Highland Staff

Book Review: The Artful Wooden Spoon

Sep 142021
 

For the September 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Norm Reid reviewed The Artful Wooden Spoon By Joshua Vogel:

When the author of The Artful Wooden Spoon, Joshua Vogel, took up spoon carving, he had it in mind to document his procedures so others could replicate them. His goal was a book to convey his observations. And so, he asked himself just how many spoons would he need to carve to justify sharing his experiences: a few dozen, perhaps, a hundred maybe? Vogel set out to carve as many as he could, using a variety of wood sources, tool sets, designs, and techniques. In the end, I suspect he carved well in excess of 100 spoons, with a range and variety well-evidenced throughout the book. His outcome: a well-informed guide to spoon carving that combines well-organized instruction with inspiring examples.

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Stories from Grandpa’s Workshop: Contemplation in a Woodshop

Sep 092021
 

For the September 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Bob Rummer discusses the importance of the “thinking spot” in his shop and how it plays a part in his woodworking.

My thoughtful spot is Mr. Francis’ folding lawn chair. Hugh was my 90-year-old neighbor in Alabama. He shared a lot of wisdom with me, like, “Keep the parts, you will find a use for them someday” or “Prune the muscadines and enjoy the wine.” He sat in this lawn chair in his shop/mill house while we watched the gristmill rumble through another bag of corn. He gave me perspective on life. I have kept his lawn chair in my shop, and I pull it out on nice mornings when the shop door is up to sit and think and enjoy a cup of coffee.

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Book Review: Woodworker’s Pocket Book

Aug 102021
 

For the July 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Norm Reid reviewed Woodworker’s Pocket Book:

Woodworker’s Pocket Book is quite different from the usual fare of woodworking books. It is a pocket reference compiled by Charles H. Hayward, longtime editor of the British magazine, The Woodworker, and draws on his extensive and comprehensive knowledge of woodworking tools and materials.

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Stories from Grandpa’s Workshop: Sweatin’ Like the Oldies

Aug 052021
 

For the August 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Bob discusses a popular topic that often comes up during this time of year…. managing the temperature in your workshop during hot and humid summer months.

These are the Dog Days of Summer, and this summer is breaking records. Kalispell, Montana, just west of Glacier National Park, topped the 100-degree mark in June. When you can fry an egg on your tablesaw it makes me think about two things: 1) should you use cooking spray on your tablesaw when you fry eggs, and 2) how do we manage temperature in the woodshop?

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Turning the Corner: Cups and Tumblers

Jul 292021
 

For the July 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Temple Blackwood discusses the turning process of cups and tumblers and the “lesson plan” he has come up with to make it a quick and exciting presentation for museum guests watching his woodturning demonstrations.

Woodturning demonstrations, such as we do at the Wilson Museum each summer in July and August, are relatively efficient from start-to-finish, and both attract and engage an audience. The speedy process of “unwrapping” a square-cut or full-bark piece of wood with a chisel and revealing a useful object within, sometimes with unexpected natural figure, while the on-lookers observe can be nearly miraculous, a trick of hand-and-eye with the speed and fascination of an accomplished magician performing.

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Stories from Grandpa’s Workshop: It’s All in Your Head…

Jul 272021
 

For the July 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Bob Rummer discusses cognitive spatial ability and how it plays a role throughout the woodworking process from mentally designing and planning to actually putting pieces together.

While I grew up playing with Tinker Toys, Erector Sets and blocks (all good spatial training), my formal education in spatial skills really came in junior high shop class. Mr. Westphal taught the first shop course, Mechanical Drawing, in 7th grade. We learned how to write block letters and use triangles and T-squares. However the key skill development was how to visualize objects.

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Woodturning with Spindle Tools

Jul 222021
 

For the April 2021 issue of Wood News Online, Temple Blackwood wrote about the different types of spindle turning tools, and how they all work together with a woodturner’s skills to create something (or many things) both beautiful and functional:

One of the most satisfying reasons to hone spindle turning skills is the confidence the turner gains when turning multiple sets of chair and table legs to complete a project or turning stepped candlesticks, thin finials, or five to several hundred balusters.

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