The Folding Rule Show
David Pruett is the host of The Folding Rule. David says, “Its a video & photo journal of my woodworking experiences. My approach as a blended woodworker is to use power tools for rough dimensioning and hand tools for final fine fit and finish. I build custom furniture in a garage based shop. Hope you enjoy this peek into a small woodworking shop!”
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Epidsode #80 - Wine Barrel Furniture Part I
November 20, 2008
The best laid plans always seem to go astray . . .I had great plans approaching a block of time off from work. Lots to catch up on, including shop activities. I did get a couple of projects underway until I received a phone call from a friend and co-worker requesting some help with an end table built from parts of a wine barrel. Wine barrel furniture? I had never heard of this and thought it was intriguing. Next thing I knew we were building an end table from a picture he downloaded from the internet....
Episode #79 - Woodworking in America 2008 - PART IV
November 16, 2008
The WIA 2008 Series with Neil Lamens on The Folding Rule Episode #79 • Woodworking in America 2008 - PART IVEpisode #78 • Woodworking in America 2008 - PART IIIEpisode #77 • Woodworking in America 2008 - PART IIEpisode #76 • Woodworking in America 2008 - PART IIntrigue, controversy & camaraderie from The Woodworking in America 2008 ConferenceThis is the 4th and last part from our interview with Neil Lamens of Funitology Productions fame on his last day at The Woodworking in America Conference...
Episode #78 - Woodworking in America 2008 - PART III
November 15, 2008
"A good furniture man always has a tape!"This is Part 3 from our interview with Neil Lamens of Funitology Productions fame from his first full day at Woodworking in America 2008. In this brief installment, Neil shares some additional thoughts about connections with fellow woodworkers and his trip into the town of Berea with woodworking friend Chuck Middleton. Do you have a tape in your pocket?We have more to come from Neil and I am hoping he gets to run into Matt Vanderlist from Matt's Basement Workshop...
Episode #77 - Woodworking in America 2008 • PART II
November 15, 2008
This quick video is live from Neil Lamens of Funitology Productions fame from the first day at Woodworking in America 2008. In this installment, Neil share thoughts from the seminar with chair maker Brian Boggs and the awesome feeling of making connections with fellow woodworkers. Neil met up with internet woodworking friend Chuck Middleton.What glue was Neil referring to from the chair making session with Brian Boggs? Hide glue of course! Don't forget to check out Patrick Edwards Old Brown Glue...
Episode #76 - Woodworking in America 2008 Conference
November 14, 2008
A special treat for those of us unable to attend the 2008 Woodworking in America Conference sponsored by Popular Woodworking and Woodworking Magazine.This quick video is live from Neil Lamens of Funitology Productions fame on the first evening of the conference. During the conference check in Neil ran into Mark Vanderlist from Matt's Basement Workshop. Sounds like a great conference! Read More →
Episode #75 – Take Your Dovetails to the Next Level!
November 10, 2008
I have a confession to make. When I travel, a multi-CD case gets thrown in my shoulder bag. Rather than the in-flight movie, I often prefer watching my woodworking DVDs. Yes, I do get in ribbed from my wife & kids for watching "another woodworking DVD" or the inevitable "haven't you seen that one already?". Recently I have been watching (or should I say, re-watching!) the dovetailing series by Rob Cosman.ROB'S AMAZING 4-MINUTE HAND CUTCABINET GRADE DOVETAILUsed with permission from Rob CosmanMachine...
Episode #74 - Folding Rule on Vacation
October 25, 2008
Mountains, Bears & Bisonwith a "bit of Woodworking"while on Vacation!Grand Tetons National ParkWe just returned from a driving vacation from Portland to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This was our second visit, but I am again struck with the majesty and beauty of our country.Thanks to a wonderful suggestion from fellow woodworker, Todd Clippinger, we checked out Fighting Bear Antiques in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. True to owner Terry Winchell’s website mission statement, Fighting Bear...
Episode #73 - You Can Make the Cut with Shellac!
October 5, 2008
(20:18)This is a video follow-up from Episode #71 - Shellac, Can You Make the Cut? Well, tag along with me in the shop and you will see in fact you can make the cut and add this fascinating finish to your reportaire. This episode covers mixing shellac from dry flakes (1# cut amber shellac) and reducing a premixed cut to a thinner cut (1/2# cut spit coat).Download a shellac chart for your shop and consider using shellac on your next project.Be forewarned . . . the only thing more boring than watching...
Episode #72 - The Rodman Ride for Kids
September 6, 2008
Click Here to Donate!Stay with me and you will see that there is a woodworking connection!Just trying to help spread the word about a great cause to support. Boston is a wonderful city home for many great things including The Boston Red Sox, The Boston Celtics, The Boston Bruins, fabulous American History, home of the world renowned North Bennet Street School, and of course Thomas J. MacDonald . . . aka T-Chisel for you woodworkers!Many great things happening in a great historic city. One program...
Episode #71 - Shellac . . . Can You Make The Cut?
September 2, 2008
Shellac a Brief HistoryShellac is a natural organic resin that comes from the insect Laccifera lacca indigenous to India and Thailand. During its reproductive cycle, the female secretes an amber-colored resinous substance called "lac” forming a cocoon around the insect and her eggs. The abandoned cocoon, called “sticklac” because it contains resin, twig parts and insect remains, is scraped off the tree by hand, washed and refined to produce the raw material for shellac.The first commercial...
Episode #70 - Kids in the Shop, A Great Idea!
August 18, 2008
A great weekend in the shop with my son MatthewMatt laying out his joineryI just spent a wonderful three days in the shop with my son. Now, we weren’t in the shop the entire three days but suffice to say that our shop time was a significant part of some quality father-son time this weekend. My wife and daughter were out of town this weekend visiting friends in Central Oregon. My son Matthew and I stayed behind to start work on a community service project for his Boy Scout Citizenship in the Community...
Episode #69 - Thanks to The Rough Cut Show!
August 15, 2008
Life is Good!To say I am blown away from the great shout out by T-Chisel & Al would be a huge understatement! Thank you to Tommy, Al and all The Rough Cutters. What an awesome woodworking blog and forum.Now that I am back in the shop, my son Matthew and I are going to try our hand at the Step Stool project. Matt has been a big fan of Tommy ever since the early beaver tooth episode. Of course his Dad is a huge fan. So now we get to do a project together . . . what more could I ask (except of course...
Episode #68 - Finishing . . . Take Your Time!
August 15, 2008
A review of Finishing From A to Z: Beyond The Books from Woodworking with Charles NeilIt wasn’t long ago that Popular Woodworking Editor Glen Huey mused that the finishing phase of a project can take as long as the design and building phases. In fact, this phase of a project’s execution is so important that Neil Lamens from Furnitology Productions recommends starting to experiment with the proposed finish schedule concurrent with initial milling. He advises in his Furnitology 101 DVD and on his...
Episode #67 - Soon to be back in the shop!
August 12, 2008
What the heck is a flexor carpi radialis?Here’s a hint, it’s not a tool and you can’t buy one at Rockler or Woodcraft! Well, I am finally heading back to the shop . . . sort of. It’s a good feeling none the less. Thank you to everyone that wished me well while I recovered from a shop related injury. I haven’t discussed it much as it still makes me nervous to think about what happened. It happened early in the morning on a day off from my regular job. I was just finishing re-sharpening a...
Episode #66 - Design & Critique
August 9, 2008
Some thoughts on design and work critique.The Rough Cut Show Forum. . . truly the Forum of choice for the Internet woodworking communityReady to loose a round of Frisbee Golf to my son!Well, I have too much idle time on my hands these days. What is a woodworker to do when they can’t be in the shop? Read, draw, plan and organize . . . that is what I have done. I am recovering from an injury that precludes me from working in the shop. I have had a chance to knock a couple of woodworking books off...
Episode #65 - Hand Cut Dovetails: Beauty, Strength & Craftsmanship
July 18, 2008
The Beginning of My Dovetail JourneyAh, dovetails, one of the great gauntlets to run for the intrepid woodworker. Whether plugged or unplugged, sooner or later every woodworker will consider the path of hand cut dovetails. There is something very appealing about the fine fit of hand cut slender pins and the satisfaction of mastering chisels and the dovetail saw.I recently have started down this woodworking slippery slope. I have acquired my weapons of choice. I’ve done my research reading textbooks...
Episode #64 - Its true, you get what you pay for!
July 8, 2008
A comparison of the JET and Tormek Wet Grinding Systems WMH Tool Group / JETTormek For clarification, I am not a professional woodworker and I have no vested interest in JET Tool or Tormek. I work in a small garage wood shop building custom furniture. I am constantly developing my woodworking skills and consider myself a student of the craft with much to learn and explore.Anyone interested in building furniture deals with sharpening tools. It is impossible to build good furniture without sharp tools....
Episode #63 – Three Becomes One
July 2, 2008
The first week of July is a special time of year for the little town of Sisters, Oregon. The population swells as many thousands of quilters from around the world descend upon the town for the annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. Often referred to as “The Disneyland of Quilting” and having the honor of “the first and largest outdoor quilt show”, the event spans a full week of events centered about everything to do with quilting. The 33rd Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show"Wedding Ring Blues”...
Episode #62 - Scratch Stock Part I
May 30, 2008
The Scratch Stock – Part II had a great day in the shop. I started by dimensioning stock for my next project which is now stickered and adjusting to the shop environment. I also started experimenting with hide glue . . . more on that in the future. I also made a scratch stock. After following Crazy Leg Federal Table forum project on The Rough Cut Show, I started working on developing skills anticipating building a similar table. I thought the scratch stock would be a fun little project to end a...
Episode #61 - Shop Reflection
May 27, 2008
A time for reflection in the shop . . .One of the interesting aspects of working with wood is the exploration process. There is always something new to learn and there is always room to perfect a skill or technique. I have in mind ideas for a number of projects; the real question for me is which project to do first. I also have some techniques that to want to explore and incorporate into future projects.As I built my last project, I generated a self-critique of what went well and what I would have...
Episode #60 - Boston Vaction
May 18, 2008
The Folding Rule . . . Away on Vacation . . . in Boston!A folding rule on the museum workbench display at theUSS CONSTITUTION "Old Ironsides"Well, our family has been away on vacation last week. We surprised the kids and took them to Boston. I used to live in Scituate, 45 minutes south of Boston, many years ago. Since we all love history and the East Coast, Beth and I thought it would be a great idea to spend some time in the Boston area. We were not disappointed! The weather was a wonderful and...
Episode #59 – Cherry Pedestal – Finished!
May 4, 2008
Cherry Pedestal Photo UPDATE – Finish(ed)!It was with mixed feelings that I lifted the pedestal off my bench with the help of my daughter. We carried it inside for a few photos and to wait safely until delivery tomorrow. By the time the finish schedule is completed, your hand has become intimately familiar with every grain, nook & granny of the project. Interestingly, this phase is almost as time consuming as the building phase requiring the same level of patience and attention to detail.As...
Episode #58 – Cherry Pedestal – Veneer
May 3, 2008
Cherry Pedestal Photo UPDATE – Veneer Grain Pattern SelectionThis episode is a photo update of the door veneer selection process for the cherry display pedestal being built in my shop. During construction of the carcase I took particular care to select and showcase the best grain pattern for the flat cut 2-ply cherry veneer. All the cherry veneer for this project came from a 4x8 sheet of 2-ply cherry veneer that I purchased from Veneer Supplies, a great Internet source of veneer and veneering supplies...
Episode #57 - Cherry Pedestal - Finishing
May 1, 2008
Cherry Pedestal Photo UPDATE - FinishingCongratulations again to Frank Thorton from Springfield, Illinois for winning the Kreg Jig Project Drawing!Well, I believe every project has something to offer for the builder in terms of advancing their craft. This project is no exception. In a future post I plan on reviewing what I learned, what went well and what I would do different next time . . . sort of a post project wrap-up if you will. Right now I am happily applying finish and hope to meet my anticipated...
Episode #56 - KREG JIG PROJECT WINNER
May 1, 2008
Congratulations to Frank Thortonfrom Springfield, Illinois!Frank’s Kreg Jig project was a set of three beds, a pair of regular bunk beds with a third bed raised and connected at 90 degrees. Frank’s project is an outstanding demonstration showing the utility of the Kreg Jig for every project level.Excellent job Frank! Look for a package in the mail with a Kreg Jig Drill Bit and a jar of my Beeswax Screw Lubricant.Click on Episode #52 for details the Kreg Jig Project Drawing.The Cherry Display...
Episode #55 - Cherry Pedestal - Moldings
April 22, 2008
Cherry Pedestal Photo UPDATE - MoldingsAs I have alluded to recently, I made a decision to forgo video of this project in lieu of making progress toward as rapid a completion as possible. A much as I enjoy pausing to set up the camera for some footage I also realize that it takes a lot of extra time. This photo update shows the application of transition moldings to the base and top. There is something to learn with every project, and for me this project has offered many. One thing was an opportunity...
Episode #54 - A Great Woodworking Podcast
April 11, 2008
A Great Woodworking Podcast Podcasting for the Serious Woodworker This is a blatant plug for an awesome woodworking podcast. I pretty much follow two podcasts on a regular basis: Neil Lamens at Furnitology and Thomas MacDonald at The Rough Cut Show. If you are like me, hungry for another great woodworking podcast, you have to check out Thomas J. MacDonald aka T-Mac aka T-Chisel aka T-Chizzz on The Rough Cut Show. The show covers the construction of a beautiful Bombe Secretary in an entertaining...
Episode #53 - Cherry Pedestal Photo Update
April 3, 2008
No video for this episode! However, I must say I have a lot of respect for all the woodworking video/audio bloggers. It is an incredible amount of work to shoot video while you are working, all the while making sure you get enough usable footage to tell the story of a project or process. I recently had a technical problem with my microphone and subsequently lost all the veneering video for this project. Honestly, I was just letting the camera run while I was working with plans to edit later on the...
Episode #52 - The Kreg Jig
March 23, 2008
The Kreg Jig & Pocket Screw Joinery Special AnnouncementRead below for details of aspecial Folding Rule Show drawing!Deadline April 30, 2008 Click Here for High Resolution Version(10:31) We all have various tools and jigs in our shops that help streamline workflow. One tool that I am particularly fond of is The Kreg Jig. I have used this wonderful tool for a wide variety of projects ranging from outdoor construction to various pieces of furniture. Below I have a list of sample projects...
Episode #51 - Shop Thoughts
March 21, 2008
Musings from my ShopThe most important tool in the shop . . .Much has been said about this in the online forums. The responses vary between some special tool handed down by a father or grandfather to the newly acquired hand tool or power tool. Responses that I have found most interesting are not tools but references and mentors. I think the variety of responses reflect to some degree a woodworkers development and maturation in the craft.One universal trait of all woodworkers is a love of tools, be...
