Indiana Artisan - Pete Baxter 

I’m a disabled vet and have discovered woodworking and woodturning are the absolute best therapy. I’ve been doing it for a few years and, like you, I love the shaker style. To date I’ve made 5 shaker wall clocks, 2 shaker quilt racks that many people seem to love. Now I’m attempting the shaker #5 box. I just finished watching your video and I was compelled to leave this message...you are the artisan I am wanting to be. The coffee table you made just absolutely blew me away!! I only wish I lived closer to you so I could sweep your floors for a little learning from you...you have more than inspired me...you actually brought tears to my eyes because you and I both feel the same way about the shakers . Thank you so much for posting that incredible video. God Bless.

I love your work .Can you help? where can I get copper tacks? and what size do you use ? Thanks

Great video. I have been making Shaker boxes since the 1980's, though I do it for fun. To your point at 3:27 is spot-on. The Shaker, despite appearing primitive to our modern eye, were quite progressive in their production. Case in point, the actual Sabbath Day Lake Shaker community woodshop (not the display shop) had a couple Shopsmith Mark V tools in it. Don't know if they are still in use, but that was the case in the 1980's and 90'. I'm curious about your rotary plane. Why would a ladder maker want their parts round but not concentric? Is it to maintain the integrity of the grain? Again, I really enjoyed this. Scott