Magazines

Robin Gates’ saw bench

Our March issues offers a wide range of varied woodworking content for you to enjoy, as well as some turning articles for you to make. The Editor starts off proceedings by sharing the build of a tool cupboard that he recently made for his workshop, which not only shows off his collection of planes, but also gives them a handy place to be stored. Also appearing on the front cover, we hope you enjoy reading about this woodworking tale of interest and instruction. Next we have Peter Dunsmore, who tells us about an Art Deco coffee table commission he recently fulfilled that required him to come up with a method for creating curved ends. Although challenging, the end result is certainly effective and most importantly, the new owners were suitably impressed. Robin Gates also returns with a new two-parter, which sees him building his very own saw bench. In this first part, he finds himself restoring the saw that inspired it, constructing a Heath Robinson saw clamp, gluing rosewoods, and making a ‘baby’s tooth’. In ‘Rare rasp to the rescue’, Andy King uses an exotic Liogier rasp to make a handle for a saw that he is refurbishing and while he’s at it, seizes the chance to experiment with saw-setting systems, before Iain Whittington uses the fast and simple green woodworking techniques of the bodgers of old to save an antique chair. Phil Edwards uses walnut veneer over MDF to make some handsome table mats, and Mark Griffiths’ media cabinet solves the problem of where to house all the X Boxes and so on, and provides the width for a home-cinema sized TV.

One of Leeds College of Building’s many spacious workshops

In this month’s ‘Archive’, we look at a design for a wooden starting gun from The Woodworker of March 1968, which was variously described as a new-fangled mousetrap, and we also have a special feature from Paul Greer, as he discovers how Leeds College of Building is doing its bit to enrich the woodworking industry. In ‘Me and my workshop’, we step inside the workshop of Plymouth-based duo Sarah Watson and Andrew Axworthy, from which they run their online business, The Little Grey Hen, and on the back page this month is an article from Robin Gates, who remembers Mr Challis - a retired shipwright who never stopped working.

Andrew Hall with a few examples of of his ‘Blues bowls’

In turning, we bring you part 1 of Andrew Hall’s article on building your very own ‘Blues bowl’ - a signature instrument that is not only fun to play but also fun to make, before Colin Simpson goes back to basics by exploring the subject of hollow forms and shows you how to make your very own small version.

The Makita PT354D 10.8V pin nailer

As usual, we have a varied lot of kit for you to cast your eyes over, including the Makita PT354D 10.8V pin nailer, which is not only cordless, but also compact in design while featuring a positive action. We also look at a selection of hand tools from Draper, which won’t break the bank and will make your woodworking journey easier, as well as a range of safety glasses and goggles that represent great value for money and will keep you protected while in the workshop. If you’re looking for a new sander that features excellent dust control and multiple base options, then take a look at the Bosch Professional GSS 160-1 A Multi Sander, or if a solidly built hobby-rated bench mortiser is more your thing, then the W316 from Charnwood should be high on your list.

As well as all this, you can also expect to find all your usual favourites, including AOB, courses, timber directory and next month, which gives you an idea as to what you can expect to find in the April issue.

All this and much more in the March 2018 issue of The Woodworker, which is now on sale!