Introduction

This book is perhaps more of a diary of some of my more recent projects and lays out my experiences tackling different constructions. Sometimes things go wrong and I learn and I can't say the way I've done things is the best way or indeed the only way. It's just what I've done and hopefully this will help and encourage the you to have a go. It is a collection of my experiences in woodworking and in particular green woodworking, a more recent interest.  I can't say I'm an expert in any of this, indeed my career had been in science research and in particular physical chemistry and in later years, the pollution of our environment. My idea is to set-down some of my experiences in using hand tools on various projects in the hope it will help to guide others in developing skills and the use of some of the traditional woodworking tools.

The book covers some aspects of green woodworking including projects using a pole lathe for spindle work and also bowl carving. The lathe I built is sturdy and with a change in the head stocks, is suitable for both spindle work and bowl carving. Other topics include spoon and kuksa carving, making stools both from green wood and dried wood and making frame saws, It also outlines my experiences making long lampstands from greenwood, soap dishes, picture frames from green wood and a rustic mirror frame. I also delve into making tools from kiln dried beech such as try sqaures, marking gauges, bar clamp,  dual screw wooden vices, Dubuque wooden clamps and other wooden clamps, kerfing planes, spokeshaves and garden rakes. Finally some projects making house furniture with ash and beech, sets of side tables from beech, an ash bathroom cabinet and a shoe rack. 

 I have been guided by other authors such as Boz Rozaieski and Paul Sellers and also through short courses around my home village of  Dartington here in Devon, England by Sharif Adams and Felix Kary.  I have acknowledge their help in the appropriate sections.

 Right from an early age I have practised woodworking and mainly with a selection of hand tools. My father helped in this of course and I recall making a variety of things from the old orange boxes that had thick sides making them a source of wood in those days. The tools were simple such as a panel saw, tenon saw, chisels, mallet, brace, bits and oil stone that I recall and I have to say, took for granted. My formal education, for want of a better description, was at Tuxford secondary school in the late 50s when the boys did woodwork or metal work and the girls needle work and cookery. I'm afraid, for me, it was not a great success as woodwork was the only subject that a disliked and even thought of skiving from school on woodwork days (usually half a days lesson). To this day, I'm not sure why because the teacher was I think good but for some reason I felt he disliked me and thought I was hopeless with my hands.  I don't know about that but I tended to be more academic than my classmates. Putting on that white wood working apron was not a pleasant feeling for me.

Apart from some skills I undoubtable picked up, I recall the correct way to handle tools and more importantly, put them down so the blades were not damaged. Putting them in the store cupboard the wrong way meant I found a piece of wood flying across the workshop in my direction. I also remember the hide glue and the pot simmering on the teachers desk with that distinctive smell. I still have one of the first things I made at school, a small wooden holder for chisels and it hasn't yet fallen to pieces. At home I did some carpentry connected with an aviary and hobby for a few years before I left for University.

I followed an academic career but at Technical College at Newark, I did further woodwork for an exam and I really enjoyed this. We did subjects like engineering drawing and also geometry as separate subjects and these fitted in well with woodwork. I got on well with the teacher and he had a more relaxed attitude and encouraged us to design and then find ways to make the items. I recall a bookcase with hidden dovetails that I was proud of and this stayed with my mum for many years. It was designed have a sliding glass on the front, but I never got that finished I think because of the cost. I also designed and made a coffee table with ends that curved upwards. I recall finding this challenging although it worked out fine but had to be sold because I couldn't afford it at the time. I also had to do a written project and I chose the structure of different woods. This fell in nicely with my new hobby of photography and developing prints.