If you’re going to cut joinery by hand, you should really have the right saw for the job.
Having the right saw for the job can make the task much easier. But which saw do you need?
Almost any longer length hand plane can be used as either a try plane or a jointer plane. It all comes down to how you set up the iron.
Some old texts would have you believe that gimlet bits cannot be sharpened. However, this is not the case.
Auger bits had several advantages over center bits and shell bits, so it comes as no surprise that auger bits came to replace the older style bits. Here’s how to sharpen the most common bit found in today’s hand tool kits.
A properly sharpened center bit should bore a clean hole with no chipping around the edge. Here’s how to get there when your bits don’t.
Rust on a saw blade makes for a dirty cut, a saw that sticks in the kerf, and teeth that just won’t get as sharp as they can be. For a saw to perform at its best, the blade should be clean, free of rust, and smooth. Here’s a tried and true process for cleaning up just about any old saw.
Deciding whether to use a Western style saw or the Japanese equivalent can be a tough choice. They perform the same tasks, so what’s the difference?
Turning a $15 paper weight into a sweet user smoothing plane part 2 – refinishing and reassembly.
Turning a $15 paper weight into a sweet user smoothing plane part 1 – assessing function and cleaning.
Progress has been slow on the new cabin, but it’s gradually getting there. In the meantime, I’ve made another saw, and have been busy in other aspects of woodworking.