The Adze, The Drawknife, and The Mocotaugan By Camille Coy It’s always exciting to see the similarities in woodworking tools across cultures and millennia. Working wood is truly a uniting human quality. I’ve always thought woodworkers (particularly hand tool users) would make good time travelers—they’d be able to seamlessly slip into a profession almost anywhere they ended up. Adze The …
How to Prevent Rust on Tools in a Marine Environment
How to Prevent Rust on Tools in Marine Environments Whether you’re a casual hobbyist or a career carpenter, you’ve figured out that a worker is only as good as their tools. You may have dozens of tools of a variety of qualities and brands, or maybe you’ve got a trust few from a brand you personally trust. Whatever the case, …
Building a Pole Lathe and Turning a Simple Bowl
By Camille Coy A Brief History of Lathes Woodturning using a human-powered lathe is one of the most ancient forms of woodworking. Perhaps not quite as old as whittling, which was practiced over 10,000 years ago after the last Ice Age, but the art of turning wood still dates back thousands of years. An early archeological record of woodturning with …
Are there wood planes for curves?
Yes. They are called compass planes (or circular plane, ship’s plane or radius plane). These tools have a rich history, used by ship builders, carriage builders and furniture makers throughout history. They are unrivaled by other planes and sanding blocks for smooth, sweeping curves. The compass plane is used mostly as a shaping plane, similarly to the way a jack …
Problems With Biscuit Joinery
Biscuit joinery has been a topic of debate for years. Some craftsmen look down on it as if using them is almost cheating. It doesn’t have the look of a dovetail joint and is very simple compared to them. On the other hand there are individuals who wholeheartedly support using them when the project calls for it. Some joints need …
What is the difference between Bevel Up and Bevel Down Planes?
A hand plane is used to flatten and smooth broad wood surfaces and are irreplaceable in a well stocked wood shop. However, deciding which ones to buy can be challenging especially as a beginner. One of the choices is deciding between a Bevel Up and Bevel Down Plane. Each style has its own advantages, disadvantages, and uses. The fundamental difference …
What Hand Tool Is Used to Roll Logs?
Cant hooks and peaveys, often spoken of interchangeably are used for rolling logs. A cant hook, also called a cant dog is a tool used by loggers, to handle cants or logs. (What is a cant, you may ask? Simply put, a cant is a partially sawn log.) Originally used by loggers cant hooks and peaveys are used by the …
How Do You Prevent Rust On Hand Tools?
Tools are a large investment and with the right care many of them can last a lifetime. However, rust can shorten a tools life quickly and taking rust prevention measures is extremely important. While most tool manuals do not explain how to prevent rust, it is relatively simple. The best way to prevent rust from forming on tools is to …
What Is A Manual Nibbler?
What Is A Nibbler? The Manual Nibbler is the kind of tool you don’t think about until you really need it. I remember my first time using one and cutting through steel like it was nothing. The nibbler is a tool that cuts through sheet metal. Using a nibbler creates straight, even cuts, with minimal distortion of the sheet metal. …
Can You Use Mineral Oil On Hand Tools?
Yes, mineral oil can be safely used on hand tools to protect blades and metal parts from rusting. Using a soft rag, apply a very thin film of mineral oil over the metal surface after use. Mineral oil does not go rancid or oxidize. The best types of mineral oils to use are: Any brand of pure mineral oil 3-in-1 …
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