tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81283699508311739162024-03-13T03:39:08.955-04:00The Village CarpenterOne person's woodworking journey, with a focus on handtools, a nod to the past, and an appreciation for the creative spirit.Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.comBlogger538125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-25076079556843442042013-05-20T17:03:00.000-04:002017-09-17T08:05:31.398-04:00And, that's a wrap.Monday, September 10, 2007.
That's the day I sat down to write my first blog post, not knowing if anyone would ever be interested in reading it. But, that was okay. My sole reason for starting a blog was to make friends with other likeminded folks. And if that didn't happen, I'd just head back to my quiet little corner of the woodworking world.
But it did happen. I made tons of friends. And I Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com91tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-72778665543824931762013-05-14T16:57:00.001-04:002013-05-14T17:02:03.529-04:00WIA: Better, Faster, Stronger!
Registration for Woodworking In America is now open!
You'll see some new speakers as well as old favorites at this year's event. And of course, there is a huge variety of classes to inspire, educate, and entertain you. On top of all that is the icing on the cake—the marketplace—where you get to test drive and talk to the makers of your favorite tools.
At each WIA I've attended (I think Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-13549647334284233552013-03-11T21:16:00.000-04:002013-03-12T07:58:43.098-04:00Life's Curve BallsBeen a wee bit quiet around the shop lately. We had a health scare three weeks ago and, long story short, I've been busy taking care of my partner, managing the household, walking the dogs, and running my business.
No time for woodworking at all. Hopefully we'll fall into a routine soon and I'll get back to it, but family comes first.
Anyhow, carry on and happy woodworking!Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-65184582206308612642013-02-16T21:11:00.001-05:002013-02-16T21:52:18.153-05:00Sven In ActionA couple folks wanted to see a video of Sven in action. He works pretty well, but after a bit of a break-in period, I think he'll be even better.
I have no idea why the shavings are accordioned. Nothing is obstructing their exit and they don't bunch up at all in the throat. Maybe it has something to do with the higher bed angle. No clue. He works. And that's good enough for me.
To see the videoKari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-59339389813003122552013-02-13T13:39:00.000-05:002013-02-13T14:04:49.072-05:00Horned Smoother Part X
Herein lies Sven's last post.
Totally fun project. I added a little decoration to the wedge by carving my initials in the top portion and carving a curvy element at the bottom of the ramp.
The finish is a couple coats of BLO followed by a couple coats of wax. Sven's already gotten a nice suntan from sitting by the window in my shop, but after a few years of use, he should have an even Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-20575622587901796622013-02-11T14:07:00.000-05:002013-02-13T07:38:43.743-05:00Horned Smoother Part IXI'm not sure how 18th-century planemakers attached horns to planes, but I decided on a sliding dovetail for strength.
Thinking it would protect the fragile corners of the dovetail, I added shoulders so that it would sit back from the front of the plane by way of a shallow recess.
The dovetail is hidden because the horn covers the joinery. I have no idea if this matches the method used 300 yearsKari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-28934183965256119922013-02-09T17:39:00.001-05:002013-02-09T17:39:40.271-05:00Horned Smoother Part VIII
Here is how I carved the scrolls on the horned plane (whose name is Sven, by the way).
It turned out to be much easier than I expected, so it's no wonder Dutch planemakers added them as a design element. It's a cool feature that doesn't take all that much time to make.
After I carved the shapes with chisels and gouges, I touched them up with files. I use a ton of files in my shop; they're Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-34561864788652698222013-02-06T20:42:00.001-05:002013-02-06T20:50:11.352-05:00We All Have A First Project
This is Get Woodworking Week—the thoughtful event initiated by Tom Iovino of Tom's Workbench.
Tom has reached out to bloggers, podcasters, and magazines to help generate enthusiasm for our craft. Hoping that maybe, just maybe, we can provide the gentle nudge for someone who's been thinking about picking up woodworking as a hobby.
I thought for days about what to write. Then I remembered the Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-52300000016454452452013-01-29T20:32:00.000-05:002013-01-30T06:51:52.142-05:00Horned Smoother Part VIIMaking this plane is proving to be an excellent learning experience.
It didn't work all that well at first—shavings were getting stuck near the mouth and those I pulled free were accordianed.
I took a class years ago where we made a panel raiser. And while, after four days, we learned how to lay out the lines and flatten a bed, and everyone left with a working plane, we didn't learn (or at Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-23864772112484687822013-01-25T17:13:00.000-05:002013-01-25T17:13:39.095-05:00Horned Smoother Part VI
I employed various chisels and files, and worked in from the top and bottom of the plane in order to open the mouth. It can take awhile because you need to be sure that all surfaces are as flat as possible.
I found it a little too iffy to cut the final angle of the abutments by following the pencil lines that I had marked on the outside of the plane. So I cut a 12º wedge Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-70217759545859238532013-01-22T07:58:00.000-05:002013-01-22T07:59:45.095-05:00Horned Smoother Part V
If you're making one of these planes along with me, here are some errors you can avoid.
When drilling into the mouth to open it up, follow the angle of the bed line.
I forgot to do this and instead drilled between the layout lines that marked the bed and the lower portion of the throat (below the break angle, referred to in my books as the "wear").
After drilling the third hole in a Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-35559106677085991302013-01-19T20:27:00.001-05:002013-01-19T20:36:36.913-05:00Horned Smoother Part IV
With pencil, I outlined the shape of the throat, scrolls, abutments, cheeks, and bed. Then I started chopping.
Here are progress shots along with descriptions.
The result after roughing out the
waste with a mortising chisel.
After this, I'll open the mouth, cut the area below the break angle, and finalize the angle of the shallow walls of the abutments (the Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-90501852616709792772013-01-15T14:27:00.000-05:002013-01-19T20:22:37.836-05:00Horned Smoother Part IIIHere is the layout for the throat, mouth, bed, abutments, and cheeks for my plane.
I referenced two books: Wooden Planes and How to Make Them, by David G. Perch and Robert S. Lee; and Making Traditional Wooden Planes, by John M. Whelan.
The two books are slightly different in their approach and presentation, and I made some slight revisions to suit my plane—so don't take my layout as gospel. Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-59678346440379387672013-01-14T08:19:00.000-05:002013-01-15T05:57:20.032-05:00The more I learn........the more I realize how very little I know.
In my two most recent posts, readers corrected me on a few points. As well they should.
Point one: when viewing the side of a handplane, the grain should run downhill from toe to heel.
Point two: always use quartersawn stock when making a handplane if you want to avoid seasonal movement (across the width).
Point three: blokschaafs do not have Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-36290580395905948862013-01-11T18:43:00.002-05:002013-01-14T08:49:10.608-05:00Horned Smoother Part IIBefore cutting up the chunk of cherry that I'm using for the horned smoothing plane, I consulted Philip Edwards of Philly Planes about grain orientation.
I had read that it's best to put the sapwood on the sole and the heartwood on top, but I wanted an expert's opinion.
Philly confirmed that he orients his planes this way, although he has seen antiques that were made heart-side-down and Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-69526673252279698122013-01-11T10:27:00.000-05:002013-01-11T10:27:18.088-05:00Blokschaaf Part I
There's a blokschaaf (or six) in thatchunk of wood.
Ah, the thrill of starting a new project.
It's like the beginning of a new romance (except that your project won't stand you up or flirt with other lumber. It may, however, break your heart), and it's one of the most exciting aspects of woodworking.
It's one reason we woodworkers typically have five or more projects going on in our shops atKari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-17084373065078543842013-01-07T07:52:00.000-05:002013-01-07T07:53:17.810-05:00Save The Dates
Popular Woodworking Magazine posted its dates for Woodworking In America 2013: October 18-20. There is just one conference this year—in Cincinnati—and I plan to attend.
I didn't make it last year and really missed seeing my buddies. A spirit of camaraderie defines WIA, so you can't help but make friends. And the more times you go, the more friends you make. I've attended four Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-56098735420449118332013-01-01T09:37:00.002-05:002013-01-01T09:50:41.775-05:00Interview With Megan Fitzpatrick
2013 is off to a great start for Megan Fitzpatrick and Popular Woodworking Magazine as she takes the helm as the new Editor. Many of us have interacted with Megan over the years—through email, blogs, WIA, facebook—but here are some things about her that you might not know.
1. Are you from the Cincinnati area?
Yes and no. I was born in Cincinnati, but my family moved to Louisville, Ky., Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-38722051647041156452012-12-31T14:14:00.000-05:002012-12-31T14:14:12.100-05:00Swedish Spoon Maker Video (1923)Enjoy!
YouTube link to video is here.Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-68639832376549075162012-12-21T06:47:00.000-05:002012-12-21T08:54:40.131-05:00Big News From PopWoodPlease join me in a warm round of applause for Megan Fitzpatrick: the new Editor at Popular Woodworking Magazine!
I had the good fortune to work (remotely) with Megan for two years and
witnessed her hard-working, attention-to-detail, nose-to-the-grindstone, and grace-under-pressure demeanor.
She will make an excellent Editor and I'm looking forward to her vision for the publication.
Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-10122985364016289632012-12-16T15:50:00.000-05:002012-12-16T16:09:32.101-05:00Sliding Lid Box
Making a sliding lid candle box is a fairly easy project. Still, decisions need to be made regarding joinery.
If you research boxes from prior centuries, you'll find ones that are mitered, rabbeted, dovetailed, and butt-joined.
Then there's the question of how to attach the bottom.
Pennsylvania Germans normally nailed or pegged the bottom board onto boxes and drawers, but if you prefer theKari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-26756789760108423932012-11-13T21:06:00.000-05:002012-11-13T21:35:59.484-05:00Relief Carving: A Novice's ObservationAs I learned nearly three decades ago, one of the unexpected benefits of being an art student is that your friends will readily disrobe for you.
Let me rephrase that.
Willing models are always close at hand for the sake of art.
Case in point—my friend Kevin. With his athletic and sinewy physique, it was very easy to envision the skeletal and muscular structure beneath the surface, which made Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-52466225783375523982012-11-07T19:07:00.000-05:002012-11-07T19:07:25.712-05:00Gothic Stool: Part IVFor the gothic stool I'm working on, I plan to chip carve a design on the outside of each leg, carve the handle for the seat, and carve a scene on the front of the stretcher.
I have a ways to go, but here is an update on my progress.
The chip carved designs I'm using are right out of one of Wayne Barton's excellent books. The handle is based on a tiny graphic I found in a book about gothic Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-19187273668285720952012-10-31T07:38:00.000-04:002012-10-31T07:38:24.500-04:00Happy Hallowoodworker!
My Halloween costume as a fledgling woodworker 20 years ago.
By the look of the handsaw and table saw blade—and the apparent reference material on hand at the time—I had not yet developed an obsession for hand tools.
I did, however, have a penchant for liquid latex.
Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8128369950831173916.post-86266643831226594682012-10-30T16:39:00.000-04:002012-10-31T09:25:59.022-04:00PrioritiesHurricane Sandy tore up and flooded the east coast yesterday and today, and many folks have long term clean up and rebuilding ahead of them or are experiencing the tragedy of having lost a loved one. Some of those who were in her path had been forced to evacuate and were only able to take necessities with them.
We were in the line of fire and although our house is not in a flood plain, I took Kari Hultmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01224053263659415329noreply@blogger.com7