I got a bit more done on the Craftsman Style Coffee Table that I have been puttering with on and off for the past few months.

I was able to get the mortise and tenon completed for the bottom shelf. As well, I got the ‘buttons’ made and skirt mortised which will be used to secure the table top to the base.

I first made a full width tenon on the shelf and then divided it into three. The plan is to only glue the center tenon thereby allowing the others to ‘float’. This, I hope, will compensate for wood movement.

This is also the general premise for the buttons that I created. The buttons will be inserted into the skirt mortises and then secured to the table top. Since the mortises are a larger width than the buttons they will be able to move as the wood expands and contracts.

Here are some more photos:

Continue reading 'Craftsman Style Coffee Table – Part 5'

Well, although I had a few great trips recently it was nice to finally get back into the shop.

Once back I was quickly drawn to the lathe and threw a piece of Walnut on and turned this small bowl with a flanged style rim.

It’s approximately 6″ in diameter and 2″ tall and finished with the EEE Cream and Shellawax combo.

As always, Walnut is a real treat to work with. I was pleased how the wide rim turned out. However, next time I will try to get a much thinner wall around the sides of the bowl.

Here’s a couple of more photos:

Continue reading 'Walnut Bowl With A Flanged Rim'

My final stop on this trip to Maine was to Captain Tinkham’s Emporium in Searsport. Located in a circa 1840 brick storefront, formerly the Captain Parker residence, it is designated as a National Register of Historical Buildings. Although the main component of the store is devoted to books, antiques and collectibles the tool annex has a great selection of old tools and hardware.

Captain Tinkham’s is operated by The Jonesport Wood Company which also has stores in Liberty and Hulls Cove, Maine. Combined they have thousands of old tools including hand planes, precision machinist tools and usable artifacts. For almost 35 years, they have purchased tool collections and estate lots and cleaned out cellars and attics in the New England area. They then ship these items to their stores. Owner H. G. Skip Brack is also the founder and curator of the Davistown Museum, a tool museum with a primary mission of recovery, display, and interpretation of hand tools used in Maine and New England’s maritime culture. (A visit here is in the plans for my next trip to the area!)

I have such fun turning tool handles that I picked up 16 files that are in need of some good wooden grips. I also picked up an awl. They are all in great condition and only cost around 12 bucks. A deal that is hard to beat.

Here are the photos of my visit:

Continue reading 'Toolfest At Captain Tinkham’s Emporium'

A couple of miles north of Camden in Lincolnville, Maine is Windsor Chairmakers, where owners Jim and Nance Brown invite you into their showroom, to watch chairs being made and talk Windsors. I had a chance to drop by while in the area and I saw some great examples of their fine workmanship.

For over 20 years Windsor Chairmakers has been handcrafting Windsor chairs, a style that dates back to the 1700’s. They also make tables, benches, stools, desks, beds, buffets and chests. In 2002, they added a line of custom-designed Shaker furniture.

All pieces are custom-made using traditional methods. For example, the chairs are made of ash with a deep scooped, one-piece seat and the tables are hand-planed.

The showroom is extensive! There dozens (100’s?) of examples of different styles of chairs including sackbacks, continuous arm and some with built in writing tables. They stand behind their workmanship so much that there is even a display of their competitors chairs where you can compare the difference in quality.

Continue reading 'A Visit To Windsor Chairmakers'