jeff joseph -- woodworker
handcrafted furniture from sustainably managed woodlands
Category: Woodworking
FOR SALE: Figured Cherry Table Set – August 2023
As I imagine is true for many woodworkers, I have long been a hoarder of wood. On one hand, this is a great thing, as I always have an ample supply of unique, high quality lumber around, in a great variety of species and… Continue Reading “FOR SALE: Figured Cherry Table Set – August 2023”
THE FINE ART OF PLANEMAKING
Over the years I have collected a large array of handplanes, in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different types of work. In addition to their obvious visual differences, they all have differing ‘personalities’ in terms of how they feel in my… Continue Reading “THE FINE ART OF PLANEMAKING”
red maple
Every so often I write for The New York Forest Owner, the magazine of the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA). The text below is verbatim from my most recent contribution, though I’ve added a few images and some brief commentary at the end… Continue Reading “red maple”
the adze
I have long been in the habit of buying tools before I really ‘need’ them. Sometimes it has been because I found a really good deal on a unique or high quality tool; more often though it has been because I have felt the… Continue Reading “the adze”
the right tool
Often times, the only way to know where the middle lies is to get some experience at either end first. Generally, exploring the extreme poles is a youthful endeavor, as with age (so we hope) comes the humility to realize that the black… Continue Reading “the right tool”
mistakes
It’s a little hard to see what’s going on in this picture. Well, what you’re seeing is a mistake. A repaired mistake. My repaired mistake. Sigh. The piece is a 2″ thick cherry top brace for a trestle table I have been building for… Continue Reading “mistakes”
pine box
When asked to sum up the nature of existence in a few words, a Buddhist master once replied “Everything changes.” Of the few things that we can be absolutely certain of in this life, one is that—at least based upon all empirical evidence I’ve… Continue Reading “pine box”
plugs
As much as I like building pieces of furniture that rely solely on tight-fitting joints (and small amounts of wood glue) for their strength and durability, there are situations where using some form of mechanical fastener just makes sense. This small bookcase that I… Continue Reading “plugs”
beginner’s mind
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.” –Shunryu Suzuki The best lessons in life are often the most humbling ones. Here’s one of the best I ever got. I first ran into Buddhism in… Continue Reading “beginner’s mind”
tree to tabletop
For a woodworker, one of the great advantages of milling your own lumber is that it allows for the design and construction of pieces of furniture with boards all sawn from the same log (or at least same tree), ensuring matching colors, grain patterns,… Continue Reading “tree to tabletop”
jeff joseph -- woodworker 