Woodcraft Magazine August/September 2018 (84)

Joshua Lane, whose tribute to an antique chest begins on page 56, has been steeped in American history for as long as he can remember. After earning a master’s degree in American Studies at Yale, he taught courses on American colonial history before deciding to pursue his passion by working as a museum curator. In 2013, Josh joined the curatorial team at Winterthur Museum as the Lois F. and Henry S. McNeil Curator of Furniture. He’s currently working on a major exhibition of tools and furniture made and used by three generations of the Dominy family of Easthampton, New York. Senior editor Paul Anthony (Wall-hung Desk, page 34) ran his own custom woodworking business in California for 20 years before moving to Pennsylvania in 1994 to join the editorial staff at…

As I build a project, I often imagine its life outside my shop. These pieces end up in my house sometimes, but most often they’re made as gifts for friends or family members. While working, I’m also thinking about how my project will be used, and who will be using it. Cutting a subtle chamfer with my block plane, I imagine the crime thrillers or mystery novels this bookcase will hold over the years, as the owner’s tastes change. I can almost taste the delicious cuisine these hand-carved spoons will dish out. Will this narrow wall shelf display ticket stubs from rock concerts or perhaps serve as a repository for generations of spare change and house keys? When this issue hits the newsstands, my oldest daughter, Abigail, will move away to…

Mira Nakashima is a mother, wife, architect, furniture maker, author, and daughter of renowned woodworker and author George Nakashima. She’s also a longtime friend and woodworking compatriot, thanks to my having worked in her dad’s finishing shop many years ago. When George died, Mira took over the business—knowing full well how challenging it would be to walk in the footsteps of her famous father. Remarkably, Mira has the same passion and reverence for wood—and fine woodworking—as her dad. I caught up with Mira recently to talk about family, wood, woodworking, and what the business has been like since her father’s passing almost 30 years ago. WM: Nakashima Woodworkers had a strong familial—and even stronger patriarchal—influence during your father’s time. With your mom and dad gone, what’s the current family dynamic? MN: I…

Use key stock to set up first cut with box joint jig I received the new issue today and read it cover to cover. I especially enjoyed the Essential Box Joint Jig article (June/July 2018, Issue #83, pp. 57-61) and have a suggestion for Ken Burton. He shows using a rule to set up the first cut (p. 59). It would be a lot easier and more accurate to use a piece of the same stock used for the indexing key to set the spacing for the first cut. —Mitch Daly, Baldwin, Maryland, via email Contributor Ken Burton replies: Thanks for the kind words about the box joint article. I’m glad you enjoyed it. The longer I am in this game, the more I come to appreciate how everyone has their own take on…

Most work stands are designed to provide simple but solid infeed or outfeed support, or to help heavy stock slide past a blade or cutter. You can accomplish a lot with most one-trick ponies, but sooner or later, you’ll encounter a job where you wish you had the stability of a fixed top, or rollers to help maneuver long boards or heavy sheet goods. Where some woodworkers might resort to buying or building another support, PM-5093 owners have 3 options, for only about $10 more than single-headed competitors. Such versatility makes this accessory sound like a product advertised on late-night TV, but this A-frame support delivers. The tool-free pivoting head (lift up the bracket and rotate) enables users to quickly select the support head that best suits the job. The adjustable…

Top Tip Bench slave I have a couple of these “slaves” mounted under my workbench top to allow for easy clamp-free support of long stock for edge planing. Each unit is basically a bracket that houses a stick that can be extended for board support when necessary, and retracted when not in use. These slaves are simple to build, as shown. Just make sure to use a strong hardwood such as maple or birch for the bracket, and an even stronger wood, such as rosewood or osage orange for the stick. After shaping the center block and gluing it between the outer blocks, drill and counterbore clearance holes in the outer blocks and screw the bracket to the underside of your bench. Make sure that the retracted stick is inset about…