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The widow of a late friend of mine is looking to sell the woodworking kit from his workshop. It's all pretty good stuff. Anyone know the best way of doing this? I don't expect she'll want to go down the eBay route, and will probably want to run an auction or workshop sale. Thanks Nick

Has anyone tried using Abranet on a horizontal wide drum sander. I've heard it works well, but my concern is that the abrasive will tear. Thanks Nick

Having probably been the editor to get Steve to sign the contract, I doubt I would have expected carte blanche to be able to reprint, but I'm sure they are within their legal rights. We have no such contract at British Woodworking (no contract at all, in fact). We occasionally use photographs...

I don't think it's that anyone is 'not encouraged'. Anyone who wants to advertise is very welcome, within limits. Many dealers have found other ways to get to customers. We don't take ads from a couple of companies because they are forcing the rates so low. It is a very, very difficult time for...

Thanks. The prospect of being able to look back in time like that is I'm sure exactly what Karl is after.

I've had a request from Karl Byrne from the At-Bristol Science Centre for a cross section of a tree to show the rings and to use as an activity for the Easter Holidays. If anyone can help could they email [email protected]. The centre is really impressive, and deserves every bit of...

Good idea. Presumably you slide the headstock along the rails? I'm not sure if that's possible on my small Record lathe, but was possible with my old Coronet Minor (or was it an Elf???). I never did that (*****), but then I don't turn many bowls. It would work for boxes though and other things...

There are lathes with reverse, I think. I was taught, as a spindle turner, to work towards the headstock, I guess because the wood was held more securely there and you'd get less vibration, but it may have been a myth. Right-handers will tend to find turning from right to left easier, I think.

Absolutely. Richard Arnold was interesting today about hand planes, and how early wooden ones had an offset handle. Gradually, he says, the handles were moved towards the centre, where they are now. He'd like a volunteer to use the offset plane he's made himself to use it solidly for a week to...

Inca used to make a bandsaw that way, and funnily enough I saw one in Richard Arnold's workshop today (see my blog, nickgibbs.com), and I'm pretty sure Robert Ingham has one too. Some woodworkers prefer them not particularly because of handedness, but because they suit their workshop layout...

Really? Surely the dust comes out centrally from a tablesaw and affects righties and lefties alike??? It's just a question of where you position the crosscut and rip fences. Most (probably all) tablesaw crosscut sliding carriages are on the left, with a mitre channel often on both sides so...

As an aside. On a visit to a workshop in Leicestershire today, I talked to joiner/carpenter/general good egg, Richard Arnold about poplar. He has been recreating a section of handrail from the Titanic for us, using only hand tools, but had a pile of half-finished cabinets made from poplar (or...

Here's an interesting question I've just been sent. Why are modern bandsaw fences on the left of the blade, while most other machine fences (and some antique bandsaw fences) on the right? I replied that a lot of bandsaws can take the fence on the right or left, as it the case with tablesaw rip...

Our distribution guy says that he's never heard of this happening. I think it must have been a rogue assistant. I was once told I couldn't take a squash racket onto a flight to Croatia from Stansted. Now a family joke, the check-in person said: "You could hit someone over the 'ead," while acting...

From what I hear there should be some more green woodworking on British TV soon. I don't think I can say any more than that for the moment, but the moment I have news I'll write about it here and/or on my blog.

I love poplar too, especially for its streaks and lines, but it's not everyone's taste, and it doesn't stay pale for long (streaky or otherwise). It goes a nice honey colour. I'm not convinced you'll like alder, if you can find it. It tends to be pretty yellow or orange, and someone recently...

One of the best thing I've tested in the last few years is Kreg's Square-Cut jig for cutting square with a hand-held circular saw. It lines up instantly with your mark, and is one of the simplest, most useful devices I've ever had in the workshop. It hangs above my crosscut bench, and replaces...

The other option to consider is sweet chestnut, which is probably the most durable of British hardwoods. However it may not grow well in your part of the world, as it likes protected warmer climes, so you may not have good local supplies. It's certainly a good idea to choose British oak if you...

What a great story. I've never heard this before, but I'll ask my distribution manager if he's come across anything similar before.

I can't find mine at the moment. For a few years Bruce Manning did an index of Good Woodworking, from about issue 163 I think. I'm sure I've got an index somewhere. Nick