The sharpening plate holder is used daily and is a vital part of Paul’s sharpening system. Paul shows how to make your own using just a few hand tools. It holds the stones securely, keeping them in order from coarse to fine, which means you can easily pull it out and be ready for a quick sharpen.
What do you need to do to your dimensioned wood to prepare it for joinery? Often there are undulations or machine marks in the surface of the wood, or movement after dimensioning that needs removing before joinery layout occurs. Let’s work on getting the silky smooth surface and square faces that make for crisp, accurate joinery.
Paul shows how to inlay geometric patterns into the edge of wood. It’s a technique he’s been using for years to create and decorate all types of projects. It can be done with a pair of tongue and groove planes and a few essential hand tools. Paul uses the mitre box and a fine saw to ensure accuracy, then rips it to thickness and refines it with a thicknessing jig and plane.
Paul shows his prefered method for making plastic templates for drawing, layout and shaping. Using the correct materials, it is easy to cut to exact shapes and sizes with crisp traceable edges. They can be easily shaped using various tools. Paul gives some ideas of possible uses in the day-to-day of woodworking.
The half-lap dovetail is possibly the most common of all the dovetails used today. It is used for the front corners of drawers, and anywhere where you want to use a dovetail which is not visible from a certain viewpoint. Paul has developed a method which includes a small rebate, that helps in aligning the components to achieve the crisp definition of quality half lapped dovetails.
This project introduces some techniques that can be used to carve a rosette. Paul uses a basic set of gouges and a knife to show some skills that are transferable to many projects. Key to this project are careful layout and sharp tools.
Paul shows how to make a straight edge like the one he first made over 50 years ago. It has a handle in the centre and is tapered from either side of the handle to the ends. It is useful around the shop for referencing against and accurately laying out larger stock.
Paul introduces the dovetail template that he has been making and using for over 50 years. It helps you to efficiently mark out the dovetail angle. Making it requires a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, in order for it to be used as a reference.
Paul shows his method for laying out various arches that can be used on various projects. Paul uses a layout stick to describe the arch onto the piece. It can be set up with various measurements to be used for multiple arches on any given project. It helps you get a perfect arch consistently.
This is an excerpt from the rocking chair project.
Chisels come from the manufacturer needing preparing or initialising as well sharpening. How do you check they are flat and get them sharp? Paul shows you the process he follows. This gets them to the level we need for crisp and accurate work.