The Antenna

This jig carries its share of work while increasing the usefulness of your table saw. I’ve never been a fan of any jig that requires a degree from the Massachusetts...

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Another bit of preparation for the 32” scale bass that I hope to build for myself “at some point”. I’ve had a beautiful, figured maple top in stock for many years, but at 28mm I considered it too thick and therefore too heavy to use. I finally plucked up the courage to re-saw it by hand……….

Tool: Magnetic Dovetail Saw Guide Shop Now Manufacturer: Veritas MSRP: $59.50 For years, one of my favorite tools was also one of the hardest to get. It was the magnetic dovetail...

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The revised edition of “Make Fresh Milk Paint” is at the printer, and expected to ship at the end of November. It’s almost twice as long as the first edition, and features a new cover color so it’s easily distinguished from the first edition: a cheerful earthy orange (a fine color to mix from quark,...

A painted finish is easy to apply when using a lathe. In spring, a young man’s fancy may turn to thoughts of love, but in autumn, a woodturner’s fancy turns...

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What’s the best inexpensive tool in your woodworking shop? And what’s one tool you splurged on that was worth every penny? In Episode 290 of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil Huber,...

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Here are the online extras for the December 2026 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. Interested in having the magazine delivered directly to your mailbox (physical or email) six times a...

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We know our books costs good money (we think they are worth it). But we’ve held prices at current levels for more than four years now. And today we are offering free shipping on all domestic orders for the month of November. There is no code to copy. No special link or back-door access. Just...

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 16v drill, prehistoric woodworking,...

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Mike Doolin is a guitarmaker whose curiosity and willingness to challenge convention have led him down some fascinating paths in guitar design.

Mike has never been afraid to rethink how guitars are built, from pioneering double-cutaway acoustic guitars and exploring the possibilities of seven-string instruments to harp guitars, adjustable neck systems, and, more recently, Ken Parker-inspired archtops.

We talk about his unconventional journey into lutherie, the technical problems that have shaped his designs, and the discoveries that continue to drive his work.

https://www.doolinguitars.com/design.html

Luthier on Luthier is hosted by Michael Bashkin of Bashkin Guitars and brought to you by the Fretboard Journal. This episode is sponsored by the Looth Group, Dream Guitars and StewMac.

If you’ve left any kind of woodworking footprint on the Web, you’ve undoubtedly been targeted by “his” ads. Remember Ted, of “Ted’s Woodworking” fame?  He’s back from the dead, and...

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Choosing the right fastener can mean the difference between a clean, lasting joint and a frustrating repair. Learn when to use pin nails, brads, finish nails, and narrow crown staples...

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Tool: 15″ Open-Ended Wide-Belt Sander 5315 Shop Now Manufacturer: Oliver Machinery MSRP: $3599.99 There’s a love–hate relationship most shops develop with sanding machines. When they work, they’re indispensable. They save time,...

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How do you open it? Just push the bottom drawer. If you’ve ever been to a woodworking trade show, you’ve probably seen me demonstrating on the bandsaw. I’ve been doing...

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If you’re a long-time reader of my blogs, you’ve probably noticed that one of the furniture styles I gravitate toward most is live edge. Live edge furniture allows a designer...

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Drill a perfectly centered hole in a sphere by first counterboring a hole in a scrap board clamped to your table. Drill the counterbore using a Forstner or spade bit...

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When you can see an older woodworking idea for the first time, it makes you wonder what other things you might have missed. One of the cool things about getting...

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Tool: Carbide Forstner Bits Shop Now Manufacturer: Woodline USA MSRP: $12.99+ It’s hard to make a drill bit sound exciting. After all, they either drill holes or they don’t…right? That’s exactly...

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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 new hand tools, my first...

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There’s no need to fear the most versatile machine in the modern shop. There are good reasons that the table saw is at the center of many shops. This machine...

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Traditional woodworking marks are simple – and they prevent errors. If you don’t use a clear system of marking your project parts, it’s easy to get confused and cut a...

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This is an excerpt from the book Make Things. From Wood. by Annabelle June Buckland. Read more from her book here and here. This is one of my favourite designs....

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A master’s bench that anyone can build. Building a serious workbench is a rite of passage for many woodworkers. It’s usually an ambitious project requiring a lot of skill, lumber,...

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Some people get pretty worked up about using the right word for the right joint. Perhaps they have a point since imprecise use of terms can lead to confusion. So,...

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This is an excerpt from the book Make Things. From Wood. by Annabelle June Buckland. Read more from her book here. What is Wood? Before we dive into the world...

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Achieve better woodworking results more comfortably with these 12 tips. I’ve been teaching now for more than 15 years. And in that time I’ve thought a lot about why students...

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If there’s one thing to be said about woodworkers, it’s that we’re old school and prefer to pick up a book (or a magazine). With that in mind, I’m thankful...

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Each and every fall, as the weather starts to cool, woodworkers pull a reverse hibernation and migrate back into the workshop. For us, that means an influx of new and...

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Woodworking events, tool chests, Shopsmith controversy, and shop projects! In Episode 289 of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil Huber, Logan Wittmer, and John Doyle are back with another round of woodworking...

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This video is all about making the neck blank from some very special Cuban mahogany. Also, I set myself the challenge of making a head inlay to match the mandolin’s rosette as seen here-

Cheers Gary

I’ve never liked the idea of giving my instruments a name other than one that describes it, i.e. parlour guitar, twin-point mandolin etc. Clearly, the different instruments must have some means of reference, especially as all enquiries for my instruments come via email and a prospective client needs to communicate their needs.

You would probably have seen my previous “New Model Mandolin” build series: I called that instrument “New Model” as, at the time I was undecided on a suitable name.

Around 2007/08 I was designing a couple of instruments to my own shapes. One was a steel-string acoustic guitar which I designated Model 1. Another shape was designed for multi-course instruments and this was designated Model 2. Over the years that shape was scaled down and tweaked to become my electric mandolin and now, the shape of the new acoustic mandolin (temporarily dubbed New Model). So, after much deliberation it seems fitting, henceforth to refer to this new shape mandolin as Model 2 Mandolin. Simple!

With the sole of the Stanley No. 220 properly lapped and geometrically true, the tool’s foundation was solid. The next phase of the rehabilitation was to restore the cutting edge...

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Woodworking directly channels veterans’ strengths, such as discipline, patience, attention to detail, and mental focus. It’s no surprise, then, that there are so many shops dedicated to helping veterans. The...

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Build a small workbench with full-sized features for a budding woodworker. “The bench is probably the most important item in the workshop.” Those are Charles H. Hayward’s first words in...

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Tool: R-240 Ryoba Shop Now Manufacturer: Temple Tool Co MSRP: $45 The R-240 Ryoba from Temple Tool Co. is a modern interpretation of one of Japan’s most versatile hand saws. Featuring...

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