The Project That Never Ends
In February my wife suggested we put up shiplap in our hallway. It still isn’t finished.
James Jackson
James is a woodworker, a freelance writer, a former newspaper reporter and father to two amazing girls.
Articles by James Jackson
Demolition man
It’s no secret that building things with my own two hands isn’t exactly my forte. If it were, I probably wouldn’t have this column and you wouldn’t be reading it right now.
Don’t be afraid to reach for the router
A powerful and efficient tool in the workshop, the router can make quick work of some tedious tasks.
Bin There, Done That
This hideaway fence took just a few hours to complete, and hides the view of our ugly trash bins from the road.
Getting Your Wires Crossed
You know that wire protruding from the wall, that you have no idea what it does? Well, don’t snip it off.
Woodworking To-Do List
When summer turns to fall and winter, the “to do” list becomes the “didn’t get done” list.
DIY – The Millenial Way
Millennials get blamed for just about everything. The question is… do they deserve it?
Overbuilders anonymous
Why use one screw when you could use seven? If you’re an ‘overbuilder’ you know why.
The Toronto Woodworking Show
I have embarrassingly few tools to my name. Sure I’ve taken care of the basics – a few hammers, a couple screwdrivers, a set of wrenches – but most of those have come courtesy of my dad on birthdays and Christmases over the last 20 years.
A Beginner Woodworker’s Paradise
For someone getting into woodworking, getting a formal education is worth its weight in gold.
The True Cost of Craftsmanship
In late November last year, I was working on getting a woodworking business going to complement my freelance writing and photography career, when a friend of mine ordered a couple of items for his parents – a charcuterie board made of apple wood, and a set of six coasters. I took the tray and coasters to a local courier company to get delivered in time for the holidays, and I was packaging the board for shipment when the store owner took a shining to it.
An Illuminating Experience
If a rookie woodworker with almost no experience can make this cedar post lamp, you can too.
Cry Me a River
River tables are all the craze today, and they’re really easy to make. Or so I thought.
Serious About Shop Safety
It’s funny how certain memories from your childhood stick with you, even when they’re buried deep down in your subconscious and you think you have completely forgotten about them.
Lugging Lumber
Sometimes getting lumber home is the hardest part. Other times the hardest part is deciding what to do with it once it’s home.
