Recent content by Tom M

We moved my 92-year-old father-in-law to an apartment this summer and I ended up with his Union Tool Chest. He apparently got it years ago after a co-worker passed away. I've polished all of the nickel-plated parts, removed all the felt drawer liners, obtained missing corner supports...

Gene’s hutch had the type of rat tail hinge which gets mortised into the side of the door, so all you see is the tail on the face frame. I wanted to see the blacksmith made hinge on the door face. I thought this would really add to the piece, and also it would be easier to install. I had seen...

It’s been 643 days since my last update. I hope I get a response sooner this time around! I left off on completion of the doors. That brings me to finishing. Finishing was pretty straight forward and took the better part of a week. I hand sanded (probably to 220 grit) then brushed on...

Well, I've been waiting since November 2020 for a reply to my last posting. Remember my rule was I would only post if someone replied. The stepback hutch has been in use in our kitchen since November 2020. It's been a long time since my last posting, and we were getting near the end. I'll...

Art and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture, 1650–1830 Now available as free pdf download at the MET.: https://artgallery.yale.edu/publication/art-and-industry-early-america-rhode-island-furniture-1650-1830

Mark, It is hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like your crest rail is rather square. I'm attaching some pictures of Gene's in-process chair to show the round-over on the back of the crest rail. You can see this in the Olde Mill drawing in section D-D (FWW article section A-A)...

We visted Historic Rock Ford Plantation (1794) in Lancaster a couple years ago, and we went again last week to see the new museum of the John Snyder collection.  Mr. Snyder left Rock Ford a significant portion of his collection of Lancaster Furniture and Decorative Arts.  Rock Ford opened the...

I'm planning on building a bookcase for our family room, and want it to have adjustable shelves.  For built-ins I've used K&V metal shelf supports recessed in a shallow groove. But this bookcase with be "Period" style and construction (PA German?), and will be painted. I've never seen period...

I'm building a stepback hutch out of old air-dried butternut.  Some of the wider boards have worm holes which became noticeable after planing the boards.  I would like to use them full width, and one of the sides of the lower cabinet has a lot of worm holes (left side of picture).  On a sample...

Jim Altemus passed away yesterday (9/24/19).  His wife Carol asked me to share the news with SAPFM membership.  I beleive Jim was a member of the of the Board at one point, and he organized and ran the Iroquois chapter.  He was also a long time member of our local club, the Rochester Woodworkers...

I made some walnut strips to cover chipped veneer on my grandparent's bedroom set that I've had for 30 years (25 of which my wife has been asking me to do this!)  I also refinished the top after attempting to remove some burn marks. Some were in the shellac, but others where down into the very...

Just saw these as well: American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection [/color]Jean-Antoine Houdon: Sculptor of the Enlightenment

You can download a pdf of Tilman Riemenschneider: Master Sculptor of the Late Middle Ages at: https://www.nga.gov/research/publications/pdf-library/tilman-riemenschneider.html I purchased this book 5 years ago after seeing the Blood Alter in Rothenberg and more of his work in Wurzburg.  I...

I just got purchased this book from the Milwaukee Art Museum.  About half of the pages are furniture, but it also includes ceramics, silver and fabric from 1660-1830.  On sale for $20 ($25 with S/H), and well worth it...

Forum activity has been down lately, so I thought I would post this picture with a little background. My woodworking friend/mentor was visiting this past summer, and we always spend time in the shop talking about tools and techniques. But one day I had a little project I needed to do for work...