One Lazy Son-in-Law
Don’s son-in-law helps him build an addition.
Don Wilkinson
Don is a proud Yukoner and avid woodworker with a keen sense of humour.
Articles by Don Wilkinson
Summer Help
A son-in-law arrives to help with some home improvement projects during the summer. What could go wrong?
My Neighbours
I don’t like my neighbours! I think I just heard a: Well…Duh! from pretty well everyone who knows me, but let me clarify that statement.
Students
Students come in many types, but Don’s not sure why they have so many questions.
The Class
Teaching would be easier if I knew what I was doing.
Carl Has Termites
What do you get when you mix termites and ants with water, a poorly made home and a clueless homeowner? If you’re the neighbour, live entertainment.
Carl Buys Some Tools
It started with a screwdriver; a slotÂted one because he needed to open a paint can and drive a screw into the wall to hang a picture. Then he bought a hammer to drive in the screw because he found it too difficult to use the screwdriver.
Carl’s house – part 2
As I sit here on my deck in my robe sipping my first cup of coffee of the day and enjoying the ocÂcasional scream or cry of pain emanating from my neighbour Carl’s house, I realize that I really enjoy Februarys. The warm gentle breeze wafting down the mounÂtainside ruffles the surface of my coffee before it gently rips the shingles off Carl’s roof and sends them flitting through the air like so many demented starlings.
Carl’s house – part 1
The other day, my new neighÂbour, Carl, showed up at my door looking a little frazzled. Maybe he looked scared; it’s kind of hard to tell with Carl.
Simple Tools
When woodworker-slash-writer-types like myself write about tools, they invariably talk about the so-called celebrity glamour tools; the table saw, lathe, or planer. If they get stuck they may even talk about the router. WooWee! Good stuff.
Basement Boatbuilding – Part 4
Today, as I write this, it is December 1st. This means that, yet again, I have missed the deadline for submitting my Christmas-themed story.
Basement Boatbuilding – Part 3
For those of you who have a short attention span, or are just joining the ranks of the enlightened by purchasing this magazine, in this issue I am making yet another feeble attempt to conclude the saga of my basement boatyard (back issues are available at the gift shop on your way out or can be mailed to your home in a plain brown wrapper).
Basement Boatbuilding – Part 2
When I last left you I was preparing to build a 19-foot kayak in my baseÂment, but first there was the little matter of an inconvenient wall I needed to remove. I had performed some precise measurements, and even studied some blueprints I had found in a bedroom closet.
Basement Boatbuilding – part 1
A few years ago this magazine changed its name to Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement Magazine. This change opened up an entire world of stories for me – some of which are, or may, actually be true. Well, to be honest, every single article I’ve written here has been absolutely true. Or at least based on a true event. Or maybe just as I choose to remember them.
A Home in the Woods — Part 5
So, I was sitting around in my office the other day and hapÂpily perusing my files when I noticed that over the past several Woodchuckle columns I somehow manÂaged to carry on at least two completely different story lines.
Renovations Explained
I love renovating. Or to be a little more accurate, I love 90 percent of renovating. It’s the final 10 percent needed to actually finish the renoÂvation that I don’t much like.
A Home in the Woods — Part 4
I’m Baaaaaaack! I realize this may be a disappointment to some, but following the release of the last issue, when my fan realized I would no longer be writing for Canadian Woodworking, a stunned silence was heard round the world (I’m not sure how that works, but regardless).
A Home in the Woods — Part 3
Way back in the August/September issue, my article was Part Two of how I built my log home. For those of you who don’t often use toxic chemicals in your woodworking, you may remember that I hadn’t finished telling the story by the time I ran out of space.
Christmas
Ah, Christmas! Christmas is supÂposed to be a time of laughter, and a time of family. A time when children look forward with breathÂless anticipation to what Santa will bring them, whether the little meatloafs deserve anything or not.
Boxes
Boxes are much like people; they come in many different shapes and sizes.
A Home in the Woods — Part 2
When last I left you, I was on my way to log-house-making college. For some reason, I had brought my brother-in-law along with me. No one recalls what he had done wrong to deserve such punishment, but apparently it was bad enough that his parents wanted him out of the house for the summer. They even paid me. Not enough mind you, but it helped with the food and gas bills.
A Small Shop Addition
As most of you are, or at least should be, aware, I recently moved across the country. Recently, as in about three years ago. The house we bought came fully equipped with a garage, which I instantly confiscated for use as a shop before my wife could claim it as a craft room or, horror-of-horrors, a mother-in-law suite.
A Home in the Woods — Part 1
Over the years I have often – too often, some say – menÂtioned that I once built a log house for my family in the Yukon (not that I have another family elsewhere). What I have never menÂtioned was how, let alone why. Well, I’m glad you asked!
Tree Carving
As I write this month’s column, Halloween is fast approaching. I hate Halloween! It’s almost as stupid as Valentine’s Day – which is probably when you’re reading this – and I try to avoid anything to do with either one.
