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The difference between most modern woodworkers, whether amateur or pro, and the craftsmen of 100 years ago is that we use hand tools for a really small proportion of our woodworking time. This almost constant use of hand tools by the old timers meant that they acquired extraordinary skill and...

It's not honeycomb in the ordinary sense, so no honey. Mason bees are simply looking for somewhere to lay there eggs. They will find what looks lkke a suitable hole, or in some cases, make one in soft masonry, they then lay the egg, leave some food - more likely pollen than honey, for the...

I would second Paul's comments about size and quality and go for a good Elu 177 or the identical (except for colour and branding) Dewalt 625. You will never regret buying a quality big router with a half inch collet and, despite what you say about your usage, you will inevitably find yourself...

I felled and planled some Holly from the garden years ago. Nearly all of it is still in my workshop loft and yes it has moved a lot and the ends have split despite waxing but there is plenty of usable stuff. I have made a rcorder (musical type) from it and it turns beautifully and takes a...

This might help http://www.routerforums.com/general-routing/29030-elu-mof-177e-bearing-replacement.html. Jim

Great work Mark. Don't think I could get away with sraying on the garden furniture though! Jim

Yes, epoxy is fine for wood. Jim

I don't know the answer but the starting point must be a waterproof glue. Cascamite, epoxy and polyurethane glues all qualify. I suggest you contact the technical support departments at Cascamite, Wessex Resins and Gorilla Glue and ask the question. I have had dealings with those of Wessex...

Yes, you have identified the other problems with waxing over oil - drying time and evenness of sheen. Many waxes are very difficult to apply really consistently even when the finish has fully cured - all the more reason to avoid them in my view. You may just have to give it more time. Jim

Bear in mind that the effect of wax on top of another finish is transient. That's Ok if you don't mind waxing it regularly but in my opinion it is better to get the level of finish you want eg silkiness, sheen, on the underlying finish and you can certainly do this with Danish Oil if you let...

Slacken the clamps off very slightly followed by a tap with the heel of the hand. trial and error will tell what is needed by your particular table. Better than dirt cheap, it's free and it works. Jim

It seems unlikely that you don't if you are a mwmbwr of this forum, in which case you may be alarmed or even outraged to hear that the Government is proposing to reclassify craft activities as "non-creative". This re-classification relates to the counting of craft activities in the measurement...

However you look at it, I do think you are entitled to be unhappy if you are getting 100mm of sap on both sides. Few makers that I know would be happy to use sap in furniture anywhere that it will show. My experience has been that full price has only been expected if there is little or no sap...

I have an oldfashioned screw bottle jack which also works very well, £7 from a boot sale. It's cast iron and has a base about 4"dia, so is very stable. Jim

Beautiful. What world a way from typical craft fair tat pyrography. Jim

What people will take on never ceases to amaze me. This is what I call serious old iron http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=burl&nav=messages&start=Start+Reading+%3E%3E&prettyurl=%2Fburl%2Fmessages%2F%3Fstart%3DStart%2BReading%2B%253E%253E&gid=2014119174. I wonder if Mark (Wallace...

I take BW too and enjoy the eclectic mix of contents. I used to have FWW but stopped it for two reasons, its cavalier attitude to safety and that, from a design point of view, it is so resolutely backward looking, no doubt reflecting the tastes of its US readership. Jim

Andy, Lovely work, congratulations. If you should need fateners in odd threads Stig's Fatseners http://www.a2stainless.co.uk/ are very helpful and have a wide range - all in stainless, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Jim

Not one I take as I find it a bit basic and the projects often clunky, but I am sure that like all of the UK mags, it is run on a shoestring. I take Furniture & Cabinetmaking which has very high standards of photography, but it all depends on taste and where you are with skills. I am sure...

Brilliant, it was. Thank you very much. Jim