Toolemera Blog

Cover trials

2009-12-11T15:03:19-05:00

Ah, the trials and tribulations of publishing. So I say as if from decades of experience... Which reminds me of an email I once received. In the email, someone wrote that I "sound much older than I look". How I 'sounded' much older than I looked through an email list, I have yet to comprehend. Not to mention how I 'looked' much older than I sounded, again through an email list. In any event, I've been working with a new piece of software to make book covers. I've always admired the marketing genius of O'Reilly books, Dummies, Real World and...

The Joiner and Cabinetmaker: late review and comments

2009-12-10T01:32:14-05:00

I've read this book by Joel Moskowitz, Chris Schwarz and Jeff Peachey twice. While at first I was wondering at the format and three part approach, on the second read-around I like it. It reminds me of academic articles that feature one topic as covered by three or more authors. All may agree, disagree, find problems in each other's work or go off on tangents. I was hoping for a facsimile reproduction of the original book and not a re-typing, but beggars can't be all that picky. A copy of that title has yet to make it to my shelves....

Made By Hand : Book Review

2009-12-08T13:35:11-05:00

Made By Hand reads like a book of the 1840-1870 period. The style is one-on-one, you and the author. The conversational prose invites you to experience the subject much as did the author...

What, no finishing?

2009-10-22T23:11:42-04:00

I've been watching the latest poll on the blog: Favorite Woodworking Activities. People have both common and diverse likes, but... no one likes finishing? I find this most strange. One of my favorite activities is finishing. Whether it's applying a finish to an old hunk of furniture I've restored or the finish to a new piece of woodwork, I find finishing to be restful, meditative and rewarding. When else can you experience the joy of watching the wooden surface bloom under your expectant gaze? What was pretty but understated glistens, gains depth and life. Really folks, why don't you like...

Barnes Drill Press Needs Good Home!

2009-10-16T01:52:34-04:00

I have been contacted by a nice fellow from Manchester, England, who is in possession of his late fathers shop. In particular, a 26" Barnes Flat Belt Drive standind Drill Press. It's so tall his father had to bore a hole in the ceiling for the top of the spindle. It looks to be in marvelous shape and simply needs a place will it will be loved and used. The current owner would rather not have to scrap it. Here is one image of the drill press, still in place, waiting for someone to tell it what to do. There...