For The Love Of Wood — A Blog for Woodworkers and Lovers of Wood

Making a Stepping Stool from Sentimental Wood

January 9, 2009

This stool was a long time in coming. I carried the wood across the country and back again on all my various moves before transforming it into this stool. My father has this tree on our farm cut shortly before he died and it has a lot of my life history in it.

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What kind of tools do you go for?

January 5, 2009

Good tools are essential for good work, but there is a limit to how much I’m willing to spend on tools. There are many ways to accomplish the same end, if you’re creative.

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Hands and Making Tools to Fit Them

December 27, 2008

Hands perform so many tasks… it’s wonderful to create tools and tool handles specific for each task in woodworking.

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Natural Edged Pear Bowl

November 18, 2008

This turned pear wood bowl has a natural edge, showing off the beautiful rough bark against the smooth white wood.

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Commission Jobs in Woodworking

November 16, 2008

These chili paddles were a commission job. I had never done anything like them before and it was fun to set out making them.

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Taking Risks in Woodworking

November 12, 2008

It’s sometimes hard to take a risk when you’re working with beautiful wood. But without it your work will never push beyond the average…

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Sanding is Essential

November 7, 2008

If you want your woodworking to really sparkle, sanding is essential. There’s no substitute for putting in the time to finish the wood beautifully.

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Dustin Coates: A New England Treasure

October 2, 2008

Dustin Coates is passionate about woodturning. His shop is full of wood in every stage of development from raw burls to finished bowls. These photos show my visit with Dustin at his shop.

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