Friends:
Thanks so much for your patience while we took a break! We meant to be back posting videos much sooner, but unexpected computer failures came at the worst time (like they always do).
Still, we soldier on. At the very last minute, Nate's computer was repaired and he worked late to get this video edited in time for our Saturday release.
Please enjoy this warm-up to a BIG year of new projects, techniques, and history. We've got a lot of new things fo...
2023-01-21 12:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
The end of the year is upon us and (if we’re lucky) we have a few days to rest, to read a book by the fire, to bake cookies and eat them hot off the pan. If we’re lucky, our work and our family will cut us a break for maybe one precious week where everything can just stop.
Just like most years, I arrive at the end, skidding to a stop after a mad, months-long rush to finish this project and that project, double check them, and get them out in time for the holi...
2022-12-24 12:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
You've all been very patient, and the Minimum Timber Bench has landed!!!
After nearly a year of research and development , the bench is complete and I'm releasing it to the world tomorrow.
Of course, there are FREE plans and they're attached to this post. You can also find them on the 2022-12-20 19:27:22 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
The Minimum Timber Bench is finally done! I know many of you have followed this build and given me a TON of feedback and advice. Many of your suggestions wound up in the final project.
This is the announcement video. We tried to make it as fun as possible. We're uploading the course right now (as I type this) and we'll have early access to both next week. Of course, the plans will be free and the course will have a deep discount, just for Patrons.
2022-12-17 12:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
Thank you for waiting a couple of extra days for your video! Today, we are delighted to announce the wide release of the Hand Tool Hero. This tool has been available to Patrons for months, but we’ve ordered a second run from the factory and we’re releasing the tool to everyone just in time for the holiday.
We always want Patrons to have something special, and we know that m...
2022-12-13 16:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
This week's video will be released on Tuesday. I know it's a bummer to not have a Saturday video, but we have good reasons to delay a few days. In fact, everything will be clear when you watch Tuesday's video.
We do have a fun announcement planned and we hope you'll tune in on Tuesday.
As always, we hope you and your loved ones are having a safe and happy weekend.
--Rex
2022-12-10 12:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
The holidays are nearly here and we all need gifts! I’m sure your loved ones are used to getting handmade surprises, but all those gifts take a LONG time to make.
Don’t worry.
This week, I’m showing you how to use your lathe to turn a fast and useful gift. The best part is you can use the scraps you already have! I’ve given out several of these plates and people just love them. You can make several in a day and have a bunch of presents for literally no money...
2022-12-02 22:25:21 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
We're busily finishing the plans for the Minimum Timber Bench and they'll be done soon. We're also making a complete online course to walk people through every aspect of building the bench. Today, we're excited to bring you an exclusive preview of that course.
This is Chapter 2 and we're sharing it because it's the most information-packed chapter we've done so far. In this chapter, we cover turning the bench legs into trestle assemblies....
2022-11-26 12:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
Here are the free plans/templates for the katana build. These were modeled off the final project so they're super-accurate. You can print these, cut them out, paste them on the material of your choice and build an exact replica of the katana from the video.
These are free to everyone, but Patrons get them early.
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, then we all wish you a happy Holiday. And if you don't, then just ignore the Americans for a few days while...
2022-11-23 16:48:14 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
Every year, I make a wooden weapon for my little nephew. He’s nine this year and he asked me to make him a katana (Japanese sword). Of course, I could have just cut the shape out of wood, added some texturing to the handle and called it a day.
But where’s the fun in that?
Instead, I decided to copy the traditional construction of the Katana as much as possible. I copied the laminated blade, the tang that travels through the handle, the guard, and even the tiny b...
2022-11-19 12:01:04 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
I look at a LOT of affordable tools. Some of them never even make it to video because they’re too awful to mention.
But today, we have something…different. A viewer sent me this plane and it’s like nothing I have ever seen before. This inexpensive Chinese-made plane has some high-end features we associate with premium tools, but it also has the normal shortcomings you often see with affordable tools.
Overall, it’s a perplexing tool. I dared to get my hopes u...
2022-11-12 12:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
It was supposed to be so easy. I'd install a simple vise in my new bench. I'd make a video filled with tricks so others could install the vise, too.
If only things were ever that simple.
Come along as I discover that the most basic things can bring the biggest headaches. Along the way, I also get the vise installed and deliver all the tips and tricks I promised.
It was worth it in the end.
--Rex
2022-11-05 11:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
I'm super-excited to bring you these FREE plans. I know we haven't done a lot of plans recently. That's because Nate D (my previous designer) left the company in February. It was a friendly departure. He was offered a full-time position and we wish him all the best.
Since I was moving shops, I didn't re-hire that job until just last month. My new designer, Lucas, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. He's been a CNC operator and a fisher...
2022-11-02 12:44:30 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
We’re finally back to projects!
This week, I’m looking at the humble shooting board. The modern ones have gotten….a little overwhelming. All those fancy materials and adjustable fences are intimidating. What were shooting boards like before plywood and table-saws?
Join me as I research and build an old-school, preindustrial shooting board from solid wood. It’s a fun project and an easy addition to your shop.
It’s been a while...
2022-10-29 11:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
I'm a bit exhausted from travel and other things (like reporting sales tax), so this is going to have to be my week "off" for the month. But never fear; we've begun several new projects that will be done in the next few weeks. It's time to get back to building stuff and I've got a bunch of nice projects coming!
In the meantime, a few people on the forum have expressed interest in building the Minimum Timber Bench even before the plans are done, so I've had my ...
2022-10-22 11:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
I'm just back from 3 days at the AACA Swap Meet in Hershey, PA. I saw thousands of tools and (literally) millions of items for sale. A lot of it was woodworking-related.
But, this is the first time I've been to this show in 2 years. Is it still a place for bargains? Can you still find even rare tools? Should you go out to the swap-meet near you?
I answer all these questions in my Special Report.
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
2022-10-15 11:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
The Minimum Timber Bench is finally done! If you've been following the whole series, you know that this design was a big experiment for me. I didn't know if it would work and the whole idea of using the least possible wood for a bench seemed....questionable at best.
Here's me running the bench through its paces and seeing what it can handle. The results might surprise you.
I'll be doing plans and a course for this bench and they'll but be ready in late N...
2022-10-08 11:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
It seems like every day there's a new sharpening stone or system out there. As the options pile up, people just get more and more confused. New woodworkers especially need help when they pick a sharpening system.
I've recently done a months-long experiment with diamond plates and I'm now pretty experienced with all the major kinds of stone. This seemed like the perfect time to put together a video about sharpening stone basics. I hope you enjoy it.
2022-10-01 11:01:03 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
The bench is framed-up! We're down to just the top and this is the perfect time to go over my favorite features and point out all the places I cut out material. I think the "skeleton" is the most interesting part. In part 5 (our final part), I'll test the bench and talk about it's strengths and weaknesses.
Just like usual, there are extra photos in the 2022-09-29 13:25:28 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
The bench is up on its legs and in this part, I'll fit the apron. As usual, more pictures in the discussion forum thread.
Should have another update tomorrow!
--Rex
2022-09-22 17:38:44 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
Here's Part 2 of my prototyping series, in which I discuss the legs, laminated construction, and how using machine tools affects the final product.
Just like last time, I'll post more pictures as an update in the build thread. I'm going to go do that right now, so if you don't see my new post, just give me a few minutes. <...
2022-09-19 20:19:14 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
I've been waiting months to bring you this new Furniture Forensics! This day bed is a puzzling mixture of styles and processes. It took a LOT of work to unravel this piece and tell the whole story.
In making this video, I got familiar with the Edwardian period, which is knew nothing about. It was a fascinating time and I'm excited to show you what I learned.
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
2022-09-16 20:38:30 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
With the price of wood so volatile right now, I think the world needs a striped-down, super-affordable bench that keeps wood and money to a minimum. It's a difficult job that I've already been working on for 9 months.
It's time to build a prototype and I hope you'll come along with me as I road test my design. This is the first in a series of behind-the-scenes videos and I'm doing an 2022-09-15 17:32:26 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
Just a quick note that I'll be the guest for on the Married Man Woodworking Podcast tonight at 7PM, EST. Past guests have included Marc Spagnuolo, James Wright, and Steve Ramsey, so this should be a lot of fun. You can join us live here:
https://youtu.be/u509-5w4qdA
And of course, the podcast will be available where ever you get your podcasts.
Hope to see you there!
--Rex
2022-09-12 17:01:52 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
This video won't go live on YouTube for months, but you get it now!
James Wright organized a MASSIVE collaborative project with a bunch of creators you know and love. We're all working together to restore this transitional plane. My job is the body and it was a way bigger job than I thought.
Follow along as I recreate this factory part by hand!
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
2022-09-10 11:01:03 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
I was just up in Connecticut visiting my family, and my brother asked for help. He has this massive slab table and it has developed a huge crack...a crack that was only getting bigger. We needed to stabilize and fill that crack so my brother's family could keep enjoying their table.
Of course, I was away from my shop with only limited tools and supplies. I had to diagnose and fix this table without spending all of my vacation on it. Come along with me as...
2022-09-02 17:49:53 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
My shop has a lot of ECHO...Echo...echo. It's a drag and lots of people have commented that they want better sound.
I couldn't agree more, so I set out to make 24 sound-absorbing panels...from scratch. From materials, to prototyping, to production, to hanging the finished product, it was a massive project, but I learned a lot and I can share it all with you.
Stick around to the end of the video for a detailed discussion of costs and time so you can...
2022-08-20 11:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
Jury duty is over and we're back at it! My shop is STILL a mess because I have nowhere to put stuff. My building has no storage at all, so I better build some.
Brannon and I are going to build some shelving. This could be dull, but I need massive shelves and I never do big stuff. It's really out of my comfort zone and I have a few tricks as well as some funny mistakes.
Join us as we beat the clutter!
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
2022-08-13 11:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
This week, I truly could not win. Right at the start, Nate H. got selected for jury duty and was gone all week.
Okay, no problem. I'll make a video on my own. But then the electrician was available this week (and this week only) and he was drilling holes in concrete literally every day. Way too much noise for any sound recording.
So, with no editor and no way to get clear sound, I surrender. No video this week.
On the up-side, we have f...
2022-08-06 11:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Friends:
It's my week "off", but I'm really excited about an upcoming project. The mighty James Wright has organized a bunch of YouTube creators to work together on restoring a Stanley transitional plane.
James found the plane and made the exquisite handles you see in the pictures. He tasked me with making a new body. You can see my body blank in the photos: figured sycamore with a center stripe of walnut. The blade, japanning, and other surprise appointment...
2022-07-30 11:01:01 +0000 UTC
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