Sandal Woods
Al Navas produces one-of-a-kind fine woodworking items. Al says, “I live in NW Missouri with my bride of many years. We are both woodworkers who love to be in the shop together, sharing wonderful times. She is a woodturner, and also carves and does pyrography. I do what many call flat work, which includes jewelry boxes to blanket chests; armoires to entertainment centers; church altars to prayer kneelers; custom cabinets to rustic furniture.”
Visit this site >Subscribe to this site's RSS feed >
Videos are not streaming properly
November 22, 2008
It appears that Blip.tv (the free video service I use) is not streaming video properly this morning. Only a few seconds stream to the computer, and the video stops. On the other hand, the videos will download properly. Please return later.Thanks for your patience! Read More →
#32. WIA: Bench planes, with Deneb Puchalski
November 21, 2008
Download Quicktime (*.mov) Background: This was a hands-on clinic. Most participants brought their own hand planes to the session. NOTE: Please forgive the hum in the video - this day was cold outside (38°F), the furnace was running, and the fan hummed. I was unable to filter out this sound completely, although it is a little better than in the original, raw video. Summary: In this episode, Deneb Puchalski, of Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, shows the basic set of bench planes (scrub, jack, smoother,...
Episode 31. WIA - Dovetailing: Pins vs. Tails, Part 3
November 20, 2008
Download Quicktime (*.mov) In this episode Frank Klausz discusses the importance of undercutting below the base line, and his preference for cutting both pins and tails flush with the boards. Roy Underhill introduces the concept of “bishopping”, which involves leaving the pins proud and using a ball peen hammer to “spread out” the protruding wood to make the fit appear better than it truly is. Later, both present several variations on the dovetails: Half-lapped (or half-blind)...
Episode 30. WIA - Dovetailing: Pins vs. Tails, Part 2
November 19, 2008
Download Quicktime (*.mov) In the last episode, Frank Klaus and Roy Underhill reviewed the basics and the why dovetails should be cut a certain way. In this episode Frank Klaus actually cuts the pins and the tails, explaining in detail how the layout should be done for best results. Hilarious at times, bud dead serious when it comes to the subject of dovetails, it is easy to see it is passion in its purest form that drives Klausz to be the master he is. When asked if plywood would be OK for drawer...
WIA - Dovetailing: Pins vs. Tails
November 19, 2008
Download Quicktime (*.mov) This is Part 1 of 3 - the first session on dovetailing. I will have a separate video series for the session on Advanced Dovetailing, also with Frank Klausz. The introduction was by Popular Woodworking magazine’s Publisher Steve Shanesy. Summary: It was great to watch Frank Klausz and Roy Underhill onstage. For me it was a first, very educational, and a most entertaining experience. Unless needed, I will not edit the video much, to give you the best experience...
A very short visit to Shaker Village
November 17, 2008
I don’t believe it is possible to go to Berea and miss Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill: Due to time constraints, I spent only a couple of hours on location. However, I took many photos I will post later this week. I hope to prevent duplication. The spiral staircase is breathtaking - I have never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world. Should you plan to visit Shaker Village? In my opinion, this trip is a must-do, even if you don’t like the furniture style. Read More →
Woodworking in America 2008 is now history - A peek into the happenings
November 16, 2008
The 2008 Woodworking in America conference is now history. It was a terrific event! I will leave Berea on Monday morning, but I wanted to give a little peek preview at some things to come to this blog, with both photos and video: Modern Tools: Tolerances & Myths - left to right: Lee, Sauer, Economaki, Lie-Nielsen: Dovetailing, two sessions on video - left to right: Klaus, Underhill: Bevel-up vs. bevel-down planes, video - Schwarz, Lee, Lie-Nielsen: Forgotten workbenches and workholding, video...
Headed to Berea, Kentucky
November 12, 2008
I will be traveling East on Thursday morning, to attend the Woodworking in America conference. Why? I will be working to bring you the latest from the Conference, including text, photos, and video. Bottom line: No promises for daily updates, as time and technology could get in the way… At this conference I am looking forward to meeting in person all the speakers, the attendees, and the other bloggers. It should be a wonderful time! Just for kicks, you might want to read in today’s blog...
A treasure chest for Sierra
November 10, 2008
Just about a year ago, while our 7-year old granddaughter Sierra and I were spending some time in the shop, she asked me if I could make her a “…treasure chest, with a domed lid - you know, like a little curved top?” I finally made it! Sierra will soon be 8 years old, and this will make a special gift for her, on her special day. It is a little whimsical chest, not associated with any period furniture, but it does have the domed lid! Sandy and I spent some time in the shop this...
Episode 28. The prayer kneeler Finale - Part 3 of 3
November 6, 2008
Download Quicktime (*.mov) In this final episode I share the following tips: Advantage of using router bits with perfectly-matched height. For best results, align router bits with the fence using a straight edge. Practice your router cuts doing “dry runs”. When routing stopped grooves on the router table, use stop blocks when possible for best results. When using a routing pin on the router table, always know which direction avoids climb cuts - this will save you a kickback! Always...
Announcing the November giveaway from Sommerfeld Tools
November 5, 2008
I am pleased to announce the November drawing / giveaway from Sommerfeld Tools. This month we will give away the 4-inch Mitered Molding Bit - one lucky winner in North America (sorry - cannot ship outside N. America at this time): From the Sommerfeld Tools catalog: Before now you had to pay high, custom-tooling dollars to get this elegant look on a mitered raised panel. After you’ve made your first set of doors with your new mitered molding bit, your work will be the admiration of all your woodworking...
Color all around our shop!
November 3, 2008
. Sandy and I headed to the shop on Sunday, with this around us: On the way to the shop. Looking South from the shop. Looking East from sidewalk. Looking West from sidewalk. Related posts: This is NW Missouri in the Fall - It is NOT New England, Dorothy! . Read More →
A shop-made 14° dovetail marker prototype
November 2, 2008
Until just a few days ago I used the sliding bevel exclusively to mark the dovetail layout on the tails boards. However, yesterday I started thinking about using a marker, and today I executed the idea: Make a prototype 14° dovetail marker. It is amazing how much quicker I can now mark the tails, and extend the lines to a second board as I get ready to gang-cut: It took me about 30 minutes to make these, including resawing the small original board. After machining I simply glued the tops to the...
My Aha! moment with hand-cut dovetails
November 1, 2008
Aha! Hand-cut dovetails that fit almost perfectly, right off the saw. Minor paring required on one half pin… One corner completed in 12 minutes. If this is what everyone talks about, I understand now. In my previous session with hand-cut dovetails I used thinner stock; this is near the thickness I will be using in the Krenov-inspired cabinet, which I will continue at some point in the future. For now, practice to make the best hand-cut dovetailed drawers is a major objective. Now, lest this...
Announcing: The winner of the October Sommerfeld drawing
November 1, 2008
The lucky winner this month is Scott, of Inman, South Carolina. You win Sommerfeld’s 2-inch drawer lock bit: Congratulations, Scott! You will be able to “make drawers faster, easier, and safer, but yet strong and durable”. You will love it! . . Read More →
First review: Moxon’s ‘The Art of Joinery”, with Commentary by Christopher Schwarz
October 28, 2008
'The Art of Joinery', by Joseph Moxon with commentary by Christopher Schwarz. Image copied from Woodworking Magazine's RSS feed. I received my copy of this book yesterday, and I have already speed-read it twice. Now I can take my time, and leisurely absorb every concept and word I missed the first two times. My verdict, in one word: Terrific! If you use hand tools, and you wonder how they were used 330 years ago, The Art of Joinery is a book you want in your woodworking library. Christopher...
Episode 27. The prayer kneeler - Part 2: Construction tips
October 26, 2008
In this episode I share some of the machining I did on the kneeler. In particular, I provide tips to allow you get better results from your project builds: How to get perfectly even spacing of the the folding legs within the upright legs. My preference of using a jig saw to cut the boards a little oversize. Using a cut list for your project. Matching grain during edge glue-ups, for best project appearance. Adjusting the router table fence to the router bit using a straight edge. Always dry-fit...
Rob Cosman’s 3-minute 42-second, tails-first dovetails
October 25, 2008
AMAZING! A Rob Cosman video on YouTube… This is Rob Cosman’s tails-first, 3-min. 42-second response to Frank Klausz’ 3-minute pins-first dovetails. It appears to me that Rob’s turned great. What do you think? I will shoot for this quality with my dovetails. I think it can be done… even if it takes me a few more years of practice. After all, I prefer to cut tails first, too. Read More →
Episode 26. A prayer kneeler for a GREAT cause! Part 1
October 24, 2008
In this episode I introduce a prayer kneeler we donated to a GREAT cause: A church school fund-raiser. In the video I mention that the kneeler “… will be donated… “. I had to delay publishing this video due to unforeseen circumstances. On a sad note, I spent most of last week to New York City, as my uncle, my aunt’s husband, passed away. I returned Sunday night, and worked on editing this video on Monday. My sincere thanks to all who sent us condolences on my uncle’s...
A conversation with Neil Lamens on Design: Form
October 10, 2008
Download the MP3 file Click here to play This is the first audio podcast from Sandal Woods. Neil Lamens of Furnitology Productions is my guest; we discuss Form in design. The following are a few of the things we discussed: Form vs. function - the old adage The benzene ring form Kaleo Kala - an analogy Period furniture, with emphasis on the 60s, when form was just about anything you wanted it to be! What has transpired since the bean bag chair, “a living form”? Are we as woodworkers...
October giveaway from Sommerfeld Tools
October 2, 2008
The router joinery bit theme has been very popular; as a result, we continue with the joinery theme in October. To register for the drawings, send me an e-mail to sandal_woods@bbwi.net with your name and full address. And please remember that if you have registered for the monthly drawings before, you do not have to register again. Good luck to everyone! The lucky winner this month will get the Sommerfeld Tools 2-inch drawer lock bit: From the Sommerfeld online catalog page for this bit: This...
Hand-cut dovetails: All four corners now cut
October 1, 2008
I shared with you my first results in doing hand-cut dovetails. The results were less than satisfactory, as my accuracy in sawing to a line was poor, and I overshot the depth of cut in several places. This post shows the progress I have made since that earlier experience. The first three photos show the entire set of tails. I marked the tail boards to remind me which tails (and their corresponding pins) I did in what sequence. I was thoroughly disappointed in the results of cutting the pins for tails/pins...
Announcing the Winner - September Sommerfeld Giveaway
October 1, 2008
And the winner is: Christopher Harry. Congratulations, Christopher! You win the Sommerfeld’s 22-1/2º Lock Miter Set. You will love this router bit set to make fast, accurate 45° joints! . Read More →
Not fine woodworking, but carpentry
September 23, 2008
The harvest table in our kitchen had become too small when our daughter and her family come to visit. As a result, a few months ago Sandy asked me to make an add-on top, to make the table top longer and wider. With five girls around, every inch of table top is needed at meal time - or when the crafts come out. To make the modifications I used four 8-foot pine pieces from the home improvement center for the actual top, and 4-inch stock for the aprons. I installed cleats under the top, to ensure perfect...
Hand-cut dovetails - my first results
September 19, 2008
This might not seem like a big deal to many of you. But to me, it is huge! The following photos show the first hand-cut dovetails I have ever produced: Recently I started working, and practicing, to be able to cut to a line. Although I have improved in this area, I still: Must refine how close to the line I saw, and Be careful not to overshoot the dovetail depth, or it shows immediately. In this instance I cut the tails first, and used the Kerf Kadet marking knife to layout the pins from the...
One year already!
September 18, 2008
It is hard to imagine an entire year has come and gone since I published my first entry in this blog. And what fun it has been! On September 18, 2007, I wrote: … I want to share my woodworking and cabinetmaking experience. I make stuff, from small boxes to chests, to cabinets, to entertainment centers. I will be sharing with my readers the steps in each of these, providing photos and video to convey the message and to make it a good experience for the blog readers… Sandal Woods, September...
Cut…stone the saw…cut…
September 14, 2008
In my previous post I showed the beginning of my journey into hand-cut dovetails. Many of the comments I received addressed the heavy set on the teeth of the new dovetail saw: Recommendations from experienced hand-tool users addressed one specific solution to reduce the saw set: Stone the saw. Doing this makes it easier to follow a line; and it will also clean up the kerf, and thus leave a much smoother cut. I took everyone’s recommendations at heart, for I respect the advice of the people...
Practice should make perfect: Hand-cut dovetails
September 11, 2008
The cat’s out of the bag: I have started practicing hand-cut dovetails. I started my practice sessions with this gent’s saw; in retrospect, I should have practiced starting the cuts with a much lighter touch than I used, as I could see a curve in some of the kerfs as the cut went deeper: I am certain ignorance on my part played a big role, but I just could not get comfortable with the grip on the gent’s saw. As a result, I ordered an E.T. Roberts & Lee Dorchester 8-inch, 21...
Learning woodworking by reading an old book
September 10, 2008
You can learn a lot about woodworking by exploring books that were published before you were born… A fantastic place to begin is George Ellis’s “Modern Practical Joinery”. - Christopher Schwarz, “Finding Roubo via Canada“, Woodworking Magazine Weblog, December 2005 Make sure to read Chris’ short review of Ellis’ book by clicking on the link above. If you have never heard of this book, the review is must-read material, just like the book itself. I recently...
New knife from Czeck Edge
September 4, 2008
If you have been looking at the content of the blog, you will notice a new banner, located on the right-hand Sidebar. It is from Czeck Edge, owned by Bob Zajicek. Just last week I received his latest creation, the Kerf Kadet; the handle is kingwood. The Kerf Kadet received a glowing review by none other than Christopher Schwarz, Editor of Woodworking Magazine. Chris wrote: “…The knife is flawless. Crisp and smooth with a perfect transition from wood to metal…” I could try...
