Japanese Charcoal Finish

There are many wood finishes, but none so extreme as Shou Sugi Ban (or Yakisugi) an ancient Japanese exterior siding technique that preserves wood by charring it. Traditionally, Sugi, (Cryptomeria japonica or Cupressus japonica) commonly called Japanese cedar, was...

Jarvi Bench

This is probably one of the best woodworking video I have seen in a long time. From cutting the tree, milling the timber, making insane cuts, steam bending with incredible jigs, sanding, and finishing.  A single piece of wood Just Amazing!  And those tools!!! His dust...

Splintered History of Wood

I have just finished reading Spike Carlsen’s ‘Splintered History of Wood’.  It is truly facinating!  The violins at the concert you attended last week, the baseball bats at the ball game you watched last night, the telephone poles that carried your...

Wood Information

I have recently been working with Locus (I think it’s Black Locus Robinia pseudoacacia), it is hard and I mean really hard – in fact it is 1700 on the Janka hardness scale. Teak is a mere 1070 and White Oak 1350. It can grow to 100′ and has a...

L’ ébénisterie 1932

The Cabinet 1932 I came across this delightful video when I was restoring an old card table.  As the video says loosely translated ,”Sponsored by the Association of learning for the furniture industry, this silent film presents the profession of cabinet maker....

New Coat for Spring

To say that it’s been a long harsh winter in Upstate New York would be an understatement! But spring appears to finally be in the air and it’s time to pack up our winter gear and get our spring coats on. It’s also time to put a new coat on the bench. My recipe for a...