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Its a bit hard to judge how far the split goes with a solid blank and I usually only worry about them when the bowl is nearing its completed shape and wall thickness. With luck it may be turned away by then. As said above ca glue is the turners friend. On the safety side keep a lookout for...

That would hurt. Its a good reminder for the rest of us to avoid being complacent at the lathe. I think we all know what we should do its just at times we dont always do it. Regards John

Being keen is the first requirement for any activity. Great effort. It was the need to make tool handles that prompted me to get my first lathe. Plenty of good secondhand lathes out there so take the next step. With a real lathe the sky's the limit. Regards John

Many years ago I did bunk beds for the kids using similar construction. I used 25x150mm pine so your's will be strong enough. At one time I found about half the kids in our street plus a big dog in the top bunk playing castles or something. Screw and glue joinery was simple but effective...

I just use vinegar. Soak it (50/50 water and vinegar mix) for a day or so and then scrub off the sludge. Then a wash in hot water. Dry with hot air gun and oil so rust does not get started again. Its a fairly gentle way of doing it and nothing really harmful going on. Regards John

You want a saw with rip teeth for dovetails. Being small teeth they will do an ok job at crosscutting as well. The crosscut toothed saw on the otherhand will do an ugly looking rip so not ideal for dovetails. Regards John

One of these will cut aluminum quite accurately. Mitre Saws - Saws - Hand Tools | Axminster Tools International Save the bandsaw for wood. In theory a 2 speed bandsaw will do both but the metal swarf gets everywhere. Embeds itself in the tyres too. Regards John

It will be a big step up from what you have. I had a similar saw but mine was only 3/4 hp. That design was the standard bandsaw and came under many brand names. Mostly made in Tiwan. Being Delta that one may even be US made. As Ttrees said check that the motor is not set up for US power. Only...

I have tried a few ways. Router table and tablesaw using a jig that holds the box at 45*. Table saw being easiest but you are stuck with the kerf width. I guess you could make a fancier jig but I am lazy. So lately I have resorted to (the delicate may as well get a cup of tea now) a dado blade...

A good job on the handles. Now that you can do a chisel handle nearly any manky old chisel can be reborn as a good worker. Regards John

Yes " Go big or go home" really says it all as far as bandsaws go. May as well save time and money and get something with a bit of power to start with. I started out with a Ryobi 3 wheeler I got secondhand for $50. Soon found out how limited it was. Next saw was a cast iron 14'' and while a...

A cutterhead that size takes a bit of holding on to. On a tiny 8mm shaft even more so. Its taking a big bite and only the weight of the router holding it down so anything that can will vibrate. If there is any play on the sled or rails its gonna find it. Your pick looks like play in the sled is...

Thats quite a list. Think I have had a peek at most of them. TV being so bad these days I often do a bit of web surfing of an evening. Woodworking videos for me are more to see what others are doing and of course to pick up the odd idea now and then. I do find a lot of "I would not have done it...

There are a couple of ways to look at that. Hardwood will last better but softwood grips better. On my lifelong search for the better bench I have tried quite a few woods for vice jaws and they all work. Some attach leather to the jaws for grip but you cant keep the flush bench front if you do...

Loose the rear jaw and be flush with the apron. You'r bench will be much more functional when you get to holding big boards and panels. Over the years I have had the vice both ways but being flush to the bench front is a great improvement. Regards John

It is the book to start with. There are heaps of other good turning books but that one starts with safety. I was lucky that it was in the box of tools that came with my first lathe. As good a foundation to turning as you can find. Regards John

I can only comment on the stanley 50. It does a good enough job for the little use I give it and so far I have only used about a quarter of the cutters. Actually that is why I grabbed it as it came with 2 boxes of cutters. My advice would be to get the plane that has the cutters you need. From...

Yes making self bows has quite a failure rate. If any woodworkers are looking for a challenge there it is. Take a bit of wood to the brink of destruction without crossing the line. Great feeling when it works out. Regards John

Yes yew was the bow wood of choice. I have made a couple of longbows from it. The best yew for bows came from the mountains of Spain and Italy. Something about the slower growing being better. I daresay Nordic yew would be similar. I used yew from Oregon USA (yew is as rare as rocking horse poo...

Well its as good as finished. Just need to make a new bridge as the one in the pic is not quite wide enough for the spread of the strings. Can still play a tune with it but it does not look right. As its in the hillbilly style I kept it simple. Apart from the drum head, tuner pegs, cake tin...