Rob is the editor at Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement and a studio furniture maker.
Over the past few decades I’ve enjoyed learning about Japanese design and woodworking. I’ve even built a few pieces of furniture drawn heavily from Japanese tradition. I’m intrigued by the unique traditions and incredible strength and accuracy that come with how the Japanese have worked wood for many centuries.
Joints are the cornerstone of just about every woodworking project. Learn the basics, then get fancy.
Though wooden spoons and utensils can be left very simply adorned, adding a little “je ne sais quoi” takes them from a simple kitchen item to a piece of art.
We know setting up a band saw properly is critical to getting good results from this shop workhorse, but that means nothing without getting into the details. Consider these band saw setup basics, as well as a few simple tips, that might not fall into the standard “setting up your band saw” list.
Unless you’re using only hand tools, and don’t sand any of your surfaces, you’re creating dust in your workshop.
Cordless drills are ubiquitous, but not everyone uses them correctly. Here are 10 ways to extend the life of your drill and get it to perform better.
I posted a set of closet doors I was building on Instagram a month or so ago. Just simple solid maple doors with plywood panels. They were paint-grade, and were to be installed in the front door area of our home. Though I didn’t mention it, I was pretty sure they’d take me about a day in total spaced out over the next three days or so to build, paint and install. I didn’t realize this project would span a month and have so many roadblocks.
I’d like to see more kids and young adults work wood. Probably a lot of other people would like to see that, too. In order to encourage more young people to get into woodworking we’ll be showcasing projects from young people in upcoming issues of the magazine. The challenging part is that I’d love if these articles were also written by a kid or young adult.
I get a lot of emails about all sorts of woodworking-related topics. Everything from government trade programs, readers sharing their latest projects, questions about past articles, new product announcements…the list goes on.
Warmer weather means lots of woodworkers are coming out of hibernation. Plan your next project, and success is just around the corner. I live in Peterborough, Ontario, and although it hasn’t been an awfully cold and snowy winter, I’m still looking forward to the warmer spring air. Today, it’s well above freezing, and tomorrow is going to be even warmer. I’m lucky enough to have a heated indoor workshop to keep me warm all winter while I build, but I can appreciate the fact that many of you are likely chomping at the bit, and the planning is well underway for your next project. Unheated shops are common in Canada, and the spring weather is the start of a busy six to eight months of woodworking and home improvement for many Canadians.
Stratford, Ontario furniture maker Andrew Hunter on on woodworking books, the Internet and the smell of zebrawood.
In my first “From Rob’s Bench” blog I mentioned a very modest marble run my son and I started. Although I was excited about the tiny bit of work we did, I largely included it in my inaugural blog to lock myself into having to make it, as I knew readers would want to see its progress. I was right. I’ve received a few messages asking about its progress (Thanks for keeping me honest!), so I thought an update was in order.
I never figured the Mars Rover and woodworking would cross paths, but I was wrong. What started out as a simple jobsite table saw made of LEGO quickly turned into an overlooked attachment for NASA’s Mars Rover.
With all the hard work that goes into breakout and joinery, you certainly don't want things to go wrong during the assembly stage. Here are a few tips to ensure a smooth transition to finishing.
Though I’m sure more than one of these reasons applies to each of our readers at any one time, there are lots of reasons why we all love to work wood.
In this video, Rob Brown talks about the design of his Kids Pallet Chair. Read the article.
I enjoy pyrography, but I’m no expert. Here are a few fun pieces I recently burned, and some work of a true master. Sticking with my “make it, don’t buy it” theme, I made my kids small maple hearts for Valentine’s Day. Also sticking with my last-minute approach to gifts, these little gifts were completed late on February 13. Thankfully, lacquer dries quickly.
I’ve competed lots of complex, large jobs, and almost always look back on them fondly. Finishing a project that’s technically difficult is pretty satisfying, especially if you weren’t sure if you had the skills to complete it in the first place. But finishing a small job can also be very rewarding, though the reasons are much different. There’s something nice about starting and finishing a project on the same day. When you started there was just a plank or two of lumber sitting on the shelf. Once complete, the lumber has been turned into a beautiful, functional object, with quality joinery and smooth surfaces that encourages you to smile. It’s a good feeling.
Before even starting to answer that question, I want to make one thing very clear; I’m not trying to downplay the tragic effects COVID has had on our society. What it has done to people from all backgrounds isn’t pretty, and I’m certainly not celebrating this ugly virus. My question has more to do with the unique situation we woodworkers and DIY enthusiasts find ourselves in. Perhaps there is a tiny silver lining in this situation that we’ve all been thrust into.
Work Sharper and Smarter
Micro Adjustments for Perfect Sleds
Bessey's beast of a trigger clamp.
Rali's revolutionary offering.
The reciprocating (a.k.a. recip) saw is the preferred choice for making aggressive cuts in wood, metal (steel, aluminum, copper and cast iron) and plastic.
