right, the third world woodworking project is teaching local Ghanans how to learn carpentry and furniture making to build homes and furniture that can be sold locally, keeping the nation’s limited wealth home. Because of the lack of the country’s infrastructure, the emphasis is on portable power tools to improve the speed of the woodworking process.
Ultimately the plan is for the program to become entirely self-sufficient.
At one time, just about every single car that was on the road had at least a wooden frame to handle the load of the car’s components. It was a holdover from the days when wooden carriage makers got into the new world of car building.
Today, there is still a company that builds its cars with wooden frames. The Morgan Motor Company in the United Kingdom still sources ash for the frame components due to its strength and flexibility.
While most of us may never be able to afford a Morgan, the thought that these beautifully crafted cars are out there made in a very traditional way is enough to warm the heart of any woodworker.
Many of us have had challenges to overcome when we got into woodworking. For some, it’s a total lack of exposure to the craft when we were growing up. For others, it might be a financial or space restriction…
Then there is Erik Warren. This guy picked up scroll sawing about 20 years ago, and is creating some incredibly intricate pieces of art in his shop. And, he’s doing all of this despite being diagnosed as autistic.
Erik’s site not only showcases the many religious, collegiate and natural pieces he has scrolled, but also offers links to information about this disorder – and a ton of articles written about him in the press.
Yes, this article appeared in the New York Times a few years back, but I found it fascinating. It seems that – yes – there are places out there that are offering fun and exciting woodworking camps and classes for kids as young as Kindergarten age.
The article links to scads of woodworking schools all over the country. From the bustling streets of New York City to the Pacific coast, there seems to be a program or school available for just about every taste.
With most kids off for the summer, it might be a good idea to check out some of these schools or draw some inspiration on how to keep the youngsters in your life active and learning.
OK, bear with me here today… my friend Brian Benham of Benham Design Conceptsapproached me recently to ask if I could possibly feature a sweet keepsake box he had built.
Not only is the joinery tight, but the lid is adorned with a custom bear inlay… a very sweet looking piece. Not only does Brian show the piece during construction, but he also features a cool time-lapse video of the inlay process. Something to check out for sure!
With Memorial Day right around the corner, it’s a good idea to feature a group that does a lot of great work for disabled veterans through woodworking. That’s exactly what happens at the Patriot Woodworker.
The Patriot Woodworker was founded on the principals of providing the woodworking arts and crafts world a place to join and share their love of woodworking and the tools and machinery related to the industry.Their members are encouraged to mentor, learn and teach others woodworking and to participate in sharing projects and personal experiences in their own life.
The reason The Patriot Woodworker exists is to provide fund raising for veterans organizations and to support American and Canadian Veterans through community outreach, volunteerism, and to create awareness of the service and sacrifice our men and women have performed in the name of these nations.
