sutton046

A majestic hardwood tree stands in a forest. For well over a hundred and fifty years it has been growing here, but now it bears a forester's mark. This phase of its life will soon come to an end. The faller approaches, using his skillful eye and experience to determine the best direction for it to fall, based on wind direction, balance of the tree, the lay of the land, position of stumps rocks and other material on the ground. The silence of the forest is shattered by the cough and roar of the chainsaw as it comes to life. It's pitch intensifies as a big wedge shaped piece is first cut from one side of the trunk, about waist height to the faller. With the saw's engine idling irregularly, the faller moves around the bole of the tree to the opposite side from where the wedge was removed. He checks again the intended direction of fall, and lines up the saw on the back of the tree. The whine of the saw increases as the chain bites into the bark and sapwood. Chips fly as the bar...

I am building a nice big custom cabinet, using predominantly recycled jarrah. This post is the second part to telling the story of this build and the techniques used along the way. To make high quality furniture and joinery, you need material which is flat and straight. Recycling salvaged timber involves a fair bit of machining work to convert these sticks to the flat and true state. Most of this timber has been seasoned in situ. The houses were built with green construction timbers, as it is much easier to work despite being heavier, and over the years the timber seasoned while nailed in place in the structure of the building. Therefore it can be cupped, bowed, with wind, with spring, and peppered with nails! It is also very dry and hard. It just needs to be dressed so that we can utilise this resource in the best way possible.  Dimensions Matter. In keeping with an earlier era, much of this piece of furniture will be a predominantly finished at 22mm thic...

There's been a lot of talk about lidded tool chests over the last year or two in the woodworking world, aided by the US woodworking legend Christopher Schwarz of Lost Art Press. His wonderful book The Anarchists Tool Chest has been a manifesto of hand tool woodworking both since it was published last year and in the lead-up to it.  Chris is an advocate of lidded tool chests for woodworkers - preferably made by woodworkers themselves to keep all their own tools in. It is true, storage in an almost airtight tool chest does help protect tools from moisture, salt air, dust, etc. After all, we are talking about quality tools here, which will last the user a lifetime and be worthy of passing on to future generations. Despite all this wonderful talk, I confess I am still more keen on an open tool box, with a carry handle. My new open tool box. It carrys nearly all of the hand tools I need on the job. These are not so good for carrying on aeroplanes (yes, that is ...

This project has been brewing for a while. For some months my customers and I have been bouncing design concepts back and forth. I've done a pile of drawings, we've had a couple of meetings, and exchanged a bunch of emails... Well, a week and a half ago I started the build... What is about to be created? A large L-shaped cabinet which will be a stunning feature in their living room. It will have two primary functions: to house some very nice HI-FI/media gear and to display a heap of very beautiful collectibles - particularly ceramic works by a range of artists.   Not only will it be made from recycled jarrah, but the cabinet must also fit in with a nice antique tall sideboard which shares the room. Many of the little details in the new cabinet will be taken from that sideboard. That'll be fun!  For me, it always feels such a privilege to make a beautiful heirloom for someone. I'm looking forward to this project. It's a big job, so I'll post stories abo...