I had a pretty shitty day, but then I came home, saw the new video and now everything is fine again :) I am a big fan of your videos and I like your style! No bullshit, no drama, no jumpcuts, no special effects, no annoying music, ... instead we just see a guy who knows what he is doing! Thanks for doing these video, I already can't wait to see the next one ;)
Thank you! Yes, it's great working for myself, it only takes 2 people to have office politics, which are draining. I'm flattered and happy that I could help you with your day
I love it when you add new wood pieces, shaping and coloring them to match the part you’re working on. And that pretty auburn chicken at the end looks so happy in her cozy nest.
Beautiful job and cabinet. Mymom had a similar one but the whole height was long shelves and glass doors. The surprising thing to me is it lasted through all 9 of us children growing up.
Excellent job, Tom. I really like your no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to your repairs, including mistakes and how you work around them - I've learned a lot, thank you!
You're welcome. We used to edit out mistakes, in an effort to shorten the videos, but we're going to start leaving them in as a better way of showing the process.
It's amusing that the Victorian and early 20c reproductions built such tall heavy and awkward pieces on tiny rickety legs... with wheels. Wheels were the answer for moving heavy furniture for housekeeping chores but rolling them around over rug edges or fully loaded, away from the wall for polishing the floors or other housekeeping chores lateral-stress the joints so much that they invariably break out. I commonly find the breakout where the wheel inserts into the leg. I have a modern case piece that has the same tiny wheel design and have the case placed on movers whenever I need to do floor care. Beautiful but a high maintenance.
Another one nicely done Tom. Last week I asked about your source for staining pens and thought I'd return the favor and pass along a good source for some glaze pens I use. Often times when I'm touching up between layers of finish I've found that glaze is a good answer for me. A small NC company called Touch Up Solutions has a great selection of prefilled pens in a variety of colors. They flow out nicely. I also purchased a pack of the replacement nibs (the soft tips) because I generally wear out the tip prior to emptying the pens. Really enjoy watching your videos. They are put together in a great user friendly way. Regards,
i'm always in fear of cutting the wood and replacing it and i see with your video that its ok and replace it with wood..your explanations are great and i really enjoy the patience you muster. i look forward to fixing some pieces i was afraid to try..thank you..i look forward to your videos...
Awesome job as always. Love the longer videos. Keep it coming. Question...why didn't you use hide glue on the veneer like you do so often? Thank you for sharing your talents with me. I use your techniques often as I repair furniture for friends.
I'll be honest, I stumbled into this video through autoplay. Still, having no idea what this was about, I really enjoyed the video, earned a subscriber.
Your repaires sometimes appear much Superior to the actual piece you are restoring !! one day the piece will fall apart and all we will find is your repair, meant in the best way ! thank you again for sharing ,, I am envious of your space and tools !
Hi Tomas - Great video! I studied it carefully looking for ideas. Love your idea of sandpaper on wood clamps to provide another clamping surface while on a curve, and your thin stock wrapping around the curve holding other clamping surfaces. I must say that I myself have almost given up dowels in favor for wafers. For joining that round tabletop I found wafers to be easier and provide a better, stronger joint. All the best! Greg
Thanks for watching! Over the years many people (especially woodworkers) have suggested biscuit joinery, but with the exception of table tops I wouldn't have much use for one. So it's just not worth the expense
That's what I thought until I bought one and realized what it could do. I still use dowels when they are best, but biscuits offer a whole new avenue, and they are not expensive and very available. -- All the best Thomas! Keep it up! Facebook.com/gregsmithwoodworking
Peter P I am a pretty jingoistic wood butcher. Your assortment of "Japanese" handsaws intrigues me. If you would sometime comment about what you have and why you have them I would find it helpful.
I liked that the stain matched up so well!!! Could hardly tell anything was wrong... So great job! How did you know what toner to use? Walnut? Or just a darker shade..?
Love your work! I would like to know where to get a handsaw like the one you used to cut the piece of wook on the leg. I have an art studio and would love for my students to have an easier time cutting the wood when creating their wood panels.
Thank you! I buy my Japanese saws from 2 sources: Japan Woodworker www.woodcraft.com/categories/handsaws?saw_type%5B%5D=Japanese-Pull, or Fine Tools www.fine-tools.com/japsaege.html, but for students you can get inexpensive "pull saws" from just about anywhere (Japanese saws cut on the "pull" stroke) I googled "pull saws" and a lot came up. Good luck!
I'm looking to upgrade my Japanese saws. What brand do you use. You do excellent work. I really enjoy watching your no-nonsense approach to your craft. I can tell your skills were not acquired overnight. Thanks for your series. I've done some antique repair in my day, and I think it's time to get back in the swim of it. I've acquired quite a backlog of "someday" projects.
Thanks! No particular brand, but I like to buy from "The Japan Woodworker", you'll find them online. And yes, that backlog of projects! I just keep trying to move forward. And work very hard to keep the list from growing by saying "no"
What is your favored Japanese saw brand? There are so many wide tooth set or uneven or too flimsy brands that I’m sick of ‘spending and hoping’... thanks, great video!
Mr Johnson, my husband is a woodworker & for his B-day I try to buy him tools he's been eyeing. He's looking at sets of Japanese saws for his 'fine' work. I noticed you use Sun Child. Would you recommend them?
Thanks! I think screws will always be stronger, plus in a lot of situations drilling for a dowel takes away too much wood, creating weak places. With a screw you've got a much smaller hole to drill, and more strength.
I do a lot of work on harps, for a guy who rebuilds them. So I always have parts of harps, but never an entire one. So it's unlikely that there will ever be a harp video, although I would like to.
Is there a scrap of veneer you do not save? When I saw those tiny pieces falling as you cut your repair, I was thinking those might come in handy later.
Hello there absolutely love your videos, keep up the good work! Hope you don't mind me asking, those Japanese hand saws you have where did you get those? Did they come as a set? I have been seriously considering getting some. Do you have any tips/advice when it comes to purchasing them? From one Tom to another Thanks for your time And greetings from Oregon, Thomas Evans :-)
Well, I do worry about it, and I also use wet rags and try to get it all off. Depending on the repair and what I have to do to it afterwards would affect how much I am concerned with it. But if it's water based it can always come off afterwards
Curious... How do you know when to use shellac vs. lacquer vs. poly vs. tung oil? Is it just based on experience and what type of finish is already on the piece?
Hello Thomas I'm wondering the tool you were using to scrap the wood it has an orange handle you were using it at 8:51 time, what's that called and where can I find that? Thank you, much appreciated Lulu.
Oh and I think you are totally awesome at your craft! Now a days people don't know how to do anything! Watching has helped and taught me a new techniques and tricks. I love to restore furniture, definitely not anywhere to your level but I'm pretty handy for a lady!
Hi Lulu, thanks for watching! That's a Bahco Scraper. I bought mine from Japan Woodworker because I love their catalog and buy as often as I can from them, but they're available from lots of sources www.japanwoodworker.com/Product/14L11/2-Carbide-Scraper.aspx
Thomas, That does not "Look Pretty "...It LOOKS GREAT!!! Have you ever heard of using Piano String as a Drill bit to find the center of the old screw hole. It a very small hole that you can adjust it to find the other end....I have never done it ...Questioning does it work?
the sad sad thing about nice display cabinets like this or older ones is you can pick them up at my local antique auction in scotland UK for around $50 to $80.....they are all perfect condition........30 years ago they used to go for around $150 at auction......seems no-one appreciates nice items these days........id buy them all if i had storage..........you can buy beautiful mahogany dining tables with 6 chairs and matching sideboard sometimes for as low as $15 the lot....yes i said $15.
Great work, as usual. What a horrible system they used with those screws. Well done for getting the angle right. I think I would have gone the easy route and removed all the screws and made them into doweled joints.
Thanks! But making them doweled joints would not be easy! I would have preferred that, but on the other hand I'm always trying to make it exactly the way it was originally. Not that it matters on this particular piece, but it's good to stay in practice!
Most people like to use the 100 year rule, which comes from Customs. But what it really means is Period Furniture. In other words, it something was built as a reproduction 105 years ago, it's still a reproduction. And Mid Century Furniture from the 1940's and 1950's is antique
Super job. No clamps! Blasphemy! Say it haint so! One of your veneer repair jobs had 22 clamps! That makes you the clamp king. All kidding aside, it turned out remarkably well. Btw, I know its considered a reproduction, but at 90 years old, it could be an antique in it's own right. Whatever. Looks good to me
