Magazines

Shaun Newman’s ‘air guitar’

Although we are edging towards the Autumn months, you need not fear because, as always, we have some fantastic woodworking and woodturning content for you, which will ensure you’re kept busy in your workshops! Projects-wise, we have some gems in store for you including part 1 of Shaun Newman’s ‘air guitar’ build, which is cleverly designed to fit into the overhead locker of an aircraft; also, Andrew Hall returns with a clever turning project, which makes use of discarded plastic tubing to create a neat little bird box complete with pagoda roof and base; next up, Martin Pim-Keirle rescues some finest-quality Swedish kitchen knives from the bin, strips off the original plastic handles and turns new ones using pieces of oak root; in ‘Engineer’s Workshop’, Dave Roberts has a hard time with JAZ, a wood-substitute that’s made from recycled paper; Les Thorne comes up with two different designs for a pair of salt and pepper shakers, both using oak and paduak: one with a toothpick holder and one without; Denis Whittaker uses pieces of scrap to make two alternative designs for tapas or ‘nibbles’ trays; and last but not least, Johnny Wikk’s clever and simple design for a bike rack makes use of wall space when floor space is at a premium.

The planet-like applewood sphere’s whorls resembles the dramatic atmospherics of Mars or maybe Jupiter, and a huge inclusion in the mid-latitudes looks like an enormous meteor crater

In terms of techniques, in ‘Woodworker’s Encyclopaedia’, Peter Bishop continues to look at everyday terms and phrases used within and about the timber and associated industries; and back with another ‘Borderlands’ helping, a long time in the making, Dave Roberts hopes his turned applewood sphere will be even longer lasting.

Working on the logs for the Stockmühle watermill

If features are more your thing, you’re in luck as we have some belters, including Mark Griffiths’ report from World Wood Day 2019, which was recently held at the Austrian Open-Air Museum Stübing. Learn how he and a group of carpenters set about building a Stockmühle watermill to celebrate the event. In ‘Archive’, Robin Gates presents an open and shut case for a new garden gate, with a little help from the June 1951 issue of The Woodworker; before he also explains his reasons for using wood from the wild while reliving an alarming encounter on the beach; next, Anselm Fraser introduces four professional course alumni, each of whom share their personal secrets of success; in ‘Me and my workshop’ we look around the workshop of Devon-based artist, sculptor and furniture maker Caroline Arbon; and in ‘End-grain’, Edward Hopkins talks origami woodwork (with ship-building).

Inserting a standard screw into MDF using the Makita DTD170 18V cordless impact driver

As per usual, our testers have been busy putting all the latest kit through its paces, including the Makita DTD170 18V cordless impact driver, which certainly packs a punch, a range of clamps from Armor Tools, plus various worktop jigs, including the Trend Aperture & Radius jig and the UJK Variable Angle worktop jig. 

In this issue, you can also find full details of the fantastic Alan Peters Furniture Award 2020, which champions UK furniture making talent while celebrating the life and work of the late Alan Peters OBE. Do not delay, get making today and you could be in with a chance of winning some fantastic pries. We also have a brand-new competition from Wood Workers Workshop, which gives five lucky readers the chance to get their hands on a FastCap 10 Million Dollar Stick. This clever pushstick design keeps your fingers away from dangerous machinery and ensures you stay safe in the workshop - see inside for details of how you can enter - good luck!
As well as this, you can also expect to find all your usual favourite pages, including news and courses, welcome, marketplace, next month, letters and readers’ tips. All this and much more in the September 2019 issue of The Woodworker & Good Woodworking, which is now on sale!

Enjoy!
Tegan Foley, Editor