Woodcraft Magazine April/May 2023 (112)

LARISSA HUFF is a woodworker, furniture-maker, and teacher. She designs and builds custom furniture at her studio in Philadelphia, teaches classes at craft schools around the country, and works for the Wharton Esherick Museum. Larissa recently completed a residency at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and a fellowship at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. Read Larissa’s technique on page 39. ROBERT J. SETTICH has been a woodworking journalist for nearly 30 years, serving as both a staff editor and freelancer. He has authored hundreds of articles on virtually every topic and also provided photography and original project designs. In addition, he’s written eight books and produced seven videos. Read Bob’s articles on pages 54 and 60. JOHN WEBSTER has been a designer/illustrator for 45 years. He lives in Vista, CA with…

Nearly every day, especially in warmer weather, I take a walk outside. Usually during my lunch break, I leave my desk or bench behind and head to the woods. Not far from the magazine office is a wildlife refuge with a paved walking path and several well-maintained trails for hiking. So I drive the few short minutes it takes to get to the park and enjoy the fresh air. Reserving this time for myself pays dividends. These daily constitutionals have a whole host of physical health benefits. I get my heart rate up, increase my immune function, and strengthen my joints, to name a few. But they also do wonders for my mental health. Stepping away and stepping out helps me to recalibrate. I can put things into perspective and shift…

Steve Butler, host of PBS’s The Garage with Steve Butler, has published his first book, The Garage with Steve Butler, Volume 1. Full of tips, techniques, and projects highlighted in the first season of the show, the book hit bookstores in early February. Through his show and book, Butler aims to translate his 20 years of woodworking experience into economically and technically accessible projects for DIYers—all from the approachable confines of his garage workshop. The book is available through select retailers and as a print-on demand publication through lulu.com. The show airs on 260 PBS affiliates and on Butler’s YouTube channel.…

I suspect many of Woodcraft Magazine’s readers learned the pleasures and rewards of woodworking as I did: in shop class and from my parents. But now that many schools are phasing out shop (or industrial arts, or whatever they call it these days), we are in danger of losing that hard-earned knowledge. We owe it to the next generation to pass along the tips, tricks, and techniques we were taught. I can’t remember the last time I used trigonometry, but I did put my shop class skills to use last week as I hung a door in my latest project. Senior Editor Ken Burton replies: Passing on our skills and experience is a must. And it is concerning that many schools are cutting back on the kinds of hands-on classes we…

JAMES KROMM BALTIMORE, MD Basswood blues. A longtime woodworker and birdwatcher, Kromm has carved dozens of birds and their habitats out of North American and exotic softwoods, including this pair of lifesize basswood bluebirds. After rough shaping with an electric vibrating chisel, he switched to gouges and knives to fine-tune the shapes. Finally, Kromm burned in feathers before finishing the avians with oil paint. Then he set the birds in a hand-carved version of their natural environment. Even the leaves and flowers are carved and painted wood. LYNN KIRSTEATTER CONOVER, WI Benchmark. Inspired by the bench featured in Issue 107 (June/July 2022), subscriber and veteran woodworker Kirsteatter crafted this bench for his eldest daughter. He used teak that had spent its former life as the countertop in her kitchen prior to a remodel. He says…

JESS-EM POCKET MILL PRO Create loose-tenon joinery with a hand drill, end mill, and this aluminum and steel jig. Automatically deepens mortise.05" with each pass and can mill a mortise up to 1¾" off the edge of a workpiece. Includes custom bit extension and 6mm carbide end mill; other sizes sold separately. Jessem.com, $349.99 BLUE SPRUCE BEVEL BLOCK Precisely set common angles on your sliding bevel gauge, including 15°, 22½°, 30°, 36°, 45°, and 90°. Also sets 1:6, 1:7, and 1:8 dovetail angles. Available in black, blue, or clear anodized aluminum finishes with laser engraved angle measurements. Bluesprucetoolworks.com, $49.99 BRIDGE CITY TOOL WORKS HP-14 SCRAPER PLANE Tame the toughest grain with a plane that scrapes instead of shears. The iron angle is adjustable from 88-117°. The lock wheel adjusts blade depth by as little as 0.01mm. Features…