Magazines

Making use of the clever Simon Hope laser kit hollowing system, Les Thorne turns a vase in English yew before adding texture to the outside and an ebony insert to create contrast

We’ve got a very exciting issue in store for you, as we present a showcase of the eight recent graduates of Peter Sefton’s Furniture School. These talented furniture makers certainly represent the future of the craft, and each shares their story here as well as showing off their stunning creations. Each of their pieces are also deservingly shown on this month’s front cover. As well as this exciting feature, we also have a lot more in store for you, including a fantastic range of projects, which, as always, are varied. Janice Anderssen kicks off proceedings with her pine slat bench, which is very easy to make, using only a few basic tools and materials, as well as having a multitude of uses both inside the house and out. Shaun Newman also returns with a very unusual commission, which sees him creating a chair that brings together two very different disciplines and cultures: sound therapy and chakra crystal healing; Matthew White shows us a clever design for a hall tree, which is perfect for keeping your winter accessories tidy; and on the DIY side of things, Phil Davy completes a vanity unit he recently installed, going on to fit a laminate worktop to finish the job. And if turning is more your thing, then you’ll love Veronica Spencer’s space rocket with a see-through acrylic window as well as Les Thorne’s laser quest vase in English yew.

Stacks of timber going into kilns, as shown in Peter Bishop’s article on drying and looking after your wood

In our ‘technical’ section, Dave Roberts brings us the next in his ‘What the Dickens’ series, which sees him falling prey to some mid-summer superstition, before Peter Bishop asks what ‘drying’ actually means, and as he shows, it’s not anywhere near moisture free.

The ‘Taiao Table’, by Stout Furniture, forms this month’s ‘Centrefold’

As well as the fantastic showcase of furniture school graduates’ work, we also show you Stout Furniture’s stunning ‘Taiao Table’, which is made using English burr oak and English oak and features freeform legs that can be made in any desired shape. Edward Hopkins also returns with the next in his ‘Home Truths’ series, as he sets the table for James Hopkins, before taking a look at the Veritas Mk.II Honing System, and finally lamenting the curse of the small workshop. 

Supplied in a slimline L-Boxx, this is designed to clip to similar storage boxes as part of the Bosch Sortimo stacking system

In ‘Kit & Tools’ we bring you an exclusive review of the eagerly awaited Bosch FlexiClick 12V system, which Phil Davy is very glad to get his hands on. This clever tool makes use of interchangeable adaptors to create a versatile system that’s sure to become a favourite tool for many woodworkers. Awarded the full five stars, we struggled to fault it! Also on the test bench is the WoodFox twin pocket hole kit, which represents reasonable value but is only recommended for occasional use, as well as the  Bosch Zamo laser measure and Betsy Messy Mats Paint Mats, which are tough, flexible and easy to clean after use. Finally we look at the brand-new Trend PR/01/01 WRT Workshop Router Table, which features a solid set up and allows you to easily maximise the versatility of all popular portable routers. There’s no bells or whistles, just a feature-packed router table at a good price, so be sure to have a look if you’re in the market for one.

We also have all your favourite pages including news and courses, letters and makers, the next issue page, as well as a great competition from Dickies Workwear, which gives you the chance to win 1 of 10 pairs of trousers from their brand-new Pro range – worth £75 (RRP) per pair! See inside the magazine for details, and good luck to all those who enter!

Enjoy!
Tegan Foley, Editor