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Before it fell apart and before the main editors left, they put together a beginner's guide to woodworking, including a starter tool set and a few projects.  Now it appears the guide is in book form and for sale, but the PDF version is still around and free.

Sycamores are always dropping limbs and the limbs are almost always gnarly, misshapen, and often spalted before they ever hit the ground. In other words, they are ideal for turning little rustic birdhouse ornaments. 
 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy doing most of my wood working projects with hand tools. I feel that I've become adept roughing stock with handsaws and squaring all four sides by hand planing. I've also become much better at joinery over the years with my favorite being handcut dovetails.

This is a scanned document of the now defunct Workbench Magazine of this era. Permission was granted by the new Workbench Publication for The Patriot Woodworker community to copy and use the old Workbench Magazine at our pleasure, and for free distribution and re-use.
Have fun with this wonderful throwback child's rocker. You'll have a some patterns for chair parts, all you need to do is scale them to fit your needs. Have fun!

Good Monday morning!
Good Monday morning Patriot Woodworkers! What did you get done over the weekend, and what have you planned for the week ahead! Inquiring minds want to know. Please tell us what's happening in your shops, your life, and any events going on with you. Thank you for being here folks!

I’ve  made a number of moulding planes now but have always had it in mind that one day I’d make an “ Classic Ogee” moulding plane. I knew it could be a challenge because it’s a step up from making Rounds and Hollows. This seemed true to me because an ogee is the combination of a Round (see “a”) and Hollow (see “b”) on the same blade (see “c”) and sometimes with a quirk in between. Think of a quirk as a little stepped recess. Cutting the “Round” portion for the blade (see “a”) is finicky but not too difficult because you are using a round file for shaping. However, cutting the “Hollow” portion (see “b”) can be difficult because a number of small files are required to shape the curve and you are placing a quirk in between.

Had a little fun, a nice break from my chair build and finally did something to benefit the shop, I just happened on a simple hand saw till by Lee Valley and on a whim I decided, what the heck, I have some scrap, and a little time, and a few saws that are currently hanging on nails on my wall. They need a home, and I liked the idea that it sits on french cleats and I can remove it and have it nearby where I am working, if needed, I seriously doubt it, my shop is small enough that a little 10 walk to the wall where the till is hanging, aint gonna kill me.

This came from a retiring judge's chamber.  It's a map of Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes made completely out of Petoskey stones (It's a Michigan thing).  The state is made up of cut stones in the shape of each county.  I have no idea how old it is, but it's not a teenager.  It measures about 42" across, including the 1 x 6 frame, which is connected to the 1/2" plywood the stones are fastened to. 

It started off with a bunch of Baltic birch  boxes from an auction of a Sam's Club where I got the whole wine display rack for  less than $8.  Besides the 30 or so boxes, I got some 2x4s, some  plywood, a box of 100 or so square-drive screws, and a metal rack that I gave to a friend who has a feed supply business. 

Not sure what kind of wood this is, it sanded easily which is good because I had some deep end grain tear out.  Worth the effort as it has a lot of character. 

A plan schematic from the old defunct Workbench Magazine. This issue was January-February 1964.
Workbench Magazine was contacted and permission was given to display these file types here.

This is a scanned document of the now defunct Workbench Magazine of this era. Permission was granted by the new Workbench Publication for The Patriot Woodworker community to copy and use the old Workbench Magazine at our pleasure, and for free distribution and re-use.
Got kids! Even if you don't this Locomotive Toybox chest will bring out the kid in any woodworker. I thought this would be a fun one to publish here today, basic construction, and perhaps this will end up in a child's life by Christmas! Have fun!

This old cast Stanley level was found at a yard sale recently and I'm hoping to find out more about it.  The marking on the left might indicate fabrication or patent date, but the mark on the left has me baffled.  Hoping for some help here.  Stanley was of no help, although I did find this catalogue on line from 1914. 

 

 

This is a scanned document of the now defunct Workbench Magazine of this era. Permission was granted by the new Workbench Publication for The Patriot Woodworker community to copy and use the old Workbench Magazine at our pleasure, and for free distribution and re-use.
 
 

Well, I “was” fully back in the shop and started to work on a guitar stand.  I haven’t played in years but i got a guitar and im going to do my best to get back into it.

Mystery Machine
Image Credit TATHS
I found this What's It at TATHS website, a wonderful website for the tool fanatics, MWTCA is running short on What's It's so we are resorting to other resources, thanks TATHS!

 

 

 

 
 

It's been awhile since I've done anything in a wood carving. This is a photo of a flag pole topper, in cast iron, that I thought of reproducing in wood. The carving would be between 10-12" tall and carved in basswood. I want to do a 3 dimensional carving and then mount it on a round pedestal. The eagle would then be gilded in gold.

This is a wonderful download for everyone to use. I love this time period of furnishings, and I love the Danish style that has become once again very popular, as a matter of fact, Danish Modern is a timeless style, and it never gets old. Someday, I would love to make this set of chairs, and I will, they are beautiful. Have fun!

This is a scanned document of the now defunct Workbench Magazine of this era. Permission was granted by the new Workbench Publication for The Patriot Woodworker community to copy and use the old Workbench Magazine at our pleasure, and for free distribution and re-use.
 

My thoughts,
Our beautiful country, as we come up to the 244th anniversary of our Independence, I am bursting with pride at how far our young country has come in such a short period of time.
I am thankful for living here, I thank God every day for allowing me and my family to be a part of the American experience. I love our American people, with all our faults, and with all our unique traits and culture that has formed since the day William Bradford set foot on Plymouth Rock.

This is a scanned document of the now defunct Workbench Magazine of this era. Permission was granted by the new Workbench Publication for The Patriot Woodworker community to copy and use the old Workbench Magazine at our pleasure, and for free distribution and re-use.
 
 

Ever need a strong grip with pliers on a small piece of wood or metal when working on a project but you don't want to scar it with the teeth of the pliers? In the past I have put a rag or a paper towel in the jaws of the pliers to try to prevent scratches when holding an object but I came up with a better way.
I used a couple of pieces of shrink wrap on the jaws of an old pair of pliers and it gives me a good non-slip/non-scratch grip on whatever I am holding.
 

Happy Birthday Army!
The United States Army was established on June 14, 1775, by the Second Continental Congress as the Continental Army, before the Declaration of Independence. It was created to defend the 13 American colonies during the Revolutionary War against the British Empire. The Continental Army later became the Army of the United States after independence was declared on July 4, 1776.
 
 

The accompanying illustrations gives a graphic picture of the physical properties of a tree. There are three primary parts to a tree: the roots, the trunk, and the crown. The roots extract from the soil the water and mineral salts needed by the tree in its growth. They also store up the food manufactured by the leaves, and hold the tree firmly in place. The trunk is the main body of the tree from which lumber is manufactured. Each year a new layer of wood is added to the trunk of the tree. These layers produce the "grain" and "figure" of the wood.