Welcome to the New Shop: Campbell River
Four months ago, we moved to Campbell River, BC on Vancouver Island and I set up shop in the 2-car garage. I was surprised to discover that it was harder to fit everything into two-thirds of this...
View ArticleRisk to the User and Workpiece
When woodworkers think about the scroll saw, they often think of a tool that cuts slowly and is perhaps the power saw with which one is least likely to cut themselves. And, compared to stationary tools...
View ArticleOn Being Efficient
I spend a good deal of time organizing things and processes to facilitate efficiency. This may come in the form of organizing tools in a drawer where I can find them, building or modifying a tool, or...
View ArticleHow to Get into Woodworking for $1000
I've written many interesting articles for Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement Magazine over the past 12 years, but this idea presented to me by editor Rob Brown was one of the most intriguing...
View ArticleTying Knots in Wood
Much of my education in woodworking has been from what I describe as the relentless push to fail. That is, coming up with an objective that pushes the limits of what I can do, what I feel is possible,...
View ArticleThe Cost of a Product
There is a product for sale I am thinking about that seems rather expensive for what it is. However, I cannot knock the design or quality (although I do wish for one modification!) It is simple in...
View ArticleWhen Something is Expected to Fail but Doesn’t
An experiment to see how quickly a wooden cutting board is rendered unusable I made this cutting board and designed it to fail, but it didn't fail as I expected! Here are the "bad decisions" that I...
View ArticleHand Tool Systainer 2023
I have a carefully-chosen group of manual hand tools that lives in a MFT Systainer toolbox that covers my particular needs for the majority of general tasks. It is always with me whether I'm working in...
View ArticleWe Learn More Through Our Failures Than Our Successes
I built four Krenov-style sawhorses about ten years ago and they have served me well. I made them from softwood lumber (pine, I think) using through mortise and tenon joinery. I wedged the tenons of...
View ArticleWood Sale August 3-5
If you're looking for materials and inspiration for your next project, come by my first workshop in Port Moody to check out the inventory and discuss ideas. Choose from live edge hardwood slabs custom...
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