Fall 2015 Session Of Online Intro To Hand Tools Registration

Join me to learn how to use the tools you see on the wall!

The Fall 2015 session of my Popular Woodworking University "Intro To Hand Tools" course is now open for registration here. The course consists entirely of online videos you can watch on your own schedule, running October  21 through January 21. Cost is $59.99.

Note that Popular Woodworking University provides registered students permanent read-only access to courses after they end. That means you can watch the videos any time after the course end date, but you won’t be able to ask questions or use the discussions after that.

This is over 12 hours of instruction in 7 major parts. You can find a complete episode guide here to see what's covered, as well as links to a free sample lesson, trailer video, and tool list.

Whether you want to learn to do everything with hand tools, or just want to add some hand skills to your power tool workshop, you can find it here.

Why do everything with hand tools? The main reason is that not everyone has space or money for a power tool workshop. Hand tools allow you to work in the tiniest space, quietly so you don't disturb your family or your neighbors, starting with a modest investment.

Here are the reviews of the first session that ran this summer:

"Great course. Although I don't own a number of the tools demonstrated, it still shows the proper techniques if I ever do obtain them. Also shows how to properly use the ones I do own."

"This was some of the best time I've spent on woodworking instruction. Lessons were clean and well paced. Mistakes and pitfalls were addressed with fixes. It was great to see the operations performed with the "why" narration in the background. If this becomes (or is) available on DVD, it will be added to my library. Thanks Steve....."

 "Great course, got me back into woodworking quickly and efficiently. Much better than searching YouTube for videos on similar subjects. Quality of video, editing, and audio was great, as well as the logical approach taken by the instructor."

"Thank you so much for this opportunity in learning the crafting skills of woodworking. Steve offers his skills, techniques and insights on how to achieve the in product. Excellent job Steve!"

Thank you! As noted in that first comment, one of my goals is to provide a thorough introduction with a broad range of coverage. I want to be sure to cover not just the tools you have now, but the ones you might run into in the future.

Brooklyn Fair 2015

My setup at the Brooklyn Fair.

A couple weeks ago I was invited to demonstrate traditional woodworking at the Brooklyn CT Fair. This is the oldest continuous active agricultural fair in the US, started in 1809.

I setup my two portable workbenches, Moxon vise, and portable sharpening station under a canopy across from the blacksmith shop. My wife and our friend Gary Hicks, the musician and guitar repairman who you'll be reading about in an upcoming post, joined me and explored the fair.

Throughout the weekend I demonstrated various hand tool woodworking operations. Since this was mostly a family crowd with very little experience with hand tools, I primarily kept to the basics of planing and chiseling.

Whenever anyone stopped to watch, I asked if they'd like to try out any tools, make some chips or shavings. Many were willing to try, then try out some additional tools as I piqued their interest.

I also gave several impromptu sharpening lessons. The portable sharpening station is always very popular.

For those interested in learning more, I handed out business cards with links to my Popular Woodworking University online video course Intro To Hand Tools.


Brothers Andrew, 8, Patrick, 12, and Carter, 5 from Rhode Island, using a #4 plane after boring holes with a Spofford brace and bit.


The boys were very excited to get the tools making holes and shavings.

Interestingly, I got a lot more participation from the kids than the adults. Most were pretty eager to imitate the curls I produced. I started with the spokeshave, since that's a very safe tool with very little blade exposure, lightweight and easy to handle, with about a 30-second learning curve.

I could also hold onto the back of the blade to guide it until they were able to handle it on their own. The spokeshave I had brought was a metal Leonard Bailey that I pointed out was almost 160 years old.

Then I showed them how to handle the planes, as well as the chisels for a couple of the older ones ("This is very sharp; the safe way to use it is to have both hands on the tool at all times."). I heard several parents ask their kids, "Isn't this more fun than video games?" Most agreed that it was a lot of fun.

For the smaller kids, I dragged my toolbox over and had them stand on that. I found that I could help them get shavings out of a plane if I pulled it from the front Japanese style as they used it, guiding it and maintaining contact with the wood. That even worked for my meat-eater wooden jack plane set for a heavy 1/16" cut; they really liked that.

My last visitors for the weekend were a family with several boys. The two older boys, about 5 or 6 years old, tried out the spokeshave. Then their brother Colin, watching from his mother's arms, piped up, "I want to try it!".

So I lifted him up on the toolbox and showed him how to do it. Colin is 2 years, 8 months old. He did just fine with the spokeshave.


Colin learning how to use a 160 year-old spokeshave.


He holds the record as the youngest participant I've had.

The crowd was pretty steady, so I didn't get much chance to look around. I filled in the odd moments making shavings and working on a Shaker candle box. I only got as far as dimensioning the stock and sawing out the dovetails. That means it was a good event, because I spent more time showing people things than working.


The blacksmith shop across the walkway.


Mike, one of the blacksmiths, working at the side forge.


Big Tractors! Gary in front of a large tractor on display.

I experimented with my booth layout a bit. I want people to realize they can step up to the bench and do stuff, so I initially had it oriented that way. However, my wife pointed out that meant I had my back to people when they first walked up.

What I eventually settled on was having the two benches oriented in a V with me working on the far side facing the front, but room to get by for people to step around.

I taped up a hand-written sign inviting them to come in and try the tools. I need to make up a short banner like that to attach to the front of the bench, plus a banner to go on the canopy.