2006

S3.E1 ∙ David marks shop tour

Mon, Jan 05, 2009

Last summer, on our Gadget Station delivery trip, we decided to stop and visit the one and only David Marks. If you're not familiar with David, he is an incredible woodworker/designer and used to host a show on HGTV and the DIY Network called Woodworks. His show was a huge influence on me personally and I know thousands of other woodworkers feel the same way.

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S3.E2 ∙ David marks gallery tour

Sun, Jan 18, 2009

In this David Marks Gallery Tour, you'll see David's wood boiling apparatus and his art gallery. David recently added an additional two-story building to his property and dedicated it to displaying his various turnings and furniture pieces all for the enjoyment of his students, visitors, and guests. The gallery contains many beautiful pieces by David as well as other amazing woodworkers.

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S3.E3 ∙ David marks project in progress

Sat, Jan 24, 2009

This is a quick tour of David Marks project in progress. David loves to make massive turned sculptures and his current project is a doozie. It's a huge disc-shaped turned piece featuring a big marquetry image on the front. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. It's almost like an episode of Woodworks. Well, sort of.

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S3.E4 ∙ Nicole's picture frame

Sat, Feb 07, 2009

About 4 days before Christmas, I started making a nice little picture frame for a custom piece of art I had made up for Nicole. A gift for a special girl requires some special wood. So I pulled out my best sheets of curly maple veneer and a couple of sheets of home-sawn afzelia wood that I received from David Marks.

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S3.E5 ∙ Dewalt tracksaw review

Wed, Feb 11, 2009

Here is my review of the DeWalt Tracksaw. As much as I tried to focus solely on the Track saw, it's nearly impossible not to draw comparisons to the Festool TS line of plunge saws. Let me sum it all up by saying you need to be really picky to find distinctions that will make a real difference to the average woodworker.

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S3.E6 ∙ Sawing off a box top

Tue, Feb 24, 2009

This mini covers the process of sawing off a box top. The idea is that this keepsake box will travel the country to different woodworkers' shops, and each person will work on one part of the project.

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S3.E7 ∙ Duane's steamer trunk part 1

Sun, Feb 22, 2009

This project was built and filmed in an effort to assist my new friend, Duane. The video gives the whole story. This first part focuses on building the frames that make up the sides of the trunk case. I cover numerous topics, but I spend a significant amount of time on grain matching.

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S3.E8 ∙ Duane's steamer trunk part 2

Wed, Mar 04, 2009

Moving right along, we continue cutting and assembling parts for the steamer trunk. I spend a good deal of time on techniques that will help you when working with plans. The key is to realize that some parts need to be cut using measurements from your project, not from the plan itself. I also spend some time creating the thicker top panels.

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S3.E9 ∙ Duane's steamer trunk part 3

Wed, Mar 18, 2009

I go over some pre-finishing tips and finish the inside of the trunk. I then go through the entire assembly and glueup process from start to finish. I then discuss the trunk's lid, which is different from the original plan.

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S3.E10 ∙ Duane's steamer trunk part 4

Sun, Apr 05, 2009

The final installment of the Steamer Trunk series. I apply the faux walnut straps, apply the water-based finish using my HVLP turbine, and install the tansu hardware. All in all, this was a great project that really reinforces simple frame and panel construction.

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S3.E11 ∙ Setting up a dado blade

Sat, Mar 21, 2009

A hassle-free method for setting up a dado blade with no measuring. All it takes is a flat surface and one of the most sensitive measuring devices in your shop: your fingers.

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S3.E12 ∙ Interview with darrell peart

Sun, Apr 12, 2009

Darrell Peart is a furniture-maker, author, and instructor living in the Pacific Northwest. His work is heavily influenced by the work of the Greene brothers and as you can see on his website, Darrell likes to put his own spin on it. This interview took place in March of 2009 at the William Ng School.

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S3.E13 ∙ Coping cabana

Sat, Apr 25, 2009

This is just a quick (silly) video of me assembling an Eagle America coping sled. I find this type of sled is not only helpful, but a necessity, when making frames and raised panel doors. It's a great jig for running those narrow pieces through a big router bit.

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S3.E14 ∙ Respirators in the wood shop

Thu, May 07, 2009

Here's a quick review of the dust and fumes that can make our lives miserable in the shop, and why we need respirators for pro-active protection. And below you will find a links to the exact respirator setup I like to use: the 3m 7500 Series.

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S3.E15 ∙ Safety q&a

Thu, May 07, 2009

I received a number of great questions for Safety Week and this video covers three of them. The first question concerns running small pieces over the table-saw and router. The second question is about the proper installation and safe use of a dado blade. The final question concerns the disposal of chemicals and hazardous waste in the shop.

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S3.E16 ∙ Sketchup basics: trunk lid part 1

Tue, Jun 02, 2009

Its no secret that Google SketchUp is a very popular program amongst woodworkers. Considering what it does, its incredibly easy to use. But it can still be intimidating to someone who is using it for the first time. So with the help of my buddy Aaron Marshall, we put together a few videos showing how to construct the square lid to the Steamer Trunk.

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S3.E17 ∙ Sketchup basics: trunk lid part 2

Sun, Jun 07, 2009

In part two of our three-part series, Aaron shows us how to make the frame parts for the top of our lid. Now these videos do assume that you've opened the program and have a little familiarity with the tools.

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S3.E18 ∙ Sketchup basics: trunk lid part 3

Wed, Jun 17, 2009

In the final part of our series, Aaron puts the finishing touches on the trunk lid. If this is your first experience with SketchUp, I highly recommend checking out the tutorials located at Sketch Up For Woodworkers.

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S3.E19 ∙ Amoving experience

Mon, Jun 29, 2009

Moving an entire wood shop is no fun. But you can save yourself a lot of backaches if you hire some help. Money well-spent if you ask me. I'll show you everything I did to get my shop ready for the road trip. By no means is this meant to be a guide of any sort. Rather, its just a peek into my personal experience. And if you ever have to move your own shop, you'll know what you're in for.

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S3.E20 ∙ Krylon spray stain

Mon, Jul 13, 2009

Krylon recently released a line of exterior wood stains in spray form. A very convenient way to transfer color to your outdoor projects. I sprayed 6 different test boards (maple and white oak) just to see how well the stain applies.

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S3.E21 ∙ Awfs 2009 - overview and belt sander races

Sat, Jul 18, 2009

If you aren't familiar, AWFS is the Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers and its a show that occurs every other year at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is just a quick video to give you an idea of what the show is like.

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S3.E22 ∙ Awfs 2009: tool demos

Tue, Jul 21, 2009

AWFS is always a blast, even though this year we could see the effects of the economy in both corporate presence and attendance. But there were still some great products to see.

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S3.E23 ∙ Low entertainment center part 1

Mon, Aug 17, 2009

Think you can't build furniture because you only have a few basic tools? Well, check this out. This walnut low entertainment center was built using three primary tools: a circular saw, a router, and a drill. The unit has sliding doors, good ventilation, a little shelf in the back for a surge protector, and all of the trim is beveled at an angle for a more interesting visual effect.

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S3.E24 ∙ Low entertainment center part 2

Thu, Sep 03, 2009

If there is one major negative aspect to working with plywood and other sheet goods, its the fact that we have to deal with the ugly exposed edges. But with a little know-how and some strips of wood, you can dress up the edges so that only a trained eye can tell that the board is not completely made of solid wood.

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S3.E25 ∙ Low entertainment center part 3

Fri, Sep 18, 2009

The absolute worst time to find out you've made a mistake is while the glue is drying. So this part focuses strongly on the importance of a dry assembly, which I consider to be an essential part of the glue up process. By the end we'll have a partially glue-up entertainment center.

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S3.E26 ∙ Low entertainment center part 4

Mon, Sep 28, 2009

An important aspect of building furniture that many new woodworkers overlook is the importance of finishing before the project is completely glued together. That's the primary focus of this part of the series.

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S3.E27 ∙ Low entertainment center part 5

Wed, Oct 07, 2009

I assemble and attach the base, install the handles, and apply the final finish to the top. This project was an incredible learning experience, and not in the way you might think. I actually found it challenging to step back from my primary shop tools, and focus only on the portable power tools. I have a new found appreciation for the tools I have been taking granted for years.

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S3.E28 ∙ Intro to flush trim bits

Wed, Oct 14, 2009

A brief introduction to the world of flush trim bits. Flush trim bits come in all shapes and sizes, but they all share the same basic anatomy. After watching this video, you'll have a much better idea of which ones to buy and when to use them. I also do a quick demo using a pattern bit (a variation of the flush trim bit).

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S3.E29 ∙ October 2009 shop tour

Wed, Oct 21, 2009

Finally, a thorough look at my new digs. Now my hope is that this shop is just temporary, until we sell the other house. But until then, I can make my 3-car garage a comfortable place to produce great projects. Enjoy the shop tour.

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S3.E30 ∙ Keepsake box

Thu, Oct 29, 2009

It's that time of year again: Holiday Project Time. So this year, I decided to make a few little keepsake boxes, thanks to some advice from The Great Woodini. I also took inspiration from a box Nicole keeps on her nightstand and developed a new design that is much more practical for the average woodworker to make.

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S3.E31 ∙ French cleat storage system

Mon, Nov 16, 2009

A French cleat is as ingenious as it is simple. It involves securing a strip of wood with a 45 degree bevel to the wall, and then securing an opposing beveled strip on the back of a cabinet or anything you want to hang. Its incredibly strong and versatile. Its a great way to hang cabinetry and as you'll see in this video, it can be used to make an awesome modular wall storage unit.

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S3.E32 ∙ Oil-based finish basics

Mon, Nov 30, 2009

Oil-based finishes are typically the first type of finish we confront as woodworkers, be it straight oil or a can polyurethane. Although they are all derived from oil, these finishes can vary widely in terms of application method, durability, and maintenance. The key to understanding these finishes is to understand their ingredients.

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