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Hi Johnny, Funnily enough oak is really easy to bend! It is apparently the easiest timber to bed after ash.... Marcus

Thanks for the tips. I've decided against pear - even the person who made the chair I saw said he wouldn't try again! I guess I'll have to find some walnut and try some small scale bending experiments.... Marcus

I'm coming in a bit late on this thread, but I'm with Mike when he says : At the moment I'm regretting taking out a subscription to F&C a few months ago which I am finding rather dull and uninspiring. What I would like in a magazine is to read the sort of things which are harder to find on...

Not as yet, but I have several leads! Marcus

I've made a few pieces with it, it's quite nice to work, though it can be a bit crumbly and the really wild pieces can be a right pain on the finishing front. Worth it though! People always warn about movement in elm, although to be honest I've never found that to be a problem - but the...

Osmo is more hard wearing and waterproof so seems a reasonable choice. The temperature differential is not nearly such a big issue as the moisture/humidity. Cheers Marcus

This could be a time to rise to the challenge! Shoulders by hand or on the table saw, cheeks on the bandsaw is one way to go. I wouldn't trust dominos for this. Pegged tenons would probably be OK if you wanted to avoid the look of through wedged ones, although not quite as strong. The...

I've seen a couple of pieces made from it - chairs, a cabinet and some boxes. It's a very hard timber and takes amazing detail. You're right, it's hard to find decent sized sections, but not impossible in the sizes I need. Apparently it's unstable when drying and warps pretty wildy... So a...

In spite of the extreme conditions you will probably be OK so long as you use seriously strong traditional joinery, and they are happy with a fairly rustic, solid, well braced design. Through wedged tenons, etc, and very strong cleats for the top. And breadboard ends. Also it might help...

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has experience of steam-bending native walnut or pear? I'm going to be making some chairs and these two timbers, although quite different in appearance, are top of the list. I haven't used either before. The back legs need to be curved, and laminating is not...

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has one of these http://www.classichandtools.com/acatalog/Sauno-Wood-Kiln.html and if so what you think of the timber it produces. Kiln dried timber always seems to have had the life sucked out of it to me, and also tears out more easily than air dried timber in...

Hi Rob Well I guess after all those you deserve a break! :shock: I used to share a workshop where some of the guys used honing jigs and someone had made one of those guides for setting the angle. I experimented with it all for a while and even bought a honing jig, which I still own. In the...

I sharpen freehand for three reasons: 1) I think it's a good idea to develop and maintain skill and sensitivity in the use of our hands whenever we have the opportunity - the quality of the work we produce can only benefit from this. 2) It takes a bit more skill to do, so (to me at least)...

Lots of good suggestions here - thank you all. I will probably strip the artex off, but I have a while to decide so will think it over.... Cheers Marcus

Thanks for all these replies. I had no idea artex might contain aspestos! I'm going to take Shultzy's advice and skim with a batten where the trim meets the wall - nice tip - thanks! Re. Roy's point, the space is a fair way out of square, so I'm making the units 2" too small all round and...

Hi, Would appreciate some advice please. I am going to be fitting a couple of oak bookcases inset into alcoves which look like this: I'm wondering about the neatest way to fit the (solid oak) side trim to the texture of the wall. Would it look best to scribe them round the plaster ridges...

I've removed this post as the links no longer work.

I think the appearance of bald spots was a source of complaint, not an ambition! :D Marcus

My DMT Ultra Fine is 1000+ grit and in a few seconds gives me an edge that's sharp enough to slice hairs. Does anyone actually need to get a sharper edge than this on a regular basis?! Marcus

It's a little thing but has changed my life :) I didn't realise how irritating it was to adjust the jaws all the time until I didn't have to do it anymore....