Table of contents for July/August 2021 in Popular Woodworking

It’s funny. If you look into the past issues of Popular Woodworking, you will find a long lineage of Editor in Chiefs. Now, stepping into that role and counting them as my peers feels surreal. Everyone that’s contributed to this magazine has put a little bit of themselves into these pages. And while the magazine’s content has shifted to reflect the people working on it, I always felt there was a “golden era” of Popular Woodworking that made it what it was: a top woodworking magazine full of character. So here’s my goal—bring back the soul and get this magazine its identity back. I want you to look forward to each issue. To want to sit down to read it. Every project, technique, or tool may not interest you. And…

How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? I am a self-taught maker. My first project was a platform bed that I made in 2003 with a borrowed drill and battery-powered screwdriver. My bed was inspired by a photo from a magazine, and I couldn’t afford the bed. From there I took on other small projects and learned how to use each tool through trial and error. There were bookcases and more beds. I read a lot of books and watched the Woodsmith Shop and This Old House on the weekends to gain useful insight. Everywhere I went, I picked up a bit of knowledge about tools, techniques, and processes. Soon my circle of friends expanded and our conversations centered around making and resources. Once I get an…

PROJECT #2110_ Skill Level: Intermediate Time: 3 Days Cost: $300 Rocking chairs are great things to have around the house. There’s just something relaxing about a rocker, especially if it has the right proportions to be both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Add some soft chenille cushions, and this rocker makes a pretty nice spot to read a book or chat with a friend. This rocker is modeled after a Charles Limbert design circa 1914. In 1915 a new catalog debuted a line of “Ebon-Oak” furniture, which added dark wood inlays to existing Limbert Furniture Company’s offerings, as well as introduced some new inlaid pieces. Interestingly, this rocker was not included in the company’s printed catalog. One standout feature of this chair is the single corbel found under each armrest. Limbert…

PROJECT #2112 Skill Level: Intermediate Time: 3 days Cost: $75 Chair No.14, also known as the café chair, the bistro chair, or “the chair of chairs” by Michael Thonet, is probably one of the most recognizable pieces of furniture in the world. Created in 1859, this bentwood chair has served as the blueprint for modern furniture design. Known for his innovative steambending techniques, Thonet began experimenting with the process of bending wood to form various chair parts as early as the 1830s. Using a method of soaking thin veneers in hot glue, he would then mold the pliable veneers around a bent form. The results were, lightweight, sturdy, and inexpensive to produce. Additional revolutionary aspects of Thonet’s designs were the minimal number of parts required for assembly as well as…

How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? My greatest influence in becoming a maker and builder was my grandfather who taught me from the time I was 5 years old that it didn’t matter if I was a girl, I should be able to handle my own business. For him, “business” meant taking care of things for yourself. If something broke, we fixed it. If there was something that needed building, we built it! He was a home builder and I was by his side, fetching tools and learning to measure and cut for as long as I can remember. I started rehabbing furniture and building for myself and friends as an amateur interior designer and that led to a full-on passion for woodworking and desire to…

Easy Pour Spout When finishing, I prefer to always pour just the amount of finish I need into a smaller container. To avoid a mess when pouring, I use a trick taught to me by a professional painter that was working on my house. Use a couple of strips of painter's tape to form a “v.” It will act like a spout and avoid spilled finish. — Logan Wittmer Power-Grip Handles After 37 years of pushing pencils and typing on a keyboard at the office, my grip is not what it used to be. So I found an easy way to get a powerful yet comfortable grip on my clamp handles. First, I wrap the handle with athletic tape. Then I stretch on a piece of bicycle inner tube that…

Upholstery can be intimidating for woodworkers, and there are more options as you proceed with the cushions for your rocking chair. Armed with some specific knowledge, you can decide if it’s a skill you would like to learn. If nothing else, you will know just exactly what to order from a professional upholsterer. Just like woodworking, you will need to invest in a few tools to tackle upholstery projects. Many people find they recoup their costs after the second or third upholstery project, compared to hiring a pro. This reproduction Limbert rocker features a plush sprung seat cushion with chenille fabric. The backrest cushion hangs from straps over the crest rail and is attached with guitar strap buttons. The green chenille piping and straps complement the period floral fabric. Zig…