The New Issue of Good Woodworking Magazine - GW326

Why not have a go at turning your own version of Carl Jacobson’s festive snow couple?

Well, Christmas is getting closer by the day, and what better way to celebrate than with our December issue! Featuring three Christmas-themed projects for you to make either over the festive season or before it, you’ll love Tristan Dare’s handmade ribbon box, which is easy to make and looks incredibly effective; Carl Jacobson’s incredibly fun snow couple, which we can be decorated with the help of your children or grandchildren, and Phil Davy’s festive candle holder designs, which will be perfect for that last-minute present or surprise table decoration. But it’s not all about Christmas! We also have a great turning project from Les Thorne, as he shows you how to make two different vase designs, each with a different shaped contrasting finial. Definitely a design that never gets old, and one which looks incredibly effective to boot.

As John Bullar shows, timber is fed slowly from right to left, over the planer tables and cutter beneath the yellow guard
As John Bullar shows, timber is fed slowly from right to left, over the planer tables and cutter beneath the yellow guard

In our technical section, John Bullar is back with the next in his ‘improve your furniture making’ series, where this month he looks at choosing and using planer/thicknessers. As he shows, this machine takes much of the donkeywork out of preparing wood for furniture making and here he gives a comprehensive account of how to choose and use this great machine. In ‘What the Dickens’, Dave Roberts is back at work on The Old Vic’, before Peter Bishop looks at the definition of a timber defect, gives examples of each one, and also shows ways in which these can sometimes be incorporated as opposed to discarded.

Howard Butler’s ’Treasure Box’ is lovingly crafted and is sure to become a family heirloom
Howard Butler’s ’Treasure Box’ is lovingly crafted and is sure to become a family heirloom

Keeping with the Christmas theme, we thought we’d bring you a festive profile as well, so enter Jamie Kunka (also this month’s cover star) of Lonely Mountain Skis, who is making a name for himself as one of the most exciting hand-crafted wooden ski-makers around. Operating from his Perthshire workshop, we discover more about the fascinating steam-bending process behind building a ski from scratch. We’re also pleased to welcome back former Editor Andrea Hargreaves, who this month gets out and about to visit Marc Fish at his East Sussex-based furniture school and studio, as he tells us about the recent school relaunch and what goes into learning the craft. This month’s ‘Centrefold’ is a fantastic treasure chest by furniture maker Howard Butler, who designed this particular piece to collect and store memorabilia over the passage of time, and in ‘End-grain’, Edward Hopkins asks if you’re a goat, as he tells us about the traits of the Capricorn woodworker.

The heavy mains cable on the Trend T35 M-Class dust extractor is seriously long at 6.9m and can be wrapped around the handle for storage
The heavy mains cable on the Trend T35 M-Class dust extractor is seriously long at 6.9m and can be wrapped around the handle for storage

Seeing as the festive season is so close, what better opportunity to consult our test section and find some kit to put on your Christmas list! You’re spoilt for choice this month as we take a look at Axminster’s sturdy pair of sawhorses and the Pinie double mortise marking gauge, which features easily adjustable drawing arms, two measuring scales, and hardened steel marking pins, or how about the Trend T35 M-Class dust extractor? Benefitting from a long hose, cable and power tool take-off, it’s hard not to be impressed by this excellent piece of kit, although you may need to save up! We also get to grips with the Veritas 9tpi Tenon Rip Saw and Depth Stop, before finally finishing off with the Festool HK 55 EQ saw with FSK 420 rail, which is undeniably a pleasure to use.

Win a woodworking activity holiday for two at Gartmore House – worth over £1,100!
Win a woodworking activity holiday for two at Gartmore House – worth over £1,100!

And last but not least, here at GW we always like to give something back to our readers, so this month we bring you another fantastic competition, courtesy of Gartmore House. This amazing prize gives you and a friend the chance to visit the stunning property, set in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and undertake either a two- or a five-night woodworking activity holiday, worth one £1,100! Further details can be found in the magazine, so good luck and get entering! As well as all of the above, we also have all your favourite pages, including news, courses, letters & makers, before giving you a glimpse at our first issue of 2018!

Enjoy!
Tegan Foley, Editor

If you don't have a subscription and would like to know where you can buy a copy of Good Woodworking close to you in the UK, try our Store Locator

X