It’s a busy world, many people traveling and working everywhere. Many people are using their phones to stay connected, messaging, emailing, and for viewing web content wherever they are.
I have had a few inquiries and requests for the Woodworks to become more mobile phone friendly. What this means for those who may not be aware, is that web content needs to format a bit differently in order for it to be seen readably on a mobile phone with internet capabilities. The problem is one of viewing in the proper scale.
I have added this function and from what I understand, it should autodetect the mobile phone browser you use and format properly for you directly. This way, no matter the phone you are using, Evenfall Woodworks will format in the best way for your phone’s web browser to utilize it. For those on the Computer, you should continue to see the website in the same way you always have. Continue Reading »
Yes, I do like to write about woodworking, and tools, both hand and power tools, but I have been busy building tools…
Evidently I am NOT comparatively busy as the folks who made the following video. Busy does not really adequately express these folks… I’m thinking over exuberant, with double down on imagination…
For those who dig… eh sorry, like hand tools, this will be over the top, but it will be over the top to everyone anyway. Just when you thought you’d seen most everything. Eight some odd minutes of stunning, well, shock… Eh, you’ll just keep watching to see what happens next. It sort of just sucks you in.
For those who prefer better content from me, Thanks, and I am working on some, but for now just laugh a little like I did, and know I’ll be along with better stuff soon!
Recently a great question was asked about finish surface preparation for stains, oils, and coating type finishes with hand planes. It was regarding the finish a plane leaves, if sanding is necessary, and which grits are appropriate. It’s a great question. Let’s explore the options.
In many woods, a planed surface will leave a surface quality similar to that of 600 grit finish smoothness, and without burnishing the wood surface. Sanding in this case may not bring much to the table.
Occasionally there are grains that are just too difficult to plane successfully, and so you must sand. Continue Reading »
I’m happy to announce a new product in the lineup. It’s designed to help Granite Surface Plate users protect, and get better outcomes from their surface plates.
It’s the Granite Surface Plate Cover Kit.
The kits consists of a soft charcoal grey fleece cover that is form fitted to fit the plate, to protect the flattened surface of a 9 x 12 x 2 plate, or a 12 x 18 x 3 plate, and each comes with a set of three feet to mount on the bottom of the plate that aid a number of things. Continue Reading »
Granite Surface Plates are the world standard for flatness in any shop. There are a number of places you can get them and the pricing on these tools varies widely. It is important to note that for most of us, they needn’t cost more than necessary.
There are a lot of great things to know about them, but there is one thing that is really important to touch on first off.
The grading of Granite Surface Plates is of importance to the woodworker. Please have a look Continue Reading »
Have you been combing eBay in hopes of finding vintage sets or individual planes of the Hollows and Rounds variety? I’m happy to help get the word out that there is a new plane maker on the scene that may be able to help.
Matt Bickford Photo.
In recent times the desire for these planes has increased dramatically, and the availability of them is scarce. The plane makers who currently offer them have backlogs I’ve read that are over two years long.
Matt Bickford Photo.
Enter Matt Bickford. Matt was recently asked what his focus was on and he said:
“I’m focusing on molding planes: hollows/rounds, snipes bills, I make rabbets like that pictured too. Basically, I make those non-bench planes listed in Builders Dictionary published in the early 1700’s less the plow. I can certainly make specific profiles if you want something out of Chippendale’s Director.
Is there something specific for which you are looking? Please let me know.”
Matt Bickford
The photos tell the tale. Welcome Matt to toolmaking! If there is something specific in this line of tooling for which you are looking, please do let Matt know!
Walt Quattro is a really cool guy who has a really cool used record store in Waterbury, CT that <looks right, looks left> secretly doubles as a vintage tool store. <but please, keep that to yourself, eh?>
Walt’s place is Brass City Records and Tools. Those who know Walt know that he is known to drop into a tool forum with a song lyric that doubles as a riddle that somehow describes his latest tool prowl. Please click here for one of Walt’s riddle answers. Walt’s posts are always a great time and he is great to trade with! So as usual, I like to make a habit of going over to his site to look around, because it is always changing. Me? I am usually late to the party but eh… you know how it goes. His site changes a lot as some of you know. Early birds get the worm, fair is fair. Walt knows this and it works that way to shop with Walt too.
Well anyway, Walt’s haunts are the flea markets of New England, where many a tool he finds are straight out of the heart of where the industrial revolution took place. He is also centrally located near where many of these tools were originally made. These are the tools that helped bring that revolution, and are now sought after by many of us who don’t want those tools to become just another historical footnote. (Thanks Walt)
It happens that Walt has a cool link on his site that points to Pat Leach’s (of Superior Works fame) supertool.com site, that I have looked at many times over the years. While we all seem to discuss tool cabinets around at various forums on the net pretty frequently, I don’t recall seeing anyone really discussing this one for a pretty long time. It is worth a visit, or for some of us, a re-visit.
It started out as just one model. I wanted a shooting board that would provide calibration, accuracy, overcome wood movement, and allow the user a choice between more than one shooting angle. It took some consideration. I wanted a platform that was durable and stable, big enough to support the usual work most commonly accomplished by most woodworkers, and have a chute wide enough to substantially support any plane they wanted to use. I worked out a design and sorted out the necessary hardware for my design.
C.Perez Photo
It became the Evenfall Studios Shooting Board. It continues to evolve. Continue Reading »
Shooting boards are very handy for fine trims that clean the rough sawn edges left by saws, power tools and shop machines, so the wood is looking it’s very best, and even made as accurate fitting as can be. But even as we do this most commonly on end grain, end grain is not the only place on a board that can benefit from the use of a shooting board.
There are a number of things a woodworker can classify as delicate work. It can of course mean short in length or width, thin stock, veneer, inlays, book matched pieces, and even working with tone woods. Luthiers commonly join book matched boards for stringed instruments, and these boards are very fragile.
There are also the occasions where using a power tool or a shop machine may not be the safest way, or the most accurate way to accomplish a task and so we are left trying to come up with an alternative method for accomplishing the fine work we need done. Continue Reading »
Matt Bickford Photo.
Matt Bickford Photo.
Photo Courtesy Pat Leach
