Refined Edge Design

02/18/2025

Use a bench hook to easily crosscut small components right at your workbench. A bench hook is an important part of hand tool woodworking. I show the different configurations of a bench hook to trim 45, 30, 90 degrees. Use a stop block with the bench hook to guarantee repeatability of furniture components. Also shown is the cool feature to lock a bench hook to a workbench. I use bench hooks in my furniture making. If you work with hand tools in your woodworking, you will gain speed and precision with a bench hook.

Use a bench hook to easily crosscut small components right at your workbench. A bench hook is an important part of hand tool woodworking. I show the differen...

01/22/2025

Hand Tool Cabinet Build (Part 6 of 9- Detail). How I make the interior divisions of the woodworking hand tool cabinet. Watch how I use my hand tool layout to determine spacing and height of the tool compartment divisions. I create dividers and the dadoes to fit them in to the inner frame. The clever hand tool case design is based on a Yeung Chan tool case and allows me to transport my woodworking hand tools to other workshops or locations. I can bring my chisels, hand planes, layout tools, measuring and marking tools with me when I travel to teach woodworking, go offsite to work, or deliver woodworking demonstrations.

Hand Tool Cabinet Build (Part 6 of 9- Detail). How I make the interior divisions of the woodworking hand tool cabinet. Watch how I use my hand tool layout to...

01/15/2025

Hand tool cabinet (Part 5 of 7- Interior). How I make and assemble the interior of the hand tool cabinet. Watch how I select and lay out my hand tools. I create the dividers and dadoes to fit them in to the inner frame. The tool cabinet consists of two parts, a top and bottom section that fit into each other to create a low profile tool case based on a Yeung Chan tool case. It allows me to transport my woodworking hand tools to other workshops or locations. I can bring my chisels, hand planes, layout tools, measuring and marking tools with me when I travel to teach woodworking, go offsite to work, or deliver woodworking demonstrations.

Portable hand tool cabinet (Part 5- Interior). How I make and assemble the interior of the hand tool cabinet. Watch how I select and lay out my hand tools. D...

01/08/2025

The portable hand tool case (case build). How I build and assemble the exterior case. The tool case cleverly incorporates the parts to create a stand for the top and bottom halves. The tool case consists of two parts, a top and bottom section that interlock to create a low profile tool case. Discover how I design and build a portable hand tool case for woodworking hand tools. The clever hand tool case design is based on a Yeung Chan tool case and allows me to transport my woodworking hand tools to other workshops or locations. Find out how I layout my hand tools and the criteria I use to design this portable tool case. Each hand tool has its own compartment. I can bring my chisels, hand planes, layout tools, measuring and marking tools with me when I travel to teach woodworking, go offsite to work, or deliver woodworking demonstrations.

The portable hand tool case (case build). How I build and assemble the exterior case. The tool case cleverly incorporates the parts to create a stand for the...

12/31/2024

The portable hand tool case has been completed (4-part series). I discuss its features. Discover how I design and make a portable tool case for storing woodworking hand tools. The clever design for hand tool storage is based on a Yeung Chan tool case. Find out how I layout my hand tools and the criteria I use to design this portable tool case. Each hand tool has its own compartment. The tool case cleverly incorporates the parts to create a stand for the two sections and consists of two parts, a top and bottom section that fit into each other to create a low profile tool case. I can bring my hand tools with me when I travel to teach woodworking or deliver woodworking demonstrations.

The portable hand tool case has been completed (4-part series). I now discuss its features. Discover how I design and make a portable tool case for woodworki...

12/29/2024

Completed the portable hand tool case! Design based on a Yeung Chan version I saw at a furniture making school I attended in 2004. There are only (2) other of these cabinets in the world judging from my research! I worked with images and a few exterior dimensions to create a custom version for my own hand tools. Also added (3) drawers with matching Black Limba wood as the cabinet exterior with leather strap handles.. Interior is Black Walnut. This was definitely a labor of love to create, much precision and ingenuity involved. The stand components are incorporated into the tool case, super cool idea! Top and bottom halves are interlocking. Included an image of myself standing next to Yeung Chan with his case at that 2004 class I attended. There is a full video coming up on my YouTube series of how I made the portable tool case.

12/24/2024

12/13/2024

Portable Hand Tool Case Build (Pt.2). Discover how I design and make a portable hand tool case for woodworking hand tools. The clever design for hand tool storage is based on a Yeung Chan tool case. I can bring my chisels, hand planes, layout tools, measuring and marking tools when I travel to teach woodworking or deliver woodworking demonstrations. Find out how I layout my hand tools and the criteria I use to design this portable tool case. Each hand tool has its own compartment. The tool case cleverly incorporates the stands for the top and bottom cases. The portable tool case consists of two parts, a top and bottom case that fit into each other to create a low profile tool case.

Portable Hand Tool Case Build (Pt.2). Discover how I design and make a portable hand tool case for woodworking tools. The clever design for hand tool storage...

11/28/2024

Discover how to make a Kumiko Jewelry Box. Find out how I design + make my latest jewelry box using mostly hand tool woodworking. I delve into the build process on how to make a modern jewelry box with Kumiko compartment dividers. Learn about the joinery, the hand tools and techniques used to create a functional version of Kumiko. I demonstrate how I use a shooting board and bench hook to create the small components of the jewelry box.

Discover how to make a Kumiko Jewelry Box. Find out how I designed my latest jewelry box mostly using hand tool woodworking. I delve into the build process o...

11/24/2024

New design! Kumiko Jewelry Box. Features a Japanese motif in the sliding compartments. Wood originates from a fireplace mantle I recycled. An excellent example of upcycling old into new! Suede lined interior. Hand applied super blonde shellac finish. 17 in. W x 12 in. D x 6 in. H

11/21/2024

Find out how to use hand planes in hand tool woodworking and furniture making. Learn how to use a scrub plane and jointer plane to prepare boards for furniture making. Hand planes offer a quiet, efficient alternative to using machines. Hand tool woodworking is a dust-free, quiet approach to woodworking. I demonstrate several hand planes commonly used in woodworking and furniture making including a scrub plane and jointer.

Find out how to use hand planes in hand tool woodworking and furniture making. Learn how to use a scrub plane and jointer plane to prepare a board for use in...

11/13/2024

Which hand planes should you buy when you start hand tool woodworking? I delve into the best hand planes for your hand tool woodworking and furniture making. Using fewer hand planes with an understanding of how to use them is preferred over owning infrequently used hand planes.

Which hand planes should you buy first when you start hand tool woodworking? I delve into the best hand planes used in my hand tool woodworking and furniture...