Woodworkers are among the most visual people I know. Ask a woodworker a question and the first thing they do is grab a pencil and paper to begin drawing. Ive learned that we wood folk can pick up only so much information through the written word , photos help to add to the information transferred to our brains , but there is no better way to learn woodworking than to watch someone demonstrate a technique. You see how their body is positioned, how their feet are set and watch how everything moves as the technique is performed.
The Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event will be held in Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday, June 4th & 5th. It is open to all, but specifically to Magazine’s office and shop. This event is the ideal place to find the right hand tool or tools to improve your woodworking skills. The people on the other end of the counter are experts in their products so it is easy to learn how to use and maintain any tool. What could be more satisfying than seeing how some of these tools are put to use to make furniture?
We were pleased to see that this year some of the SAPFM (Society of Period Furniture Makers), woodworkers came in to show us their techniques. This year, Mark Arnold, the editor of the Journal of American Period Furniture , and future contributor to our magazine , discusses how to join legs to the column of a tilt-top table. Marks work on period furniture is incredible, so I doubt there will be dowels or biscuits involved. George Walker will demonstrate traditional joinery tools such as the tongue-and groove and moving fillister. Ill also bet you can drag George into a conversation about furniture design.
You’ll love carving if you stop by Saturday. Townsend tea tables come in many leg styles. You find tea tables with slipper feet, ball-and-claw feet and some tables with highly decorated knee areas. At the event, Brooke Smith demonstrates how to carve a cabriole leg from the Townsend shops in Newport, R.I. Whatever the technique, thats a session I want to sit in on. Also, Dan Reahard is going to carve on a crest rail for a Chippendale dining chair. Carving is a complex process that requires you to be precise, repeatable and easy. This is the time to see how to properly hold a carving chisel and how much pressure is applied as you work. This is also a great opportunity to find out what a sharp is and to verify that your chisels work properly.
If you are a Windsor chair maker or hope to one day build one, then Jim Crammond’s and Bob Compton’s techniques will be of great interest to you. There should be some shavings as they show different methods in chair building.
Stop in and spend some time at the show. Youll have the chance to pick up a new tool, talk with the toolmakers directly and learn a new techniques. To me, attending is a no-brainer.
