Category Archives: furniture

Dublin Green

Posted on February 5, 2015 by michaellangford2012

Some years ago…a friend of mine took up long-distance running.  After training for a summer, he and a group of fellow runners entered the Dublin Marathon.  During most of that time we had been building a timber frame, sharing my tools.  I had … Continue reading →

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The Decline of Craft

Posted on February 1, 2015 by michaellangford2012

Every one is different… As winter wears on, I spend more time scheming and planning than building.  My building ideas are just on the margin of convention, and we have implemented them freely in our own house.  Mostly, to be honest, … Continue reading →

Posted in boatbuilding, carpentry, education reform, food for thought, furniture, traditional building, woodworking | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Design and Workmanship

Posted on July 17, 2014 by michaellangford2012

Before the “Maker Movement”, there was David Pye.  If you make things, or design things, and ever feel the need to communicate about making or designing, you should read these books. In 1964, David Pye published The Nature of Design, … Continue reading →

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Restoring a wooden plane

Posted on May 21, 2013 by michaellangford2012

The first planes I had were a Stanley 5 ½ and a #4, so I passed over the old-fashioned wooden planes because they didn’t have all the “advanced” adjustments.  I also made a few wooden planes early on, but it … Continue reading →

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kid’s workbench

Posted on April 29, 2013 by michaellangford2012

Anyone who wants to involve children in woodworking should consider building a good sturdy low bench to accommodate their work height.  I made this workbench for the kid’s workshops I taught at the library this spring.  After cutting and fitting … Continue reading →

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kid’s workshop

Posted on March 22, 2013 by michaellangford2012

This week is spring break, and I spent three days at the public library, allowing a dozen or more kids to make things using a few hand tools and scrap lumber.  This group of second-graders started out assembling a workbench that … Continue reading →

Posted in carpentry, education reform, furniture, unscholastic achievement | 2 Comments

American Empire

Posted on January 24, 2013 by michaellangford2012

Furniture of this type, American Empire, appears to have originated in early 19th century America, and flourished until around the time of the Civil War.  Empire furniture was built in more or less the same territory as that occupied by … Continue reading →

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New Hamburgers

Posted on September 12, 2012 by michaellangford2012

“on Saturday there was a policy of allowing people–anybody—to come in and use the shop…$1/hr…in the beginning people shared jobs, and we also shared wages.” JKM One Saturday morning, in the fall of 1988, I wandered into a basement workshop … Continue reading →

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The Anarchist’s Tool Chest

Posted on September 4, 2012 by michaellangford2012

My first woodworking book was Audel’s Carpenter’s and Builder’s Guide 1922, volume 4, and it took me another thirty years to acquire the other three.  In high school shop class, the standard was Cabinetmaking and Millwork, Feirer and Hutchings, among the dullest books … Continue reading →

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