Category Archives: Uncategorized

Five Baa Hurdles

  Well, I think that’s how they say it in eastern Mass. anyway.  Just in case you may not be aware, there’s a pretty unique riving and hurdlemaking opportunity coming up with Plymouth CRAFT; a chance to spend a weekend … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

The T-Handle Auger

To bore the initial hole in a shrink pot, I use an auger, typically this two-inch diameter T-handle auger.  I found mine at flea market years ago.  Large augers like this aren’t rare, but there are a few things to … Continue reading

Posted in sharpening, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Sighting the Lines

We’re all familiar with the idea of sighting down the length of a board to check for straightness of line.  It is amazing how well our eyes can pick up even slight deviations in the flow of a line when … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, layout, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Evening Trees Shrink Pot

A longing to wander tears my heart when I hear trees rustling in the wind at evening… Trees have long thoughts, long-breathing and restful, just as they have longer lives than ours.  They are wiser than we are, as long … Continue reading

Posted in patterns, quotes and excerpts, shrink box, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Trees and Truth

If you’re interested in etymology, trees, and truth, this short Ted Ed video is worth a few minutes of your time.  Not only does it provide a linguistic link to our timeless reverence for trees, but the animation is also … Continue reading

Posted in historical reference, nature, trees, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Different Animals

I was working  a couple different cherry ale bowls over the weekend and was struck again by how different they are to carve compared to “regular” bowls.  First of all, especially in this roughing-out stage, I find myself staring a … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, carving, cherry, holding, layout, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 9 Comments

Axe Work

I’ve been roughing out a couple walnut bowls, which means plenty of fun axe work.  One of the more challenging aspects is shaping the end grain area S curve; the bowl will be convex as it leaves the bottom, then return in … Continue reading

Posted in axe, classes, green woodworking, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 6 Comments

If Yinz* are Ever in Pittsburgh

Earlier this week, I found myself with a few hours to walk around the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh.  There was no chance of getting lost; all I had to do to orient myself was look for the centerpiece of the … Continue reading

Posted in carving, historical reference, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Iron Horse?

It’s been a long time since I followed new products and gadgets in the non-traditional tool world, which is fine with me.   Today there was an email from Woodcraft in my inbox announcing a special on a new product, something … Continue reading

Posted in holding, tools, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Dark Horse

I carved this ale bowl from some more of the red alder I mentioned in my last post.  Then I tried something new for me: I painted (ebonized I suppose) the outside  with waterproof black India ink.  I like how … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, green woodworking, paint, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments