Highland Staff

Turning the Corner: a follow-up

Dec 212022
 

In a recent Turning the Corner column, writer and woodturner Temple Blackwood detailed the turning process for creating a mouthpiece for a Hardy Tinfoil Phonograph. The process Temple used for turning the replicas was interesting enough to stand alone as its own article, but we had even more questions when we were done about the machinery the mouthpiece was used on. See below for more information about the Hardy Tinfoil Phonograph, sent in by Temple’s client, Lee from Virginia. Thank you Lee for the follow up!

“The Tinfoil Phonograph that I have is a “Hardy”. I have included below a page from “Tinfoil Phonographs” by Rene Rondeau who is the world expert on this subject. The example I have is a reproduction commissioned by the late Ray Phillips who was a big phonograph collector.

Click the image above to enlarge

You can find some interesting footage on YouTube of the Ray Phillips Hardy Tinfoil Phonograph (the one featured in the woodturning column). And I am including a few more photos below.

I also made a Tinfoil Phonograph out of junk about eleven years ago, that you can also see on YouTube. I have learned a lot since making this crude device.”

Turning the Corner: Temple Blackwood Online Exhibit!

Oct 272022
 

Our contributor and prolific woodturner Temple Blackwood is being featured in a very cool online gallery, courtesy of the Witherle Memorial Library in his hometown of Castine, Maine. Take a look and prepare to be inspired!

Signatures | An Online Gallery

Turning the Corner: Segmented Porch Post Column Base

Apr 062022
 

For the February 2022 issue of Wood News Online, Temple Blackwood shared his process for turning a replacement porch post column.

One of my regular contractor customers came by some time ago with an interesting problem that he decided I would be the perfect person to help him with. An elderly customer of his had a rotted porch post column base in the front corner of her garage where it was constantly in her sight as she drove away from or back to her home. While she had no real interest in replacing the other five column bases that are in equal deterioration further back, she wants this one repaired soon with as little fuss as possible.

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Turning the Corner: Carriage Seat Spindles

Mar 152022
 

For the March 2022 issue of Wood News Online, Temple wrote about a project where he had to turn twenty-four replacement spindles for a horse carriage seat:

One of my new customers wrote to me and explained that he is in the process of rebuilding an antique horse carriage and needs to replace twenty-four white ash spindles that decorate and support the back of the seat.

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Book Review: The Stick Chair Book By Christopher Schwarz

Mar 092022
 

For the March 2022 issue of Wood News Online, Norm Reid reviewed The Stick Chair Book by Christopher Schwarz:

Chris Schwarz’s latest rendering, The Stick Chair Book is a revelation and an inspiration. Even if you’ve never had the desire to build your own chair out of wood, this book might change your mind.

Read the rest of the review

Purchase your own copy of The Stick Chair Book

Click this link for more great woodworking books to read

Stories from Grandpa’s Workshop: Past Its Expiration Date

Mar 032022
 

For the March 2022 issue of Wood News Online, Bob Rummer discusses the shelf life of wood finishing products and offers some tips and advice:

When we are tempted to use old finishes, I think several factors come into play. Sometimes we don’t really know how old our finish may be. When I look at my shelves, there are lots of cans of unknown origin. Are they past their expiration dates?

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March 2022 Woodworking Poll: What Season Do You Use Your Shop the Most?

Mar 012022
 

The weather can’t seem to make up its mind here in Atlanta, and it seems to be that way throughout a lot of the country. 70’s one day, 40’s the next. Those of us with heat in our shop may have found more time to accomplish projects this winter compared to those with no heat setup. In comparison, people with no AC’s in their shop might not want to be deep into a project later this Summer, especially in a place like Atlanta. Not to mention the need to take into consideration how wood finishes react in different temperatures.

Let’s not forget Daylight Savings Time is coming up this month, adding an extra hour of daylight to our evenings….time you might be using to be outside more and not within your shop walls.

This month, we want to know what season do you find yourself working in your shop the most?