By Kathleen Ryan Photos by Kathi Tynan Fifty years ago Bob Brightbill received a simple set of carving tools as a gift from his wife, Mary, who challenged him to carve something. So Bob bought some carving books and fashioned a wooden fish. Since then the Waitsfield, Vt., resident has […]
A childhood passion for aviation inspired Bill Hanes when he returned to carving after a 20-year hiatus By Kathleen Ryan As a young boy, Bill Hanes built plastic model planes and hung them from his bedroom ceiling. Decades later, he combined that childhood fascination with his love of woodworking to […]
By Bob Duncan & Mindy Kinsey It sounded like an easy project: we were asked to turn our Pinewood Derby magazine into a book featuring “fast and furious” speed secrets. With a few cosmetic changes, some new cars, and an update on the tools, we thought we could get it […]
Jeffro Uitto crafts his tools as carefully as he does his furniture By Kathleen Ryan Jeffro Uitto both creates beautifully sculpted furniture from recycled wood and forges his own handmade tools. “I love creating something functional. It’s so satisfying to work with tools that you’ve made yourself,” Jeffro said. The […]
By Bob Duncan While some carvers have the space for a full-sized stationary bench, many work in any available space. Woodcraft’s QuikBench provides a strong, stable clamping surface that folds up to fit under a bed or alongside a freezer. The QuikBench has a 24″ by 30″ working surface and […]
By Bob Duncan Rockler’s Silicone Project Mat is one of those products that makes you ask, “Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before now?” This mat will protect your work surface from … well … everything. The 15″ by 30″ mat gives you plenty of space to work. The 1/8″-thick […]
By Bob Duncan If you have an angle grinder, you need the new Arbortech TurboShaft. It will speed up almost any carving you do. I find the TurboShaft easier to control than the traditional router carvers usually use to remove the background for a relief carving. It will not fit […]
By Bob Duncan Even expert carvers find themselves in situations where it’s challenging to get a clean cut. Either there’s a bad spot in the wood or you can’t get a tool into the area. The best tool to reach for in these situations is often a rasp, but the […]
By Bob Duncan The SawStop Jobsite Saw is my top choice in table saws for the hobby woodworker. This saw combines portability, accuracy, and safety into one package. Admittedly, it costs around $1,300, which is more than most other portable-style saws. But you are paying for a solidly made saw […]
By Bob Duncan Imagine combining an eraser with a sanding sponge—the result is the Klingspor Sandflex hand block. I use these blocks to literally erase rust anywhere. The blocks come in three grits: coarse, medium, and fine. Choose a coarse or medium grit based on how much rust you need […]
