News and Events

Event announcements, product releases, and news stories related to woodworking.
Get Active with Local Woodworking Groups

A great way to enjoy your hobby without having to spend any money is to get active with your local woodworking group. You can easily find one using the Internet by using Googleor another search engine with your local city and "woodworking association". Alternately, you can try using other social networking sites like Meetup.com to find like-minded enthusiasts in your region. In my neck of the woods, the Ottawa Woodworking Association hosts numerous activities throughout the year and promotes woodworking in the community and helps its members to improve their skills by hosting numerous challenges, meetings, and other events....

posted @ Monday, April 06, 2009 8:27 AM | Feedback (0)

Local Cost of Wood

Technorati Tags: Costs,Wood,Local,Lumber,Lumberyard,Domestic,Imported People often ask how much wood costs in someone else's neck of the woods. Well, I hail from near Ottawa, Ontario, the capital of Canada, and though it is hardly a Mecca for woodworkers, it does have some benefits, namely the region's abundance of local maple! For some prices, I walked through two of my local wood suppliers and noted some prices for some of their domestic and exotic lumber. There is not particular rhyme or reason for the species listed here, other than they caught my eye as I wandered the stacks. Note...

posted @ Wednesday, April 01, 2009 8:11 AM | Feedback (0)

Woodsmith No. 182 Now Available

Just a quick note to let you know that Woodsmith issue 182 is now shipping to subscribers and should be in stores soon. In this issue are four great projects: A silverware tray, a craftsman-style wall cabinet, a storage bench, and a stylish e-tier in-box for the office. In addition, a great article on dust collectors and many of the normal columns that make this magazine great. Check it out at your local magazine stand, or consider giving yourself an early birthday present: a subscription! Technorati Tags: News,Magazine,Woodsmith

posted @ Friday, March 20, 2009 7:57 AM | Feedback (0)

Google SketchUp Joints

For a long time now, I have wanted to add images to my catalogue of woodworking joints on the site. Though I do have some basic drafting and artistic skills, I thought it would be clearer and more consistent if I used a drawing tool. Google's SketchUp is a great tool for woodworkers that I have dabbled with in the past, but this is my first real attempt to produce something for viewing by anyone other than myself. Mortise and tenon joints, along with end miter joints, are the first to receive the treatment. I will be adding...

posted @ Tuesday, November 04, 2008 1:57 PM | Feedback (0)

Popular Woodworking #173 (December 2008) is Now Available

Yes, the folks at Popular Woodworking have another issue for us to drool over. 12" sliding compound miter saws, how-to build a wooden jack planes, nesting trays in the Shaker style, drawknives and spokeshaves, and my current favourite topic - how to recreate a Stickley mantle clock from an original design. Add to that the 2008 "Best New Tools" list, and you have a winner of an issue. Pick up your copy today, or visit your local library for this and other backissues. Technorati tags: Popular Woodworking, Magazine, News

posted @ Wednesday, October 29, 2008 11:14 AM | Feedback (0)

Eye Is OK

Well, not much of a post, really, except to say that I went to bed last night seeing double out of my right eye, and hoping things would get back to normal soon, by Friday as the doctor noted. If things didn't feel like they were improving by Friday, I was to go to the Eye Institute at the Hospital... But I woke up this morning, and my eyesight is 90% back to normal. I still have some doubling right in front of me, but it it only on the scale of a very slight distortion. From what I know...

posted @ Thursday, October 16, 2008 8:09 AM | Feedback (0)

Always Wear Safety Equipment! (a.k.a. Oops!)

Ask anyone who knows me, and they will confirm that I am "Mister Safety". Goggles, NOISH filter mask, earmuff-type hearing protection... But for some weird reason, today I was wearing my mask, and my hearing protection while I was doing some soldering, but I neglected to put on my safety goggles. Big mistake... I was soldering the pipes for the shower controller together, torch in the left hand, solder in the right with maybe 12 inches sticking out off the reel, and I was kneeling in front of the wall and looking slightly up. I finished soldering the joint, lowered the torch,...

posted @ Wednesday, October 15, 2008 3:56 PM | Feedback (3)

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall...

Technorati Tags: Inspiration,Art,Mirror,Technology Woodworking and high-tech engineering are joined together to create high-tech art. The viewer's image is captured, and the 'mirror' tilts the blocks to create an abstract image from hundreds of blocks that are tilted to reflect light or cast shadows. Read the entire article at EnvironmentalGraffiti.com. Technorati Tags: Inspiration,Art,Mirror,Technology

posted @ Friday, September 26, 2008 10:02 AM | Feedback (0)

Being Driven By Your Woodworking Skills

There are many people who would say that they are driven by the desire to compete, or driven to madness, but in truth very few can say they are driven by their woodworking skills. Literally, not figuratively. The notable exception to that statement is Joe Harmon, the creative genius behind Splinter, the 700 horsepower supercar that he built with his own hands. That's impressive, but not entirely unusual. There are many grease monkeys putting together their own fibreglass cars in their garages, and though it does make a rare care, Joe Harmon seems to have upped the ante and...

posted @ Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:51 AM | Feedback (0)

Woodsmith No. 179 Now Available

I came home last night to find a pleasant surprise in my mailbox: The Oct/Nov 2008 issue of Woodsmith magazine arrived! If you have never checked out the magazine, I invite you to go to your local library and look up a few of the back issues. In it you will find a rather unique magazine, printed on heavy card-like paper with virtually zero advertisements. What you will find inside is at least three major projects with plans and instructions, numerous technique and informational articles, product reviews, and much more. The only drawback of the magazine is it...

posted @ Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:05 AM | Feedback (0)

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