The great people at Alexander Brothers have put together a new kit of materials that help you make a Roman workbench, the earliest design of bench that we know of. The Roman bench isn’t just an historical footnote. It’s a dang-good bench that we use all the time in our shop. The bench is portable,...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2026/01/06/roman-workbench-kits-now-available/
| Videos Double Bevel Marquetry By: David Marks It’s difficult to describe the excitement I feel when I start a new double-bevel marquetry project. The ability to conjure up a picture from nothing and then turn it into a reality …
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/694538/
If part one focused on the cabinet as an archaeological object—revealing construction shortcuts, repairs, and surprises—this second part turns inward, to the heart of Yeoman’s clock: the movement itself. It is here that the clock most clearly declares its origin, …
Get a cup of tea, this is a long one!
Cheers Gary
https://guitar-maker.blogspot.com/2026/01/nava-electric-mandolin-part-4-details.html
Tool: 15″ Benchtop Planer with HCX Helical Cutterhead 10055 Shop Now Manufacturer: Oliver Machinery MSRP: $1869.99 For years, bench-top planers have been capped at around 13“. Recently, though, a few manufacturers have begun to push that boundary …
A lot of folks use a stone to put the final edge on a scraper before turning its hook, but I prefer to use a diamond paddle. It cuts faster than most stones and obviously won’t develop a rut, which …
Happy New Year! The following is excerpted from “Honest Labour: The Charles H. Hayward Years” – a collection of essays from The Woodworker magazine while Charles H. Hayward was editor (1936-1966). Please excuse the male-centric language. We are all products of our time, and this essay, written in 1955, was no exception. —now that we...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2026/01/01/no-mere-chattel/
Another year has rolled to a close, and it’s time to look back at the articles you all loved the most this past year. There are projects, jigs, and tool comparisons, covering both hand and power tools. In short, it’s …
I rarely use a stain or dye right out of the can. I make my own custom mixes in small quantities until I get the color just right. In order to recreate the perfect mix in larger portions, I have …
This shaker-style workbench combines cabinet storage underneath with a generous work surface up top. Traditional Shaker workbenches appeal to me for two reasons. First, the long wide top offers space enough to work on almost any project, with enough room …
At this point, you’re probably tired of hearing me say, “I don’t believe in coincidences.” But this bench proves my point. A couple of years ago, furniture maker Steven Bunn emailed me about a project he’d once prepared for American …
I didn’t notice this misfit miter until glue-up. Fortunately there’s an easy way to hide narrow gaps like this one. Before the glue dries, rub the corner with a hard, rounded object, like a big drill bit. Rubbing crushes the …
Welcome to The Splinter Report, where I gather the assorted interesting and amusing things I’ve seen in the woodworking world. This week we’re looking at a roundup of Splinter Report greatest hits. Local Oddity: OSB Edition (From April 4th…
The following is excerpted from “Honest Labour: The Charles H. Hayward Years” – a collection of essays from The Woodworker magazine while Charles H. Hayward was editor (1936-1966). Please excuse the choices of pronouns. We are all products of our time, and Charles Hayward (born in 1898) was no exception. Every time we re-read one...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2025/12/25/the-rejoicing-spirit/
First Look: An Old Clock and the Weight of Responsibility When I was first invited to look at the longcase clock, it was clear that this was not simply a piece of furniture in need of repair. It is an …
Careful layout and precise cutting are the keys to getting a beautiful marquetry panel. It’s difficult to describe the excitement I feel when I start a new double-bevel marquetry project. The ability to conjure up a picture from nothing and …
Tool: VX 21 Wagon Vise/End Vise/Tail Vise Shop Now Manufacturer: Hovarter MSRP: \(230-\)290 When I began construction of my version of the Shaker Workbench (article online later this week), I went on the hunt for vise hardware. My goal …
Editor’s note: Our Mind Upon Mind series is a nod to a 1937 Chips from the Chisel column (also featured in “Honest Labour: The Charles H. Hayward Years”), in which Hayward wrote, “The influence of mind upon mind is extraordinary.” The idea being there’s often room for improvement. To that end, we’ve asked you what else you have...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2025/12/23/mind-upon-mind-spring-loaded-stretcher/
With our final class at the Willard Street workshop behind us, I’ve rearranged the bench room, the Mechanical Library and the machine room for four woodworkers, instead of a classroom. First and biggest change: We scotched four workbenches. We sold three and will move the fourth to Megan’s workshop. That change gave us space for...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2025/12/22/new-layout-for-the-workshop/
Grind, hone, polish: the basics of all sharpening. Among the fundamental skills necessary for good woodworking, I’d put knowing how to sharpen your edge tools at the top of the list. Even if you consider yourself a power-tool woodworker, …
Lapping the back of the plane blade can be a lot of work. My fingers have often complained very loudly, so I’ve tried many ways to hold the blade more comfortably. I’ve used a magnet, made from a holder from …
Mary “Molly” Gregory was a talented and determined woodworker who used her skills widely, from constructing farm structures, and renovating and building homes, to designing and building custom furniture that would eventually be displayed in museums. She’s perhaps best known for her time at Black Mountain College, a liberal arts college founded by John Rice...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2025/12/21/molly-gregory-for-the-good-of-community/
Welcome to The Splinter Report, where I gather the assorted interesting and amusing things I’ve seen in the woodworking world. This week we’re looking at Roubo Workbenches, wood movement, and Roubo Workbenches. Just a quick note — the next two …
You may not know the PTI by their acronym, but you certainly know them by their full name: The Power Tool Institute. I’ve talked about the PTI numerous times here, and you’ve undoubtedly read about them any time woodworking …
This traditional plane is a fun way to cut grooves, and can be made in half of a day. The grooving plane is a hand tool that is faster than a power tool that will do the same task. Not …
Editor’s note: Our Mind Upon Mind series is a nod to a 1937 Chips from the Chisel column (also featured in “Honest Labour: The Charles H. Hayward Years”), in which Hayward wrote, “The influence of mind upon mind is extraordinary.” The idea being there’s often room for improvement. To that end, we’ve asked you what else you have...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2025/12/18/mind-upon-mind-hot-sausage-steam-bending-without-a-box/
We’re pleased to announce that Drew Langsner’s “Country Woodcraft: Then & Now” is back in stock. In this update to his 1978 classic, the original text is intact, and the old photos are in black and white. Throughout this edition book, Drew has added text, which is in a slightly different font, to explain what...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2025/12/17/country-woodcraft-back-in-stock/
Whether a hobby or a small business, it’s a woodworker’s dream job. As a craftsman, I’ve always enjoyed building stuff. But the pivotal point that led me into woodworking happened long before I stood at a table saw or picked …
Tool: M18 FUEL 9 Gallon Dual Battery Dust Extractor 0888-20 Shop Now Manufacturer: Milwaukee Tool MSRP: \(1399 (kit with VACLINK, two 12ah batteries, and charger) \)899 (bare tool with VACLINK) Tool manufacturers are constantly benchmarking their competitors …
Mary May, author of “Carving the Acanthus Leaf,” has long offered woodcarving classes via Mary May’s School of Traditional Woodcarving. Mary offers membership to an online video school, video courses and video lessons. Now, she’s offering in-person classes in her new school, which overlooks the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. For more than 20...
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2025/12/17/mary-may-opens-a-new-woodcarving-school-in-the-ozarks/
Here are the online extras for the February 2026 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. Interested in having the magazine delivered directly to your mailbox (physical or email) six times a year? Subscribe here. Want to get access to the entire …
It’s easy to get a handle on which whacker to choose. If you’ve ever whacked a carving tool or pounded a joint using your palm or the side of your fist – I know you have because we’ve all …