Kelley Bagby

I grew up around woodworking tools (see picture, age 4-5ish) but only recently started doing some of my own woodworking.

Sep 222011
 

This month, Curtis Turner’s column in The Highland Woodturner focuses on a simple but functional project: a mallet. This handy project is fast-paced and has a wide range of acceptable designs, so it’s perfect for a beginning turner. This project will take a beginner about 2 hours to complete. A mallet also makes a great gift for a woodworking friend.


 

Sep 212011
 

Hello Woodworkers and Woodturners everywhere!

We are pleased to announce that the September edition of our woodturning newsletter, The Highland Woodturner, is out and ready for you to read.

This month we have a new column from Curtis Turner, who walks you through the steps of turning a simple mallet. Curtis includes pictures and some great technical tips for creating this ‘fun’ctional project. And he is CERTAIN that you will be a pro with the skew chisel in not time.

We’ve also got a new Show Us Your Woodturning column, featuring extraordinary works by a UK-based woodturner, Johnny Taylor. We were amazed to learn that Johnny has only been turning for three years, and you will be too once you take a look at his stuff.

Top that off with a couple great turning products, a new tip from Phil Colson, the resident woodturning expert at Highland, and a fascinating article about Peter Galbert, and you’ve got a great read! Check out The Highland Woodturner today!

Sep 202011
 

Since the September edition of The Highland Woodturner comes out today, we figured we would link to a couple of our recent woodturning videos for your entertainment.

The first video shows Highland blogger Terry Chapman trying out the Easy Wood Tools Rougher, Finisher and Detailer. Take a look:

The second video is a quick demonstration of the McNaughton Center Saver, a revolutionary tool that allows you to create several nested bowl blanks from your original bowl blank, saving virtually all the wood that would otherwise have been turned to shavings that pile up around your lathe (as well as on you). Check it out below!

Sep 162011
 

Have you always wanted to build a Windsor Chair? Well this is your year to do it. Peter Galbert is coming to Highland Woodworking in October to teach a class on building a stunning Continuous Arm Windsor Chair, and there are still slots open if you want to join him.

The class will cover all the building action, from tree to completed chair. Students will split parts from a log, shave them, bend them and join them into their hand carved seat.
Peter will cover topics including sharpening, wood technology and design, all which will enhance your ability to go forth and make chairs at home.

And if you want to get a sense of Peter’s teaching style before signing up, take a look at the following videos, where Peter walks you through basic turning practice, as well as a two part video where he turns a windsor chair leg.

Sep 132011
 

Since June of 2009, we’ve been featuring a new shop in each issue of Wood News Online. Now, you can take a look at all the shops we’ve featured in one place: The Show Us Your Shop Archives Gallery!

This gallery is a great place to go if you are looking for ideas on how to set up your own shop, or even if you just want to see some innovative ways other woodworkers have approached the various shop setup issues we all face. From space considerations and smart storage ideas, to the various tool combinations and approaches to woodworking, the Show Us Your Shop Archives Gallery has something that will interest you. Go take a look!

And be sure to check back – we’ll be updating the archives regularly!

Sep 082011
 

In this month’s edition of Wood News, we’ve got a great new article from one of our customers, Dick Rank, who is striving with his latest project to elevate his woodworking skills from what he refers to as the ‘not-so-fine’ furniture level.

Having recently joined a group of American period furniture makers, I was inspired to somehow find a project which would bring my skills up to a higher level. Being somewhat lazy, I have usually preferred making “not so fine” furniture. It fits my personality. Striving to reach perfection is not my style. At my age, it is simply unwise to even start a project that might take several years to complete. I have been told that I should not even buy green bananas.

CLICK HERE to read more about Dick’s venture into fine furniture woodworking!

Sep 072011
 

Hi Woodworking Friends,

The latest edition of Wood News is available for your reading enjoyment! This month we’ve got some great offerings, including a new column by the Down to Earth Woodworker, Steven Johnson, in which he discusses the flooring and lighting choices he made for his new Down to Earth Workshop – something every woodworker contemplates for their own workshop on occasion. Steve also includes a look into one of the final (and most daunting!) steps in finishing his garage to workshop conversion – removing the garage door and replacing it with a wall. He has even included a video of the whole process!

This month’s Show Us Your Shop column features Stephen Nelson’s built-from-scratch workshop, ingeniously built into an unused corner of his new house. In the Show Us Your Stuff column Keith Woody displays several of his recent projects, as well as a not-so-recent project: a wine rack he built more than 40 years ago! And this month’s Show Us Your Carving column features Michael Tryba’s impressive nature carvings – great examples of relief and in the round carving.

We’ve got three new video product tours by Morton for the Rikon 14″ band saw, our own Wood Slicer resaw bandsaw blade and the Earlex HV5500 Spray Station. Dick Rank has provided another great article this month, focusing on his impressive first attempt at fine furniture. With lots of great deals, a full class offering, and much more, the September Wood News is a great read – go check it out!