NEW ISSUE OF GOOD WOODWORKING MAGAZINE 308

Will Holman’s hairpinned dining table uses hairpins which are reversed, angling inwards to brace swept-back legs. It features a Douglas fir top with a chamfered edge and through-tenons

What better way than to kick off our August issue and embrace summer than with a feature given over to celebrating the 2016 Shed of the Year shortlist? 32 of the UK’s most outrageously spectacular sheds battle it out for top honour of Shed of the Year, which will be announced in GW309, so don’t miss it! We go inside a few select sheds and introduce you to the ‘Sheddies’ behind them - they really do need to be seen to be believed, and we will be showing you even more in the next issue.

Grant Oatley’s ‘Love Shack’ is a tiny little work of art that you can live in while also being completely transportable, as it is built on its own trailer
Grant Oatley’s ‘Love Shack’ is a tiny little work of art that you can live in while also being completely transportable, as it is built on its own trailer

We have some fantastic projects for you this month, and hopefully they will inspire you to make your own versions. We kick off with Will Holman’s stunning hairpinned dining table, which features a Douglas fir top with a chamfered edge and through-tenons; and if your porch is overrun with shoes and wellies, then Charlie Gapay’s shoe cubbies project is just what you need. If you fancy trying your hand at some cabinetmaking, then Phil Davy’s neat cabinet to house all your first aid essentials will be right up your street. We also have another great kitchen project from Noah Weinstein, who this time shows us how to make his internet-famous test tube spice rack - ideal if you’re a keen cook with lots of spices that need housing! And finally, Les Thorne decides to jazz up his desk by turning three different accessories using a selection of exotic timbers, all of which feature ready-made brassware.

See Michael Huntley’s octagonal green oak conservatory build in the last of his ‘Small Structures’ series
See Michael Huntley’s octagonal green oak conservatory build in the last of his ‘Small Structures’ series

Sadly, we have the last in Michael Huntley’s ‘Small Structures’ series, which sees him looking at the long and complex build involved in the construction of an octagonal green oak conservatory. John Bullar is also back with the next in his beginners’ series, and this time he looks at how chisels and gouges are used by furniture makers as  well as discussing a number of techniques and types available, and in ‘Solutions’, not content with a design he came up with for a farmhouse chair, Glenn Perry sets about replacing the arms and updating the finish to produce a piece of furniture that now enjoys regular use and is much easier on the eye.

Students learning on the Carpentry for Beginners course at The Goodlife Centre
Students learning on the Carpentry for Beginners course at The Goodlife Centre

In ‘People & Places’, we take a look at Dundon Passivhaus, which is this month’s ‘Centrefold’ - a fantastic example of a low-energy home built using timber due to its excellent energy performance, and between juggling her workload, the Editor also found the time to talk to founder of The Goodlife Centre, Alison Winfield-Chislett, who talks about her passion for soul craft, making woodworking available to all and the importance of passing skills on.

Andy King puts the new Tormek T-8 grinding machine through its paces
Andy King puts the new Tormek T-8 grinding machine through its paces

In ‘Kit & Tools’, Andy King gets his hands on the new Tormek T-8 grinding machine, which as he says, is undoubtedly the Rolls Royce of its ilk; he also rated the Festool CTL SYS extractor as a “top class sucker” and was particularly impressed with the new additions to the Gorilla Glue range, which is why he gave them the full five stars.

All this and much more in issue 308 of Good Woodworking, which hits the shelves on 22 July.

Enjoy!

Tegan Foley, Editor

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