“There are no passive aspects of hand-tool woodworking, no downtime as you absent-mindedly feed that board for another trip through the planer. Our bodies are integral to every motion, every operation. And this engaged work is actually beneficial for us: Much ink has been spilled declaring the positive effects of physical activity, especially as we age. There are myriad studies that universally proclaim the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, and they can be summarized with the words use it or lose it. A habit of physical inactivity will eventually kill you, but before it does that, it will take away your ability to meaningfully engage in creative work. If using our bodies and maintaining physical fitness is the ideal,...
What these men taught me about production work turned my world upside down. Originally, I had thought that production work would turn me into a machine making soulless objects. Those soulless objects for me were tied to a system that cared more about profit for shareholders and less about quality workmanship and design. But I had confused production work with mass production, because production work, in its most basic form, is intrinsically connected to the crafts. Throughout history, quality objects have often been made in large quantities with a high degree of skill by using craft production methodology. When I came to terms with that, the stigma of production work was lifted and I began to feel free to experiment...
Here’s our latest installment in our “Setting Up Shop” video series: bench chisels. There’s not a lot I am picky about regarding chisel selection, but there are a few things I think are worth considering.
-Joshua
This cover design, based on the Spanish chairmaking which was written about by Masashi Kutsuwa, was the result of several experiments. First, we purchased an antique blade (an English beet knife, actually) that we modified with a second (perpendicular) handle to be a cuchilla, a Spanish push knife. Then I made a wooden stop fitted to my staked bench to brace the stock while shaving. We did some experimenting to get a feel for the skill and are delighted to find that it is quite effective. We knew this technique belonged on the cover. So, a hearty “thanks” goes to Masashi for making these ways of working known to the rest of the world. We believe that the craft is...
This post is part of a blog series revealing the table of contents of upcoming Issue Twelve. As is our custom, we’ll be discussing one article per weekday in order to give you a taste of what is come. The subscription window which includes Issue Twelve is open now. To get Issue Twelve when it ships early April, you can sign up for a subscription here. If you aren’t sure about your subscription status, you can reach out to Grace at info@mortiseandtenonmag.com. Keep in mind though, if you are set to auto-renew, you never have to worry about getting the next issue of Mortise & Tenon. Issue Twelve is coming your way soon! ___________________________________ Michael Updegraff – “Risk and Reward” Risk. It’s a concept we’re all...
This post is part of a blog series revealing the table of contents of upcoming Issue Twelve. As is our custom, we’ll be discussing one article per weekday in order to give you a taste of what is come. The subscription window which includes Issue Twelve is open now. To get Issue Twelve when it ships early April, you can sign up for a subscription here. If you aren’t sure about your subscription status, you can reach out to Grace at info@mortiseandtenonmag.com. Keep in mind though, if you are set to auto-renew, you never have to worry about getting the next issue of Mortise & Tenon. Issue Twelve is coming your way soon! ___________________________________ Masashi Kutsuwa – “The Van Gogh Chair” Half a century ago in...
This post is part of a blog series revealing the table of contents of upcoming Issue Twelve. As is our custom, we’ll be discussing one article per weekday in order to give you a taste of what is come. The subscription window which includes Issue Twelve is open now. To get Issue Twelve when it ships early April, you can sign up for a subscription here. If you aren’t sure about your subscription status, you can reach out to Grace at info@mortiseandtenonmag.com. Keep in mind though, if you are set to auto-renew, you never have to worry about getting the next issue of Mortise & Tenon. Issue Twelve is coming your way soon! ___________________________________ “The Courage of Curiosity: An Interview with Furniture Conservator Donald C. Williams”...
This post is part of a blog series revealing the table of contents of upcoming Issue Twelve. As is our custom, we’ll be discussing one article per weekday in order to give you a taste of what is come. The subscription window which includes Issue Twelve is open now. To get Issue Twelve when it ships early April, you can sign up for a subscription here. If you aren’t sure about your subscription status, you can reach out to Grace at info@mortiseandtenonmag.com. Keep in mind though, if you are set to auto-renew, you never have to worry about getting the next issue of Mortise & Tenon. Issue Twelve is coming your way soon! ___________________________________ “Both Ends of the Spectrum: An Examination of Two Ladderback Chairs” Charles...
This post is part of a blog series revealing the table of contents of upcoming Issue Twelve. As is our custom, we’ll be discussing one article per weekday in order to give you a taste of what is come. The subscription window which includes Issue Twelve is open now. To get Issue Twelve when it ships early April, you can sign up for a subscription here. If you aren’t sure about your subscription status, you can reach out to Grace at info@mortiseandtenonmag.com. Keep in mind though, if you are set to auto-renew, you never have to worry about getting the next issue of Mortise & Tenon. Issue Twelve is coming your way soon! ___________________________________ Jordan Goodwin – “For the Love of History: A Journey into Practical...
It’s go time! Now’s the time to rush over to sign up for the Apprenticeship Program before it fills up again. Want 8 weeks of hand-tool woodworking practice? Need guidance and camaraderie? Do you need accountability to keep making shavings, but space to take it at your own pace? This woodworking program is designed for you. It’s an online-based group mentorship. It requires commitment: There will be homework. There will be sweat. There will be lots of shavings. Because the first term was so active, we brought on another team member to help: Joaquim Camillo. Joaquim signed up for our first term of the apprenticeship and was a stand-out student: incredibly skilled, supportive of fellow students, and inspiring to...
