Toolemera Blog

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...

Poll results & a new Poll: What are your favorite woodworking activities?

2009-10-13T00:21:29-04:00

Simply because I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge, I post polls. Perhaps I'm nosey. Perhaps it's a fun widget to create. Perhaps I just want to know what people are doing when they are supposed to be working. Perhaps all of the above. Hence, a new poll, to wit: What are your favorite woodworking activities? Yes, this continues the wood-centric theme of mine. In time, I'll delve further into book arts, metal, leather and all those other crafts and trades. For now, cellulose runs in my veins. In this poll, you can select as many categories as you choose...

A saw by any other name...

2009-10-11T00:34:05-04:00

Over at Jeff Peachey's blog there's been a recent discussion of tool nomenclature. Specifically, when is a bookbinders hammer a blank book hammer or a backing hammer? After much thought and discussion, I have come to the conclusion that the answer falls within the realm of the riddle "Which came first, the chicken or the egg? If you are vegetarian, it's "Which came first, the tofu or the soybean?" Prompted by this discussion, I unearthed and posted a Hickok Bookbinders Machinery catalog. After some further thought, I dug even farther into the recesses of my shelves and pulled out a...

Where do books fall in the manual arts scheme?

2009-10-09T00:57:04-04:00

Recently, while reading Adam Cherubini's article "Making your magazine come to life", I was struck once again by the development of the many books I have been both reading and evaluating for upcoming publication. Truth, is that at times I enjoy the digging up the books to read them under the guise of 'evaluating' them for suitable content even more than the idea of publishing them. Which might explain why it takes me so long to get to an end stage. Adam discusses the need for first person training and demonstration in learning hand skills. Magazines and books have their...