Rebuilding a wobbly stool
The stool had been wobbling for years. The fix turned out to be re-drilling one leg mortise at the correct angle and re-gluing with hide glue, which stays reversible if I get it wrong again.
Notes on woodworking, hand tools, and small projects around the house. Written slowly, updated occasionally.
Sharpening with three stones
A short write-up of the sharpening routine I settled on: coarse to remove damage, medium to set the bevel, fine to finish. Nothing fancy, and it takes about five minutes per chisel.
A small shelf for the hallway
Oak offcuts, dowel joints, and a lot of test fitting. Notes on marking out, what went wrong with the first attempt, and the finish I ended up using.
Choosing a first hand plane
If you are starting out, a No. 4 smoothing plane covers most jobs. Here is what to look for when buying one used, and what is worth fixing yourself.