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On Nails
In 2007, a lightweight box showed up on Christopher Schwarz’s desk from Joel Moskowitz, who runs the Tools for Working Wood store in Brooklyn, N.Y. Inside was “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker,” a book...
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You Were Born Too Soon
“De dorpstimmerman” by Tony Lodewijk George Offermans (1854-1911) “I served my apprenticeship in the country as a carpenter, but have been 49 years in London this July. I am now 79. I have worked all...
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Free Download: ‘The Joiner and Cabinet Maker’ Audiobook, Read by Roy Underhill
Roy Underhill in his office, recording the audiobook of “The Joiner and Cabient Maker.” “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker” is a short book written by an anonymous tradesman; it was first published in...
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Flattening Panels With Planes
Before you can begin traversing with your jack plane, you should bevel off the far edge of the board with a few good strokes of your jack plane. This bevel reduces the “spelching” on that edge....
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The ‘Right’ Angle for Dovetails
The following is excerpted from “The Joiner & Cabinet Maker,” by Anonymous, Christopher Schwarz and Joel Moskowitz, from the chapter on making the dovetailed schoolbox. In this chapter, as with...
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Rules, Deals & Chalk
Here I’m using a zig-zag rule and a carpenter’s pencil to lay out the cuts on the pine stock for the Packing Box. I dislike zig-zags for this work because they don’t lay flat. They have the precision...
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Why Collect Stuff?
These are some of the tools of the joiner shown in “Spons’ Mechanics’ Own Book” (1885). The following is excerpted from Joel Moskowitz’s history of trades and explication of trades in England at the...
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‘The Joiner and Cabinet-Maker’ Historical Reprint Ships Next Week
After fighting printing plant delays for the last eight months, we received good news on Friday. Our historical reprint of “The Joiner and Cabinet-Maker” was complete and being trucked to our...
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Bend and Screw the Hinges for the Schoolbox
Saw the extents of the mortise for the strap hinges, then chisel away the waste between. This is an excerpt from “The Joiner and Cabinet-Maker” By Anonymous, Christopher Schwarz and Joel Moskowitz....
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An Introduction to the Construction
Here is an English-style set-up for mortising. The handscrew grasps the workpiece plus a second block that is pinched in your face vise. Like many of the best techniques, this one I learned from a...
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