Tools & Toolmaking

In depth two-hour videos about choosing, sharpening and using various chairmaking tools. Each video is available on a donation basis.

Make a donation for the video you would like to watch and you will receive an e-mail with a password allowing you to view and download the recording. If you don’t get the e-mail within a half-hour, please e-mail Seth (but first check your e-mail spam folder).

DRAWKNIFE CLASS

Drawknife types
Choosing antique and new drawknives
Grinding and sharpening a drawknife
Tightening drawknife handles
Bevel up vs. Bevel down drawknives
Using a drawknife for scooping cuts, slicing, endgrain, etc.


DRILL BITS:  POSITIVE TOOLS FOR MAKING NEGATIVE SPACES

The Pros & Cons of Spoon, Jennings, Irwin, Gimlet, Cook, Center, Spade, Twist, Bradpoint, Powerbore, Gedge, Kreg, Forstner and Wood Owl bits
Sharpening each type of bit
Making Bradpoints from Twist Bits
Buying (what to look for in old drill bits and new ones)
Choosing the right bit for the job
Bit Extensions (Making and Purchasing)
Depth Gauges
Brace Types (overview of different types)

MAKE A REAMER Pt. 1 with ELIA BIZZARRI

Starting with the blade, we look at various types of steel, making a blade from a scrap handsaw blade, grinding the blade, sharpening, honing and turning a burr. Then we look at wood options (lumber and log), sawing the blade slot by hand and by machine, and turning the taper to match the blade. We focus on making a six degree reamer for chairmaking, but the same techniques would work for a variety of sizes and tapers. Plus a Q&A session.

MAKE A REAMER Pt. 2 with ELIA BIZZARRI

The shaving lands are cut with a chisel and drawknife. We adjust the cutting depth with either a permanent wedge or an adjustment screw, then we work on two different types of handles, a fixed dowel and a removable tapered handle. We taper the top end of the reamer to a point and we spend some time talking about using the reamer in a variety of settings. Plus a Q&A session.

$30 for the pair of videos (3.5 hours total):

LIVE CLASSES

No live classes currently scheduled.

RECORDED VIDEOS

Full 2-hour recordings of the live-streamed online classes:

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"That spoon carving video blew me away. You all need a TV show. I love the format, it worked really, really well I believe. There were good closeups and I liked how Curtis was watching the work and visible right there. It was quite meta."
– Adam Tracy

A lot of tech: Four video cameras, a micro video camera, ATEM mini pro video switch, OBS broadcasting software, production lighting. Ian Strickland & John Parkinson, videographers; Roy Underhill, part-time videographer; Seth Elliott, moderator

GREENWOOD VIDEO EXCERPTS

Controlling a Split with a Froe

Choosing Splitting Wedges

Attaching a Froe Handle

SPOON CARVING with CURTIS BUCHANAN EXCERPTS

Steam Bending a Spoon Blank

Using a Drawknife to Carve a Spoon

A Hollow-Grinding Jig for Sloyd Knives