Thu, 28 February 2008 This month's wood species is Mahogany. A beautiful wood that has been favored by woodworkers for making "high end" furniture, cabinets, and so much more. The dark reddish-brown color of the heartwood is easily identifiable. Mahogany works and shapes easily with both power and hand tools - as long as they're sharp. It's readiness to accept preservatives applied to it makes it a great choice for boats and outdoor furniture. Thanks to the great folks at Highland Woodworking, home of "Saturday Mornings at Highland" a free educational series occuring every saturday at 10AM at their Atlanta, Georgia store. Once again they've donated another customized Woodslicer Resaw Bandsaw blade to this week's lucky schwag winner. But if you didn't win and still want to purchase one of these great blades, then just click on the picture below!
If you have comments, questions, show ideas or want to enter your name for a chance to win free schwag drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com. Comments[2] |
Wed, 27 February 2008 I thought I would share a few thoughts with you on my favorite block plane. Currently my go to block plane for everything from cleaning up end grain to smoothing out those hard to reach areas is my Veritas Low-Angle block plane. I've had a few others before, and still reach for my Stanley 60-1/2 from time to time - mainly when I don't want to risk the Veritas. But hands down the design and construction of the Veritas is well worth the money. Check out the video to find out why I think it's so great and maybe you will too. Enjoy!! Don't forget, coming up in March, Hendrik is back and he's answering your questions about wood movement, storage and acclimation so get those in along with your topic suggestions, questions and schwag entries to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com
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Tue, 26 February 2008 Wood Talk Online - 30 Topics: Category: general -- posted at: 6:17 AM Comments[0] |
Sun, 24 February 2008 This past weekend I spent a little one on one time with one of my many favorite hand tools...my Veritas Low Angle block plane. Block planes aren't just for cutting end grains and there seems to be a lot of confusion over standard angle and low angle planes. Regardless of which style you choose, they're both bevel up and thus are extremely versatile given the fact that bevel ups are so much easier to alter the effective cutting angle. Don't forget coming up in March, Hendrik is back and we're talking wood movement and acclimation so make sure to get your questions in as soon as possible. Send questions, topic ideas, feedback and schwag entries to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com Comments[0] |
Sat, 23 February 2008 It's been awhile since the last Jig of the Month feature so I figured it was time to do one. And I've got one that I think most people probably wouldn't think of as a jig at all...masking tape! I often use blue painter's tape as a clamping jig in quite a few situations. When I need a couple of extra hands masking tape is my best helper in the shop and it also doesn't mar the work either. Hendrik is coming back in March to answer questions about wood movement and acclimation so be sure to get your questions in as soon as possible. So if you have comments, questions, topic suggestions and schwag entries send them to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com Comments[0] |
Thu, 21 February 2008 It's been awhile since the last Jig of the Month feature so I figured it was time to do one. And I've got one that I think most people probably wouldn't think of as a jig at all...masking tape! I often use blue painter's tape as a clamping jig in quite a few situations. When I need a couple of extra hands masking tape is my best helper in the shop and it also doesn't mar the work either. Hendrik is coming back in March to answer questions about wood movement and acclimation so be sure to get your questions in as soon as possible. So if you have comments, questions, topic suggestions and schwag entries send them to mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com Comments[0] |
Tue, 19 February 2008 We've been covering the process of altering bevels in an effort to change the pitch of our bevel up planes to minimize tearout when planing wood. But is it possible to do the same with traditional bevel down planes? Afterall, no matter what bevel you put on your traditional planes, the back of the blade is always dead flat (or should be) and is parallel with the bed of the frog so how can you alter the pitch? There are two ways, the first is to replace the traditional 45 degree angle frog - referred to as a common pitch - with a steeper 50 degree angle frog - York pitch or grind a bevel on the back of the blade - a back bevel. For consistent back bevel grinding I use my Veritas MK.II honing guide. To find out more about it click on the picture below.
Hendrik is back in March to answer your questions about wood movement, storage and so much more. So if you have questions, feedback, topic suggestions or schwag entries drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com .
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Sun, 17 February 2008 This is part 2 of the recent question and answer talk with Hendrik Varju. Many of you submitted great questions regarding tuning hand planes, both new and used, and Hendrik had the answers. If you're interested in learning more about Hendrik, including ordering his first DVD title "Jointer and Planer Secrets" head over to his website at www.passionforwood.com . Also you can see Hendrik at the upcoming wood show in Toronto, to learn more about it head to www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/show/ . You may notice a recorder box in the upper right hand corner of the website, if you'd like to leave me a voicemail just click on the appropriate box and using your computer mic you can record your own message playable on the show. Enter your name for the free schwag drawings mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com Comments[5] |
Thu, 14 February 2008 For today's episode we have part 1 of our recent visit with Matt's Basement Workshop Podcast's Guest Expert Hendrik Varju. This time we have Hendrik back to answer questions, submitted by you the listeners, regarding tuning up hand planes. Whether it's a new model from Veritas or Lie-Nielsen or an antique you picked up at a flea market, getting these hand planes working the right way is a major concern for all of us. Many of you wrote in with some great questions, but I just couldn't use all of them. So instead I picked out the ones that I think best represented the concerns most of you had regarding getting your hand planes working as well as they could. To find out more about Hendrik, head over to his website at www.passionforwood.com where you can see his seminar sessions, order his DVD "Jointer and Planer Secrets - private woodworking instruction in a box" or even take a private class with him at his shop in Erin, Ontario. Also if you're looking for a great woodworking event to attend check out the upcoming Woodworking Show in Toronto Canada, February 29- March 2 2008. Hendrik is going to be teaching a seminar that weekend so if you're attending stop by and say hello! For more information on the show head over to www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/show/ Congrats to Scott Thomas for being this week's lucky schwag winner!! If you haven't entered your name yet or just want to leave a comment drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com To order Leonard Lee's Sharpening guide which we talked about earlier this week, click on the picture below:
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Tue, 12 February 2008 Altering the primary bevels on a bevel up plane will dramatically alter the effective cutting angle. This can help to dramatically decrease tearout in even the most troublesome woods. The combination of the blade's bevel angle and the plane's bed angle equals the effective cutting angle or pitch (I think I messed this terms up in the episode). For most Bevel Up planes the pitch equals 37 degrees - this is the bed angle of 12 degrees along with the typical 25 degree bevel of the blade. This works fine for most end grains and softwoods. But for straight grained moderate hardwoods like Cherry or Poplar, a 50 degree pitched blade will give great looking results. For difficult grained woods a steeper pitched blade works even better. I had a little problem with Monday's episode posting, so if you didn't hear it yet, it's a lead up to today's. Questions, comments, suggestions or to enter for schwag?? mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com To order Leonard Lee's Sharpening guide, click on the picture
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Sun, 10 February 2008 Bevel Up planes are a great choice for the first time hand plane user because of their lower bed angle. The cutting angle of the blade helps to make them less prone to tearout which is the scurge of hand plane users!! Of course it's important to understand, that while Bevel Ups do help to control tearout, they're still not the complete answer to overcoming it. Bevel Ups are simply one of the many tools we can use to reduce the amount of tear out we'll run into. But is there more we can do? Listen to find out... Have you entered for the schwag drawings? Drop me a line with your questions, topic suggestions and schwag entries at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com Comments[2] |
Thu, 7 February 2008  It's been a while since our last book review, but it's finally back! This month we're taking a look at Alan and Gill Bridgewaters' "Encyclopedia of Woodworking". An all around great book for beginners "Encyclopedia of Woodworking" is a good choice for those who might be a little overwhelmed with more technical woodworking reference books geared towards woodworkers with formal training or at least a few years worth of sawdust under their feet. While providing enough information about some of the most common aspects of woodworking, "Encyclopedia of Woodworking" presents it in an easy to read, easy to understand manner. I don't think most veteran woodworkers will find it a must read, but for the true amateur it should help you find your way. To get your copy Click here Congrats to Jerry Esposito for winning schwag this week!! If you haven't entered already, drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com. That's also where you can send all your comments, questions and feedback too! Have questions about tuning up your hand plane? Ask Hendrik! Get your questions in before tuesday Feb. 12!! Comments[0] |
Tue, 5 February 2008 Bevel up planes are becoming more and more appealing to woodworkers these days. But what is a bevel up plane? Bevel ups, or as they're also known - low-angle planes, are bench planes just like their more traditional angled cousins. The only exceptions are the physical characteristics of the low angle bed, and the lack of a chip breaker. Feature Friday is just around the corner so if you haven't gotten your name in yet drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com Comments[2] |
Sun, 3 February 2008 After a long weekend that went every which way but the right way, I thought I would share some more listener's emails. Rudy shares his thoughts on his experience with flattening waterstones, while Ken and Darren share their feelings about buying all new or upgrading existing machines. Thanks to everyone who's written in with their feedback and topic suggestions. If you have feedback, topic suggestion or just want to enter your name for the schwag drawings drop me a line at mattsbasementworkshop@gmail.com Comments[0] |
Sat, 2 February 2008 It's the beginning of a new month and they can only mean one thing on Feature Friday - it's time for Router Bit of the Month!! Remember, every month Woodcraft picks one of the many great profiles that Whiteside manufactures and that put it on sale for a great discounted price to make it easier for us to pick up either at your local Woodcraft store or online. This month we received Whiteside's Solid Brass Inlay Kit to try out in the basement workshop. This kit includes everything you need to successfully route out shapes using templates and then by removing an attached bushing you can then use the same setup to route out the inlay that will fit in the hole you just cut. It literally took me minutes to set mine up and in under half an hour I had routed both the inlay and it's recess. And more importantly it fit on the first try!! Whiteside includes the brass bushing, the centering rod and the 1/8" downcut spiral bit along with detailed instructions to help you get the same results right from the start. Congrats to this week's winner of the Solid Brass Inlay Kit - John Heaney! You're not John, but you want to get your hands on this month's router bit or you need a clear base plate, or even a pre-made inlay template? Click on the links below to visit Woodcraft. Comments[0] |
Thu, 31 January 2008 It's the beginning of a new month and they can only mean one thing on Feature Friday - it's time for Router Bit of the Month!! Remember, every month Woodcraft picks one of the many great profiles that Whiteside manufactures and that put it on sale for a great discounted price to make it easier for us to pick up either at your local Woodcraft store or online. This month we received Whiteside's Solid Brass Inlay Kit to try out in the basement workshop. This kit includes everything you need to successfully route out shapes using templates and then by removing an attached bushing you can then use the same setup to route out the inlay that will fit in the hole you just cut. It literally took me minutes to set mine up and in under half an hour I had routed both the inlay and it's recess. And more importantly it fit on the first try!! Whiteside includes the brass bushing, the centering rod and the 1/8" downcut spiral bit along with detailed instructions to help you get the same results right from the start. Congrats to this week's winner of the Solid Brass Inlay Kit - John Heaney! You're not John, but you want to get your hands on this month's router bit or you need a clear base plate, or even a pre-made inlay template? Click on the links below to visit Woodcraft. Comments[0] |
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