Directory of handtool crafts(wo)men and shops

Mike Abbott spent most of his childhood playing in the woods around his home near Bristol. After graduating with a degree in combined science, he returned to the countryside with a variety of jobs in amenity horticulture. While attending a course in arboriculture in 1976, Mike discovered Herbert Edlin’s inspiring book Woodland Crafts in Britain. From this he made his first pole-lathe and set about rediscovering the skills that had been all but lost. Two years later he undertook a course in recreation management which included a study of the recreational potential of small woodlands. Here he developed the concept of the ‘Living Wood’; no longer just a haunt for pheasants and wildlife but an environment where people could re-establish their contact with the natural world.

Purchasing period furniture from me is slightly different than ordering an item from a catalog or purchasing a piece from a showroom. Every piece is made to order according to the customers’ wishes.

Agrell Architectural Carving, directed by Master Wood Carver Ian Agrell, creates exquisite hand-carved wood decoration for residential and religious projects. Despite the demands of this modern world, our wood carving skills and techniques are exactly the same as the generations of woodcarvers who have gone before us.

Alan Turner designs and builds heirloom-quality, solid-wood furniture in a broad range of styles. Each piece is custom designed, incorporating a client’s personal preferences, the piece’s expected function in the client’s home or office, and Alan’s own unique aesthetic.

Well, as you might have guessed from the title, I live in Cornwall and do a little woodworking. As many modern woodworkers do, I got to thinking that using power tools was the only route to follow. Then I got on-line and discovered a group of hand tool, and particularly old hand tool, enthusiasts calling themselves Galoots.

With the milennium, I realize the the 18th century is rapidly disappearing into the past and the process of working by hand is in danger of being forgotten.

I have been a luthier since 1974. I make lutes and guitars, restore older instruments and do repairs for local musicians.

In 1987 Bill left full time employment to concentrate on plane making at home. We estimate he has made about 1000 planes. He is now 69 years old and is still making a few planes in the summer months. Bill is self taught and never had any metal work tuition, it's all been learnt by trial and error. His speciality is copying rare mitre planes and making miniature mitre planes out of the brass backs of old tenon saw's.

Containing various and useful information on medieval and Renaissance woodworking, furniture, material culture, and re-enactment.

When the weather in my boat shop is warm enough, I’ll be building small, human or wind powered boats. When the shop is too cold, I build fine scale models of small boats.

I sell records for a living but I have a passion for woodworking and old tools. I really enjoy sharing both with anyone who will listen, and sometimes even people who will not listen.

Since 1983, I have been intensely focused on designing and producing the finest chairs I can possibly build. I am always reevaluating my work and looking for ways to improve a detail, a joint, or the comfort of the back.

Scott has a full complement of tools and materials for building and repairing guitars. He uses a combination of exotic woods as well as locally harvested woods.

My pieces are intended to harmonize with your environment, as well as with our environment. I use native, sustainably harvested cherry and pure, unadulterated linseed oil. No plywood, particle board or toxic chemicals. In the long run and most important, a well-designed, well-built piece of furniture that lasts 100 years is always preferable to one that can be bought at one quarter the price but must be replaced every ten years.

I realized that you can't make good cabinets and furniture with just Normite power tools. Neander handtools are essential - chisels, hand saws, planes, scrapers ... and these seem to proliferate at an amazing rate. Three Steve Knight woodies and a couple of marking knives have led me to a boatload of chisels, a pile of iron Stanley planes, a handful of saws and so on.

I've been a professional woodcarver, author and teacher of woodcarving for nigh on 30 years, and am a member of the Master Carvers Association. I bring my enthusiasm, experience and knowledge of carving to this website: helping you learn to carve, or develop good, competent woodcarving skills. I want to support your carving path and progress, and rejoice in the beautiful carvings you can create.

Clark & Williams is one of only two contemporary plane makers listed in A Guide to the Makers of American Wooden Planes, the single comprehensive text on American wooden plane makers. They are the only one listed producing traditional planes with traditional construction.

Curtis Buchanan makes his Windsor Chairs in much the same way they were made 200 years ago. His small, one-man shop is located in the heart of Jonesborough’s Historic District. Buchanan has published numerous articles on chairmaking and has taught in many craft schools both here and abroad.

Cabinetmaker builder of fine handmade reproduction furniture in the 18th and 19th century style.

Windsor and Chippendale chairs, ladderback rockers, tables, desks, and case pieces are all built and finished using the time tested techniques of eighteenth century craftsmen. Custom orders are always welcomed, and reproduction paneling and millwork are also available, as well as custom carving and turning, repair and restoration of antique furniture pieces and general furniture repair.

Daiku Dojo is a community organization designed to help provide the education and skills necessary for the use of hand tools in woodworking. The organization also encourages personal involvement with community projects. By joining together we can work on interesting projects that most of us would not have the opportunity or resources to attempt alone, and at the same time, benefit local groups and organizations.

Random wanderings on the old pathways of human-powered woodworking...

Fine furniture making courses

For the past 19 years, I've taught a variety of workshops on fine woodworking at craft centers, schools and universities all over the country. I've hope to pass on the skills, philosophy, and perhaps, some of the inspiration I acquired while studying with James Krenov at the College of the Redwoods.

The core of my work is the production of wattle sheep hurdles. Pleasing to the eye, these hurdles not only make practical wind firm fencing but are also perfect for decorative screening. As well as wattle hurdles I also make functional objects including distinctive rustic chairs, perfect for the patio or conservatory, rose arches, trellis work and many other products. All my products are hand crafted from Hazel. They are adaptable and can be created in various styles and sizes to meet your own particular requirements.

I find that every chair takes my best effort and attention to detail. Use of the right woods and joinery leads to a wonderfully light, strong, and resilient structure. Pine or basswood seats are carved deep for comfort. Legs and backs are split from green hardwood following the grain for strength, then shaved, steam bent, or turned to final form. The usual finish is milk paint with Danish oil or shellac. I also make natural chairs of butternut, cherry, and oak.

Diefenbacher Tools sells the world's best woodworking hand tools. Click below to see our selection of chisels, gouges, carving tools, turning tools, saws, planes and more.

I’m a musician who plays and teaches dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, clawhammer banjo, pennywhistle, Jew’s harp and other instruments. I play and sing both traditional and original music.

Eureka Springs artist Doug Stowe has made furniture and boxes from Arkansas hardwoods since 1976. He has written 5 woodworking books and numerous articles for Woodcraft, Fine Woodworking, and Woodwork Magazines. At Woodwork he has served as a contributing editor since 2002. He is the recipient of 2 golden Hammer Awards for best How-to writing in the home workshop market. In 2001, in collaboration with Clear Spring School, Doug founded the Wisdom of the Hands Woodworking program for the purpose of illustrating the importance of the engagement of the hands in learning for all students.

This site is for oud builders, players and collectors interested in construction and repair of the oud.

Tom Fidgen sells custom handcrafted wooden boats built with the quality only a small business can offer.

We are definitely not ordinary reproduction furniture/joinery manufacturers. Hopefully, our website portrays this. Our price guide (link above) should give a good indication of whether your budget supports the time, effort and expertise required to produce the top-end calibre of work currently enjoyed by our very discerning client base. Serious enquirers are always welcome at our Berwick Court Farm workshop. Please contact us in the first instance to arrange an appointment.

The woodworking tools and techniques I use are many centuries old. All the items I make bear the marks of my hand tools. The quiet of my shop is reminicent of a pre-industrial country woodshop. Like 18th century woodworkers I use safe, non-toxic finishes that protect your health, my health and the health of our planet.

"Where did you find that beautiful boat?" said the voice from shore. "I design and build them. Care to try it out? Lift it up... see how light it is? It's marine plywood, thin and strong. What would you like different? Longer, wider, deeper? I design and build custom boats. I also sell canoe plans and kayak plans for home builders."

Rob Hanson is a life-long amateur woodworker and professional operating engineer. He grew up In his dad’s and grandfather’s shops, helping them with various woodworking projects as well as remodeling and maintenance projects around the homes and farms, outside Mt. Vernon, Washington - using both hand tools and vintage woodworking machines.

A non-commercial site focusing on color-correct pictures of exotic and domestic woods.

Fallen Timber Studios uses 18th century tools and techniques exclusively for their chairs. Starting with a log they split the chair parts from it. Each and every component is shaped by hand the way it was over 200 years ago in Colonial America. Milk Paint is the traditional finish and only finish they use for their Windsors.

All of my jazz guitars and archtop guitars are made by hand and customized for you.

Since 1967, when Frank and his wife came to America, he has been specializing in fine furniture reproductions and custom architectural fixtures.

Gary Nava is a luthier working entirely on his own. He produces hand made guitars of the highest quality.

Gary Rogowski is the director of The Northwest Woodworking Studio, the center for tradition based woodworking classes in the Pacific Northwest. The Northwest Woodworking Studio is dedicated to teaching the art and the craft of woodworking. We welcome people of all abilities and backgrounds to come and use their hands and eyes and hearts in one of our most basic pursuits: building.

The Windsor furniture from my shop is made by the same construction techniques that produced today's antiques which are now prized for their distinct character, beauty and strength. It is an ancient form in which the legs and back are socketed into a solid seat. It got its name in England and was refined in the mid 18th century colonies from Philadelphia to Boston. I have chosen from the early Windsors the best elements of design in shape and proportion. I use the traditional species of wood and keep comfort as my guide.

A manual pole-lathe is the classic centuries old method used to turn green (unseasoned) wood with little effort and without the noise, dust, or danger involved with modern mechanised turning. At the beginning of the 1990's, in the early days of my retirement, I made my first pole-lathe from scrap timber for next to nothing, then I went on a three day course at Newcastle to make a more refined one.

I have practiced greenwoodworking for 30 years. I wrote one of the first books on the subject.

Specializing in reproductions of 17th century furniture and woodwork

My primary mission is to provide discriminating consumers with wooden furniture and decorating accessories of unsurpassed quality, and to do so with honesty, integrity and professionalism. Superior service is my specialty. One of my secondary goals is to share my knowledge with others so that they can embrace and enjoy this very rewarding and creative craft.

There are articles on building your own tools, such as planes, chisels, knives and saws. Some of my creations are basic, some are quite complex, some are just art, but all are intended to be used. I have put together tutorials and hope that you will have the same fun with them as I have.

Jeff Miller is a furniture designer, craftsman, teacher, and author of woodworking books and articles.

The author of four crucial books for any serious woodworker, Krenov teaches a philosophy that has become a prerequisite for advanced cabinetry throughout the world.

Specializing in Windsor chairs and hand made traditional furniture. Jeff Trapp offers a 5-day sackback Windsor chairmaking class

Barbara and I hope to get to know you at one of our week-long woodworking workshops. We keep the cost low for you by providing rustic rooms right off the shop and home-cooked meals, all included with tuition. You'll build and take home your own chair.

The truth is that the website is here to share information with fellow woodworkers who are looking for project ideas and basic veneering skills. If you haven't seen the veneering section of this website, be sure to check it out. The veneering part contains the most visited pages within the Joewoodworker.com website.