Highland Staff

Turning the Corner: Design Inspiration

Jul 152021
 

For the June 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Temple discusses the emergence of the free-form approach to woodturning:

Another approach to woodturning, which has become an interesting study in emerging art over the past sixty years during woodturning’s rebirth, is a free-form approach to making a variety of objet d’art which might or might not have a useful purpose. The impressive emergence of the American Association of Woodturners, the Center for Art in Wood, dedicated galleries, shows, woodturning schools, and a number of new museums that celebrate woodturning artist/sculptors and the variety of blended or multi-media turned art forms is testament to the creative excitement.

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Book Review: The Workbench Book By Scott Landis

Jul 132021
 

For the June 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Norm Reid reviewed The Workbench Book:

The Workbench Book, a survey of many workbench types as designed and used by their builders, is a classic in woodworking literature. It gives the reader an encyclopedic view of the possibilities for creating a workspace tailored to one’s own requirements and so much more.

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Designs Explored – A Trestle Table Design Broken Down By Kevin Sullivan

Jun 232021
 

For the June 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Kevin discusses how he came up with the best proportions for his own trestle table design:

While thinking about this project, I couldn’t help but run across many of the trestle table designs available on internet image search results and videos. I noticed so many of the pieces had slightly different dimensions. Almost no designers or builders used the square block design. Their measurements were nearly arbitrary, yet many looked nice. How did they do it?

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Stories from Grandpa’s Workshop: Scents and Scent-ability

Jun 152021
 

For the June 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Bob discusses the smells of the woodworking workshop. He analyzes how some of those aromas are created from the wood we work with, and shares some fond nostalgic memories brought on by those scents:

Recently, a client was picking up a piece of furniture at my house. As they were leaving, they commented, “Does your living room always smell like wood and finish?” People often comment on the smell of the shop — “I love the smell of wood shavings!” or “This reminds me of my grandpa/dad.” We appreciate wood with our senses, but we often focus on visual character (color of the wood, grain patterns) or tactile perception (smooth and glossy or textured) rather than smell.

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Turning the Corner: The Amazing Fingernail Gouge

Jun 082021
 

For the May 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Temple Blackwood discusses his preference for ‘best-tool-in-the-box’, the Fingernail Gouge:

My natural preference for favorite tool is the skew chisel, But if we’re talking “best tool in the box” – my tool-for-the-day is the versatile and dexterous fingernail gouge, which in my shop comes in three different sizes: 12mm, 8mm, and 6mm.

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Women in Woodworking: Meet Larissa Huff

Jun 012021
 

For the May 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Char interviewed Larissa Huff, who started off as a woodworking apprentice and now owns the Lohr Woodworking Studio and the Lohr School of Woodworking with her business partner:

Unique, timeless, and beautiful…these are a few words one would use to describe the work of Larissa Huff. In this fast pace world, it’s easy to lose sight of the enthusiasm that can be created when furniture design is labored over and hand crafted. Each of Larissa’s original designs exhibits functionality and passion. Whether it’s Kestrel chairs or Biedermeier inspired pieces you will feel the genius of a true craftsperson.

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Stories from Grandpa’s Workshop: Black Walnut – An Old Friend

May 272021
 

For the May 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Bob shares his love of Black Walnut, his favorite type of wood for his woodworking projects.

Yesterday I was breaking down some walnut lumber to make leg blanks for a coffee table. This is some of the last of the rough sawn lumber that Dad put up in the rafters about 60 years ago. My brother, Ken, said that Dad bought a pile of walnut and a pile of cherry for $25 each. Over the years it has turned into napkin holders, furniture, candlesticks, and mantel clocks. While I treasure other wood species, I think I have made more things from black walnut than anything else. Let me tell you about my old friend, walnut.

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