Friends:
There are times when the global community of craftspeople just blows me away. The response to the Joiner's Bench has been very gratifying, but I get a lot more than views on YouTube; I get to connect with people who love the craft as much as I do.
Yesterday, out of nowhere, I get an email from John Lega, a woodworker with a design background. He got my free plan...
2020-02-04 14:42:40 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Many of my viewers tell me that they struggle with planing technique and that they want to improve their planing skills. So, I decided to get a total beginner into the shop and teach him how to plane wood from scratch.
I grabbed my editor Nate and taught him all about planing. And we caught it all on camera just for you.
Hope you enjoy something new ...
2020-02-01 12:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Everyone gets free plans this week, but I thought I'd post them here for your convenience.
New video Saturday!
--Rex
2020-01-29 18:18:17 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I've had SUCH a positive response to the Joiner's Bench and so many of you have asked thoughtful questions that I thought a short video was in order.
But this is me, so there's no such thing as "short" when I get talking.
Anyway, here are the answers to the most-asked questions about this bench.
Hope this clears up any confusion!
--...
2020-01-29 14:35:56 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
This is a big one for me. It combines historical research, woodwork archaeology, a major project and my ongoing quest to make craft-work accessible to the largest number of people.
You've read about it and you've seen the pictures, but finally, I give you the Joiner's Bench.
I believe that this bench is part of a forgotten little niche in woodworking...
2020-01-25 12:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I just released my DIY grooving plane for $3 and my Specialty Plane Bundle for $10. These plans are already a great deal, but you all don't pay anything. Both files are attached.
Hope you find them useful.
Thank you for you constant support!
--Rex
2020-01-22 11:36:54 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
It's just a few pieces of construction lumber and a few fasteners, but it's coming together into a pretty surprising bench. Just two half-days in the shop (with filming) and I got all this done. I'm excited.
Free plans on Wednesday and a new video Saturday.
Hope everyone is well. 6 inches of snow in Cleveland today.
See you soon!
--...
2020-01-21 00:04:40 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Many of you have told me that I'm on a roll with these tool-build videos, so why stop now?
This week I'm going to cover all your groove-cutting needs and you won't need any fancy plow-plane. Instead, we're going to build this fine little grooving plane that's quick, accurate, and not too hard to make.
Of course there are plans AND I'm using this vide...
2020-01-18 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I hope you enjoy these plans (attached down below). I l really enjoy giving them to a community of craftspeople who will use them.
I have another great homemade tool that will be ready on Saturday.
Until then, I'm still your humble narrator,
--Re...
2020-01-15 00:28:05 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Woodwork for Humans returns with a fantastic specialty plane build!
Router planes are hard to find at an affordable price, but the old-timers didn't have these fancy cast-iron planes. No! They made their router planes from a chunk of beech and a plough plane iron.
We can do the same thing...well, almost. I'm going to use a bench chisel for the ...
2020-01-11 13:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostLet me confess: I do not love my low Roman bench.
It is a cheap and effective way to get going in woodwork, but it also makes my back hurt a bit and I find tool storage a little clumsy. A few hundred years ago, woodworkers in the West decided to stand up.
It was a good move.
And we might be living in the Golden Age of Benches. Woodworker/scholars like Chris Schwarz have resurr...
2020-01-09 13:01:03 +0000 UTC View Post
People often ask me what I do for a living. I say something different each time. “I am a custom furniture maker. I’m a content creator. I make things and I teach people how to make things. I’m a woodworker. I’m an entrepreneur.” I’m never satisfied with the answer.
But there’s one answer that’s true even if it’s incomplete: I’m a writer.
Writing is the only thing...
2020-01-07 14:51:24 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
It's cold outside and my usual places to find tools are all closed until summer. But I have the sickness; I must buy old junk. What will I do during the long, dark night of the Ohio winter?
I will go to antique stores!
And it will be difficult. If you've ever tried to buy tools from an antique shop, you know the problems; poor selection and sky-high prices...
2020-01-04 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostFriends:
I know many of you want to pick up some of the books from this week's video, so I have my list ready and I'm releasing it to Patrons only until Wednesday afternoon.
Many of the books on this list are out of print, or there are a limited number of cheap, used copies on Amazon. Some of these books will sell out after my video goes live, so I'm get...
2019-12-30 14:59:50 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Christmas is behind me, the family is healthy again, and the work goes on!
Most of you know that I used to be an English teacher, and you might also know that books are the secret weapon of my videos. I use old or rare woodworking books to bring new ideas and forgotten techniques to my viewers.
How many woodworking books are there? So, so many. And m...
2019-12-28 12:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
On Wednesday, my kid got sick. Then I got sick. I started three separate videos on three different days, scaling back my ambitions with each new plan. I was down to a vlog by the end. Then my kid got sent home with a fever and I waved the white flag.
I cannot get a video done this week. But it's also Christmas, so I guess I can take a week off.
I'm s...
2019-12-21 17:53:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I think I've gotten more requests for these plans than any others! So, I'm very excited to present you the plans for the Advanced Joiner's Mallet. I hope everyone finds these clear and accessible. I hope many of you build this mallet and then show us all the pictures.
Hope you're having a good holiday season!
--Rex
2019-12-18 16:02:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends;
You know what tool doesn't get enough attention? The humble wooden mallet. It can be just two piece of wood, but there are hundreds of variations in size and shape. I should know; I own at least a dozen of them.
But sometimes, I find something special. A few months ago, I came across this traditional joiner's mallet and I knew right away that it was unique. Afte...
2019-12-14 01:08:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
It's a new week and a new project and that means my Patrons get some plans. Hot off the presses, these virtual pages will show you how to make my recent wall-box with a few scraps and some nails. It's really a great little job and makes a fine gift.
Also, in honor of the Holidays, I've brought out the discount code HUMAN which will give you 10% off anything at <...
2019-12-10 11:39:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
A big part of woodwork is working FAST. Don't let anyone tell you different. Sometimes, you need to get stuff done now. Even with hand tools, some projects are very quick, if you work smart and use some time-honored techniques.
With this in mind, I present my simple wall-box that you can make in about 3 hours with NO GLUE.
(Also, I'll be out of town ...
2019-12-07 12:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostFriends:
I'm sneaking in a little work before the Thanksgiving Holiday begins. I'm just finished the plans for my DIY spokeshave and I thought I'd share them.
Wait until your relatives get good and liquored-up and start bickering. Then you can sneak down to the shop and make a tool that will make YOU happy.
Sounds like a holiday to me!
Warmest wishes from me ...
2019-11-28 13:59:19 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
We all need a good spokeshave, but it's just a blade with a handle on either side. Why not just make one? Well, we can. But we can also just buy a new one for $20.
So, which do we value more: the time or the money?
"By hammer and hand do all Arts stand."
--Rex
2019-11-22 18:02:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
It's no exaggeration to say that this year has been the biggest yet for my channel and my business. There have been so many big milestones that it's hard to even remember them all.
So, in honor of #thankyoupatronsday, here's a quick recap of the years highlights, some new surprise developments that only YOU get to hear about, and a look towards the future. ...
2019-11-20 20:06:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I've done plenty of videos on planes, but we all need a good joinery saw, and hoo-boy, are they pricey! So, I rounded up 4 very inexpensive saws and gave them a go. The results are VERY interesting.
I tried a few new things in this video, for instance I don't actually talk to the camera and my editor and I tried a few new film-making tricks. I know the audio cou...
2019-11-16 12:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I guess I caught the low-angle bug for real. Not only did I make a low angle jack plane, I also bought the Stanley and the Tay Tools versions. Then our friend Ethan loaned me his Veritas. With all those low-angle planes around, I had to do a shootout.
So here we are: I put these three planes head-to-head to see which one is the best and which is the best value.&...
2019-11-09 12:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostFriends:
Just like always, Patrons don't pay for plans. Here's my set for the Instant Shave Horse. I don't want to pat myself on the back too much, but I do think this set is especially clean looking. I'll tell you, modeling that pipe-clamp wasn't easy. A real skill-builder!
Enjoy!
--Rex
2019-11-05 20:04:37 +0000 UTC View PostWoodwork for Humans returns!!!
I'm going to make some chairs out of raw, green logs. It's going to be amazing. But for this work, you need some special tools, like a shave-horse. And man, that's a whole project by itself.
No time to build one? No problem.
I've researched and experimented and come up with this fantastic jig that works like a shave horse but can be built i...
2019-11-02 14:16:28 +0000 UTC View PostThis happens a lot.
I get a new tool and I’m very excited. I take it out and it looks good. No obvious problems. Maybe it’s got a nice shine or feels smooth in the hand. Maybe the first few cuts are even good.
Then, problems.
Consider the Tay Tools Low-Angle, Bevel-Up Jack Plane. Right out of the package, it looks…nice. Crisp machining meets brigh...
2019-10-29 10:44:54 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Well, I did it. I went and bought a Stanley Low Angle Jack and did a head-to-head comparison with my home-made version. It's really fascinating to have a factory plane to compare with mine.
Of course, my aluminium plane can't really compete, but then there's the whole question of whether or not these low-angle planes are even any good.
Should you buy...
2019-10-26 12:14:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
One of you recently made me an offer I couldn't refuse. He bought a new Veritas low-angle jack and had it shipped it ME. I'm going to review it and send it back, But in the mean-time, I wanted to stop and share my thoughts on the most expensive hand-tool that's ever been in my shop.
It's pretty amazing.
Hope everyone is doing well. It's hump day!
--R...
2019-10-23 10:51:57 +0000 UTC View Post