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Thank you Andy, Very much. We have had some pretty remarkable weather here. Rangining for 18c with 70% humidity to 37c with >83% humidity; not to mention torrential rain and some spectacular thunderstorms providing golf ball to egg sized hailstones. My timer is stored ‘outdoors’, but under...

Well, that’s me told. I just thought to cheer up a dreary – band saw laden Christmas with a ‘mystery’. It’s all ‘so serious’ here; however, as it happens, that wedge did actually ‘shift’ shape ( a fair bit in fact) and the scribed ‘legend’ is genuine. I love it when you don’t need a Spratt to...

The tale, as all great mystery’s are, is shrouded in legend. I was given a table top, which was a surprise. 36 square feet of Tasmanian Blackwood. The underside recorded a history of the ‘carpenters’ who had worked on the timber, since 188 –(xxxx). It was; and still remains, a most lovely ‘lump’...

Removing ‘Twist’. Non serious, off topic Whimsy. I’ll go with ‘Custard’ and ‘Jacob’ on this one. Sound advice; however, here’s a little whimsy to go with that. Cleaning up the ‘shop’ and storing/ discarding off-cuts; I found a piece of 180x45 just under 800 mm long - construction pine which I...

Gee Whiz. Poor Kibbster. Lost in world of myth, legend, hearsay and self promotion. The basics are as simple as they are complex. When you first grab a lump of wood, you need to work out what, of itself, it is – understand it – as you interpret it. Wrong guess, no matter, you learned something...

IMO. Hesitantly, carefully and, with some reserve, I offer some ‘considered’ advice to beginners – those who are feeling their way towards ‘acceptable’ carpentry or joinery. Particularly to those who cannot; or will not waste a shed load of money buying quality wood to practice on. Firstly...

Work a day. The Op said (paraphrased) a long time ago – etc. Perhaps, we could help by suggesting that he try to work with both methods – just to see which suits him best. Personally, I like the vise ‘proud’ of the bench and the additional 1” each side – it suits ‘me’, my work and the bench...

Cheers (again) Andy and well done Derek – what a bloomin’ gr8 idea. I shall try it out directly. Thanks AES and deema for offering a solution. Time to take a brave pill and try out Derek’s method.

Spare the rod. Thought this may be the best place to ask what is probably a dopey question; however. A mate brought me a cutter from a Stanley hand router, he’d found it in a box somewhere. it is a mess; plenty of meat left – but – the angle (on the top edge) is at about 60˚ (+) and it needs to...

Here I sit – dumfounded. To take a perfectly solid, educated discussion of the contents of the biscuit tin and turn it into a twice baked advertorial for inferior products, simply amazes me. Where are the moderators when you need ‘em? Eh, where? There is only one of a possible two candidates for...

I rather think I’ve committed a heinous crime; but, ‘tis a matter for the jury now. A while back (a good while back) I used a honing guide to correct an out of square blade from a Stanley #4, it was a mess. Anyway - distracted by a telephone conversation, I forgot to ‘tweek’ the end to the...

I see half a dozen mallets. 1 for practice, 2 with knots in the wrong place, 1 wot went wrong, 1 nearly right and 1 to last a lifetime – but I can’t see a handle piece – More off-cuts needed?

Thanks for the replies, they make me smile while read ‘em and hide my blushes at beer o’clock this evening. ‘Twas but a twiddle, glad some enjoyed it. However, I may have mislead you:– unintentional I assure you. My ‘delight’ was found in the actual using of the thing. The fixing is just grime...

A delight, shared. Whimsy; or, I’m getting soft as age creeps in; but I thought enough of a ‘delight’ today to warrant sharing it with some folk who may understand it. In my humble workshop I have what I call the healing shelf. On this shelf live those items which require mending, fettling or...

Not too many years ago I built a ½ size bench to fit a small work space, fitted a 52 ½ and used it. I had intended it to eventually become a sharpening bench; but I got used to working on it as it suited my needs. Anyway – I made the frame from ‘skip’ recovered 4x2 (near enough) the top and...

Pigs for sale? Wuzn’t April 1 here and besides not being anywhere near stupid; I meant it – Sellars is a carpentry teacher nor some ‘life-style’ morning show host – and ‘jokes’ should be funny. But then; I’ll never argue with stupid people as they beat you with experience – neither will I...

Being a lazy young pup my dovetails were a ‘hit and miss’ affair 78% spot on, 10% like a well aimed gumboot up a corridor and 12% ‘acceptable’ for an apprentice. Until one day a wise man made me look at ‘the back of the board’. “look here” says he, so I peer over the top; “you are no where near...

I rather (past tense) enjoyed Sellars – the practical teacher of basic carpentry skills. I confess I learned some good stuff watching his video and reading his posts etc. Brilliant stuff for the newcomer – basic chisel sharpening – plane tuning – scrub planes – even home-made routers, beading...

I just wonder at how many poor sods have walked away from ‘joinery’ after their first whack at ‘dovetails’ – in Pine? Of all the timber, in all the world – Pine? Yes Pine – because it’s cheap and available – down the street. Buy a bit to practice on – no harm done – except to the poor Mutt who...

S’funny you should say that Jacob, I do in fact have a ‘set’ of blocks, 30, 60 and 90 mm, with fences to prevent inconvenience (and curses). Taught to do it many years ago – but; it’s not a thing I do often (shiftless/lazy etc). When I restored the armoire, it was worth the effort – dropped the...