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The Czeck Edge tools on display at Woodworking in America at Valley Forge

October 15, 2009 By

Layout tools are critical in the shop, as they make it possible to mark a work piece accurately and clearly. And this is the sole reason for the existence of Czeck Edge Hand Tool.

Bob Zajicek, Owner of Czeck Edge, sold out his new dovetail chisels at Valley Forge, as he had only a limited number from the first production run. Notice the nice taper, which will allow the chisel to get into tight spaces, such as when paring, to get perfect joint fit:

czeck-edge-dovetail-chisel-valley-forge

Please read this earlier article I wrote about the pre-production version of this chisel after the Woodworking in America conference in St Charles, Ill., and Bob’s comments about it.

Update: I just received word from Bob that he is expecting the next batch of blades in three sizes, 3/16″, 1/4″ and 5/16″. Be sure to contact Bob through his web site, to add your name to the waiting list for the new chisels.

How about some eye candy? The Czeck Edge marking knives, awls, and burnishers – and barely seen on the left of this photo, Andrew Lunn, saw maker extraordinaire, who was immediately to the left of the Czeck Edge display position:

czeck-edge-display-philly

The awl display is colorful and warm, both for the beautiful woods used, as well as the workmanship:

czeck-edge-awls-philly

The burnishers, too, just about sold out. I own one, and it will probably be the last I ever need — the popular brand burnisher I bought many years ago went out in the trash some time earlier this year:

czeck-edge-burnishers-philly

Do yourself a favor, and try out one of the Czeck Edge tools; you will be glad you did. And, in the interest of full disclosure, Czeck Edge is one of the sponsors of this blog. I use Bob’s tools in my shop, and can recommend them without reservation!

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Filed Under: Blog, Czeck Edge, Dovetails, Hand tools, Joinery, Layout Tagged With: , , , ,

The Sloane-Stanley Museum of Tools and Artwork in Kent, Connecticut

October 8, 2009 By

The sign to the Museum cannot be missed – but I missed it on the first pass:

sloane-stanley-musem-logo

Today we planned to end our visit to three of the New England states, after looking for the best Fall foliage colors. I am happy to report that we found the colors at their peak in the Western parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont!

On Tuesday we drove by the Museum, only to find it closed. In October, and due to budget constraints, it is open only on Thursdays. Today, the start of our return trip was delayed a bit, as we once again returned to the Sloane-Stanley Museum of Tools & Artwork, to experience in person Eric Sloane’s beautiful art work on display. He also had an amazing collection of Americana tools, including many woodworking hand tools. Some of the pieces in the Museum’s collection are outstanding, and rare. Click on the Links button at the Sloane page above to get to the Museum web site.

I will post more about the pieces in the Museum in a future article; for now, I share only a couple of them. Please click on the images to enlarge them.

First up is a “standard tool chest, c. 1840″. It has dovetail joinery; and its contents are on display in a way very similar to the way it was found after the artist’s death:

chest-sloane-stanley

The chest contents:

chest-contents-sloane-stanley

The joinery on the carcase:

chest-joinery-sloane-stanley

A special piece in the collection is the following wooden wheelbarrow:

sloane-wheelbarrow-art

It is made special because he painted in full color, against a gorgeous backdrop:

sloane-wheelbarrow-painting

As we headed South on Connecticut Highway 7, we came across this gorgeous barn:

kent-barn-land-trust

We will continue our journey West, stopping along the way to take more photos. In the meantime, enjoy!

Acknowledgment: I thank Ms. Barbara Russ of the Sloane-Stanley Museum for allowing me to take photographs for publication on this blog. Although her official title is not “Curator”, she demonstrates the knowledge and research ability to be the Museum Curator.

Filed Under: Blog, Hand tools, Tools Tagged With: , , , ,

Two marking gauges, one old and one new

August 28, 2009 By

I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that keeping your practice pieces will confirm the progress you have made. And I find this is true. Below is a photograph of my practice “bucket”, plus some of the more recent results of my hand-cut dovetail journey, with focus on very small joinery for very small boxes:

practice-bucket

My practice "bucket".

To me, it is fundamental to always keep the grain aligned, such that it flows seamlessly around the corners:

cherry-prctice-boards

I don’t care much for the round marking gauges, such as the Tite-Mark and all its incarnations. Enter the Marketplace in St Charles, during the Woodworking in America Conference. I bought the 4-inch Hamilton marking gauge – it is sold exclusively by di legno Woodshop Supply:

hamilton-gauge-ready

It takes but a few minutes’ practice to learn to hold the gauge properly, and it soon becomes second nature:

using-hamilton-gauge

For years I used the Stanley 92 butt marking gauge, because it cuts a beautiful line – but more and more it felt awkward to use it on thin boards. It felt like it was trying to  “rock” on the edge of the work piece:

using-stanley-92

The results:

marked-cherry-boards

Summary: Both gauges cut beautifully. But the Hamilton gauge gives much better tactile feedback; I can “feel” when the gauge is truly square to the face of the board, even with very thin work pieces. Maybe it is because the fence is considerably wider than the face on the older Stanley; maybe it is due to its much lighter weight. But I now mark with much more confidence.

With that this part of a process resolved, I really must concentrate on not cutting beyond that line.

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Filed Under: Blog, Dovetails, Hand tools, Joinery, Layout Tagged With: , , , ,

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