Category Archives: tools

Adaptable Shaving Horse

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I was rooting around in the basement last weekend, and came upon a blast from the past: an attachment for my English-style shaving horse.  It was the beginning of the idea that ultimately resulted in my bowl horse.  Since writing the … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, holding, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 18 Comments

The Magic of a Shrink Box

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Dave Fisher

There may be no project in green woodworking as magical as the making of a shrink box.  The magic happens slowly, but you still want to find somebody to ask, “Did you see that?!”  Maybe that’s why I can’t resist … Continue reading →

Posted in books, carving, green woodworking, patterns, shrink box, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments

Dancing with Nature

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Dave Fisher

What a privilege it is to collaborate with Nature.  Green wood is a medium that has a lot to say; there is no blank canvas.  Nature is a dance partner, and she usually takes the lead. Especially in pieces like … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, cherry, finding wood, green woodworking, layout, nature, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Jason Lonon

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Dave Fisher

Today, we are lucky to be experiencing a revival of traditional toolmaking, and there are many smiths making excellent tools.  However, there has been a bit of an exception when it comes to the adze.  About six months ago, I … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 13 Comments

What Thumbnails Are For

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Sharp makes everything better; less force is required to cut, control is gained, and the surface left from the tool is superior.  As obvious as that is, it is easily forgotten in the midst of a project and the haste … Continue reading →

Posted in sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Overlooked Hooks and Crooks

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Here’s to the overlooked.  Like the next guy, I appreciate the smooth curves of a well-made hook knife or the rich brown tones of a piece of walnut.  But last week I devoted some attention to a hook and tree that often go unnoticed. It … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, carving, finding wood, green woodworking, holding, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Tapered Reamers

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Dave Fisher

  A couple people have asked me recently about what I use to make the tapered mortises on things like this low bench (above).  I have used this joint many times, for everything from sawhorses to tables.  I love its … Continue reading →

Posted in green woodworking, holding, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 12 Comments

“Turning” Without a Lathe

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Months ago, I had a certain passage of poetry tumbling around in my head, and I envisioned it on a bowl.  But the bowl had to be round, and here I sat without a lathe — sort of. Actually, I do have a … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, axe, bowls, holding, layout, Lettering, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The Organic Artist

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Not long ago, in this post, I discussed my experiment of painting a spoon handle with home-made pigments from rocks.  A few of us were discussing that idea at Lie-Nielsen, when this book was recommended to me: The Organic Artist … Continue reading →

Posted in books, paint, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Carving with Kids

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Ten years ago, when my son was six, I gave him a pocketknife.  My wife thought this was stupid.  Within a day, I was with him at the emergency room watching him get stitches in his finger.  This was rough, … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments