Latest

There's a restaurant I like to frequent with a large, framed poster in the bathroom that is strategically positioned to allow a visitor a solid minute to take in its contents. I always linger when I'm in there, as the poster is of a truly amazing piece of woodworking:...

Tommy watches as a dragon, symbolizing good luck, opens the 2010 Woodcraft show in Hawaii.

One of the Forum users emailed me this short narrative and asked to put it up in the blog. This is pretty much everyone's worst nightmare. A cautionary tale that all should take the time to read: This past summer, after applying some Danish Oil to a project, I made...

Chapter 1: Stepping out of the “Comfort Zone” Are you stuck in a rut? Do you build the same thing over and over again, using the same joinery techniques, afraid to venture into uncharted territory? Are you resting in your Comfort Zone or do you try to learn and...

Chapter 2: Self-Imposed Limitations Have you ever had the thought,“If I had this particular tool or this size shop, I could build this project?” I know that I have. Many times I delayed or decided to not build a project because I felt that I needed a special tool or a...

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving with family, friends or both. Remember: You're carving the turkey, not milling it. And there's no need to have a #4 bench plane at the dining room table. It has no place in the setting. Keep it in the shop! If anyone out there...

Like the phoenix she is rising. In an earlier Blog post I recounted my episode with oily rags and the damage the resultant flames cast upon my garage workshop. It’s been four months now and things are starting to get back to normal. After moving all of my major power...

I stumbled upon this editorial piece on the Furniture Society website that I thought worth sharing. The writer ponders the question,"What do artists know?" but the more interesting notion explored is that of the artist passing on knowledge through the object or piece...

Chapter 3: Researching Full Blind Mitered Dovetails The Internet has lots of information out there on cutting Full Through and Half-Blind Dovetails. Tommy’s “How To” has a nice tutorial on the subject within his videos for the Step Stool and Tool Box projects....

Steve Brown will be holding an Artist Demonstration tomorrow (Sunday) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, from 12-3pm. Steve is the Head of the Cabinet and Furniture-making Department at the North Bennet Street School, Tommy's alma mater. He's also a guest of Tommy's...

Our friend Steve Ramsey over at Woodworking for Mere Mortals put together this helpful video intended for the spouse of the family woodworker struggling for gift ideas. Steve's suggestion? Leave this window open on your computer for the spouse to "stumble upon." Then...

Episode #10 is now available in the Table Construction video series. In this chapter, Tommy talks about gluing the legs together and applying cleats. Enjoy! Are you working on your own table in the shop? Let us know. Better yet, show us your pictures. We hope everyone...