Search results

The original design didn't have them fitted, but as they're going up to London to be installed in my son's flat, he wanted footie rests. C'est la guerre - Rob

Bar stools in ash, finished with a couple of coats of Osmo Raw with wax over the top, 18/8 stainless steel footrests fitted, screwed in place with A4 Torx head screws: Based on an original design by Oscar Pipson from new Zealand, using doweled construction - Rob

Unless you find a course which is within striking distance of home, accommodation is something you'll have to factor in as well. The plan you mention is sound but beware of UToob; some of it's good, some mediocre and much of it absolute dross, not to say dangerous! - Rob

Not too sure about Marc Fish, but to be fair I haven't looked in depth at his course(s) but rather the type of work he produces. I'd recommend learning the basics which of course includes hand skills and traditional jointing techniques and then go onto using machinery (domino etc) to shorten...

Spot on, you'll get the definitive answer from the Tormek guys in Sweden - Rob

I would't go to Waters & Ackland, having seen the time consuming and wrong way (IMO) instruct their students to cut dovetails, nor would I think about Marc Fish. The two I'd be interested in are Peter Sefton of this parish, who runs a very comprehensive and rather excellent series of courses...

In most pro' shops that I've been into, the maker usually always has two benches; a cabinet maker's bench for making components and a bigger, flat assembly table for actually putting the thing together. The assembly table also has a largish overhang all round which is very, very useful for...

A very Marmitey question Steve, but here's my 2 Euro's worth, fwiw :D Folk love 'em or hate 'em, end of story! For me, I think there just about the best thing you can have on a woodworker's bench for the following reasons: 1. You can install a pair of powerful, adjustable LED lamps in the...

Yep, Spindex are great! They used to collect saws (and p/t blades) from home and deliver back when sorted, but alas, that's no longer the case. That said, learning how to sharpen and set a saw isn't difficult; it's just boring and repetitive but it's an easy enough process and one which is well...

Many years ago when I was a Plessey apprentice, an old, time served engineer showed me how to sharpen a jobber drill by hand using a standard grinding wheel. When you see how it's done, it's the easiest thing in the world! It takes me about ten seconds (or less) to grind a HSS drill bit so I've...

That's the only caveat Mike and thus far, no toddlers have been near the cabinets. I'm just wondering though how vulnerable are my two Japanese floor lamps with shoji paper panels? :lol: - Rob

Unless you're going to give it, or expect it sustain some serious abuse, ordinary 4mm window glass will do. I've made a few cabinets/bookcases over the years with glass panels or doors and not one has come to any grief. The same goes for shelves in display cabinets or similar - Rob

I'd agree also with Richard's comments about ash and maple varieties where it's virtually impossible to see the difference between the sap and heart woods. I've been using quite a lot of what I assume is kilned American Ash where it's all but impossible to differentiate 'twixt the sap and heart...

The best timber by far for a handle and readily available in the US is hickory - Rob

Yep, if that's what it takes, that's what you do! Sorry, there are no half way measures. English Walnut is so rare and precious (it's about £100 a cu') that in my book, any piece of furniture made from it needs to be the absolute best that you can possibly make...which means stripping off the...

It's a personal thing, but i detest the use of sapwood in any project; the first thing I do when I get hold of a board(s) of English Walnut (amongst others) is to rip off every conceivable bit of sap showing. I stored a prime board of 50mm thick, 2m long walnut in the 'shop a few years ago where...

Axminster have a similar sort of machine - Rob

I did one similar a few years back...Dominos are your friend Mike :lol: - Rob

Wot Peter said - Rob

Sound advice here. I would just reiterate about the sleepers; no way are they going to be seasoned and really thick stuff takes an absolute age to become suitable for making furniture. As Mike has said, make sure you take into account all the splits, shakes, warping and twisting that the oak is...