Login | Create an Account Site Upgrade Notice
Subscribe to Fine Woodworking Magazine

Old school woodworking: American style

June 15th, 2009 in blogs     
MKenney Matthew Kenney, associate editor
thumbs up 7 users recommend

Video Length: 10:42
Produced by: TheFederalistParty


If you enjoyed the video I posted that showed Swedish woodworkers making wooden shoes, spoons, and chairs, you'll really like this short film from around 1940.

The film covers carpentry, furniture making, and pattern making. Here are a few of the things I enjoyed. I came across it while browsing our Knots discussion forum.

At about 2:50 in, there is a guy using a handsaw to cut boards for the roof ... while he's hanging out of the rafters! I've done some roofing in my life (thanks dad), and I'm not sure I'd like to use a handsaw while on the roof.

At about 3:50 in, there is a carpenter fitting a kitchen cabinet drawer into its pocket with a block plane. Even though the cabinet was made in a mill (or so the narrator suggests), the drawer was fit by hand. That rocks.

Check out the router being used at about 5:15 in.

During the segment on furniture making (and the narrator is complimentary of the skill involved, even if he thinks that furniture making is best done by older men), there is a bit about veneer. Check out the  machine to make veneer at about 6:10 in. I need one of those for my shop!

Enjoy.



add to cart
Fine Woodworking's 2008/2007 Annual Collection DVD-ROM Set
Every bit of content published in the 2007 & 2008 issues $74.90 more info...


posted in: blogs

Comments (1)

hubiedoo517 writes: coooool.... Posted: 7:02 pm on June 17th
You must be logged in to post comments. Click here to login.