"Old" Mouldings vs. New

I was in Newport, RI the last few days for a Lie-Nielsen Handtool Event. When I am at these shows I'm often asked about the relevance of the tools that I make in today's shops. The answers always seem clear to me. I'll take this opportunity to show you.

A chest of drawers without the moulding is just, well, a chest of drawers. By adding the profiled shapes around the edges we are able to manipulate that rectangular chest into a piece of work that commands attention from the other side of the room. Why do we let today's router bit manufacturers dictate what those edges are going to be? After all, we don't do that with dovetails anymore and they're hidden.

With the planes on my bench I can make everything that occurs along a straight surface, regardless of shape. A moulding, any moulding, is just a combination of convex, concave and flat edges. That's exactly what these planes make. These planes allow you to make what you want, not what you have.

This weekend I was asked the sharp follow up question: "So I can make everything I see in Home Depot?" I shyly responded that I actually couldn't make the new profiles you often see because they've been flattened out to fit in thinner material. The ogees have been squashed. The curves have been reduced. The elegance has been withdrawn.

"Can you show me what you mean?"

Here I go.

I made this moulding during the slower times at my bench throughout the show.

Here are the steps:

Rabbet Plane

#10 hollow followed by #6 hollow.

Here is the present day equivalent (the bottom portion) that I cannot make with my planes. I found this in my hotel room Thursday night.

You'll notice that there are significantly fewer shadows.

(The paper may have been hung upside down, but I'm no expert.)

Lie-Nielsen Handtool Event in Newport

I will be attending a Lie-Nielsen Handtool Event this Friday and Saturday at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, RI.

You must attend one of these shows if you're interested in working with your hands. This show in Newport is the perfect location because there is a ton of other attractions in the immediate area. If you come for a day you'll wish you could stay for the second.

Use these shows to get yourself out of your comfort zone.

Additional Class at The Acanthus Workshop

I was at The Acanthus Workshop for a two day class on making mouldings with moulding planes.

This was followed by a one day class on carving mouldings.

I've had a few of these classes recently and, due to interest, have added another class at The Acanthus Workshop on October 6th and 7th with an optional 3rd day on the 8th. There are two spots available.

Here are a couple videos from my class at Lie-Nielsen in July to give you an idea of the class.

Step 1.

Step 2.

Bring some walking shoes if you come.

I will be at the Lie-Nielsen Handtool Event at Hearne Hardwoods on October 5th. If you can't make it to one, go to the other.

Next Project: DVD

I have been at Lie-Nielsen Toolworks shooting a DVD about using moulding planes. This video will nicely supplement my book for several reasons. It is easier to demonstrate steering a plane that writing about it.

The editing department is going to have a lot of work.

Stay tuned...

It's That Time Again

It must be time for a weekend class.

I'm heading off to Maine tomorrow morning for a weekend workshop. 

More early morning milling awaits...

Weekend Workshop at Lie-Nielsen: Moulding Planes

I will be teaching a Weekend Workshop at Lie-Nielsen in Warren, ME from August 18-19.

These classes are a great opportunity for somebody that is interested in learning how to use moulding planes, specifically, hollows and rounds. We will be using pairs of 6s, 10s and a rabbet plane to make more than a dozen very different moulding profiles.

We will discuss plane selection (hollows vs. rounds, hollows vs. snipesbills, rounds vs. side rounds) and plane maintenance (from sharpening to seasonal maintenance). We will execute coves, ovolos, cove and ovolos, ogees and more.

The purpose of the class is to build your understanding of how to lay out and execute simple moulding profiles, like coves and ovolos, and then build that knowledge into laying out and executing those that are much more complex.

Are you interested in making your own planes? Come and ask questions.

Are you interested in tuning up antiques? Bring them along. Though the class does not focus on this subject, it's inevitable that it will be discussed.

Do you have a moulding for a current project you want to make? Bring that too. (You will want to send me the profile dimensions before hand.)

Do you need to have your own planes? Absolutely not. I'm bringing all of these and many others for the students to use and, if you're interested, many will be for sale.

The class will culminate with making this picture frame.

First Through Mortise

Sheldon, my oldest son (7), is in the process of making some of his tools more accessible. He made his first through mortise to hold his float.

We won't get into how long this took him. He has a better strategy for his second.