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This blog is used by the Web Administrator to list updates to the website. This blog is summarized on the front page to make it easy for the members it locate new material without having to go  through the entire site. 

  • Posted Bevel Cut for December, 2020 " Learning Curve Blues" by Andrew Davis

    December 02, 2020 8:51 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)


    Learning Curve Blues

    by Andrew Davis

    There’s no shortage of interesting behavioral aspects about woodworking that Andrew Davis can conjure up.  This one is deals with concept of the learning curve.  Something we all know intellectually and have experience it practically.  I suppose many of us rarely make the same piece repeatedly.  I don’t mean when making the same two chairs or tables at the same time.  I mean, make them serially.  Some of us have taken advantage of the learning curve. Andrew has a way of taking this notion and giving his Bevel Cut version of an everyday activity to another analytical level.

    Andrew welcomes your feedback.


  • Posted Feature Piece of December 2020 "Curly Maple Bureau with Carved Curly Cherry Drawers" by Steve McKenna

    December 02, 2020 8:48 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)


    Curly Maple Bureau with

    Carved Curly Cherry Drawers 

    by Steve McKenna

    This brings a piece back to life from 2018 by Steve McKenna.  That’s not to say that the curly maple bureau with carved curly cherry drawers lay dormant since then.  It was built for Steve’s daughter-in-law.  It’s nice to have a relative who’s a woodworker, especially one as talented as Steve.  The name of the piece says it all.  But don’t be disturbed when you see the picture of the bureau when taken under a different light.  It’s an optical illusion.  Have a look.

    You can reach Jim at here.

  • New Video 18th Century Furniture Design by Will Neptune November, 2020

    November 16, 2020 9:02 PM | James Russell (Administrator)

    The November Guild presentation has been posted to the video library. 

    18th Century Furniture Design by Will Neptune November, 2020

  • Posted slides of the presentation by Will Neptune at November 2020 meeting

    November 14, 2020 11:11 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Period sources written for cabinetmakers wanting to create new designs suggest using techniques borrowed from classical architectural.  A compass and straightedge can be used to establish the height and width where parts will be joined, as well as for constructing patterns of curved elements. This talk will present research Will did for an article co-authored with Steve Brown which was published in “American Furniture”, Chipstone Foundation, 2017. Learn how furniture makers built pieces that are seen as well proportioned.

    Will will be using a combination of Powerpoint slides, photos, and some short videos showing hand tool work.  While the focus is on specific 18th Century work, the techniques can be applied to simpler, yet elegant, moldings and other components of Federal to modern designs and studio furniture.

  • Posted October 2020 Bevel Cut article "Sharp as a Chisel" by Andrew Davis

    November 01, 2020 10:00 AM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)


    Sharp as a Chisel

    by Andrew Davis

    You might think that the picture above should have been used for last month's article "What's in Your Scrap Heap".  But the picture is not a mistake, and that's what Andrew Davis' article is about.  Mistakes and mental errors.  Like Andrew's, mine, and your scrap pile, the picture above of scrap has contributions made not just from leftover accurate cuts but from bad cuts.  All to often, especially when it gets to angles and math, and frankly not paying enough attention to detail, mistakes happen due to mental errors.

    We all fall into this category.  But in this month's Bevel Cut article Sharp as a Chisel Andrew reveals his own recent experience.

    Andrew welcomes your feedback.


  • Posted October 2020 Featured Piece "Beyond 17th-18th Century Arts and Crafts Movement by Jim Allen

    October 30, 2020 9:30 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)


    Beyond 17th - 18th Century

    Period Furniture

    The Arts & Crafts Movement

    A Medieval Gothic Revival

    by Jim Allen

    As mentioned in earlier articles, this column is dedicated to all woodworking adventures – furniture, tools, jigs, and more.  This month’s Featured Piece is not a piece of furniture per se.  The article, however, is an adventure – an adventure in the history of the Arts and Crafts Movement and its influence into the 20th century.  The article was written by Jim Allen and previously published last spring in the GNHW Journal.

    Jim describes the essential components of a movement – where does it come from, what is it, and what does it lead to.  The article discusses its proponents and what drove the movement into existence.  Applying this approach to the Arts and Crafts Movement, this article makes for an excellent read.

    You can reach Jim at here.


  • October 2020 Meeting Video Posted to Guild Video Library

    October 14, 2020 3:56 PM | James Russell (Administrator)

    The video of the October Guild meeting has been posted to the Guild Video Library. To view, go to the Guild Video Library or click below. 

    Chair Design and Construction  by Matt Wajda October 2020


  • September 2020 Meeting Video Posted

    October 04, 2020 1:29 PM | James Russell (Administrator)

    Embellishments for Furniture Makers presentation by Jim Russell has been posted to the Guild Video Library.

    Click on "Show More" in the YouTube Description section to see the Timestamps. Click on a Timestamp to jump to that part of the presentation.

    This recording of a Zoom presentation was given to the Eastern Massachusetts Guild of Woodworkers in September 2020. A virtual presentation rather than a live presentation was required due to the issues related to COVID-19. The presentation covers multiple topics relating to embellishments for furniture makers. The entire presentation is in excess of 3 hours. Time limitation prevented including the Hammer Veneering section in the virtual demonstration. The Hammer Veneering section is added here for completeness.

  • Posted October 2020 Bevel Cut article "What's in Your Scrap" by Andrew Davis

    October 02, 2020 12:17 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)


    What's in Your Scrap?

    by Andrew Davis

    If you are a woodworker you have a scrap heap.  In fact, you may have different scrap heaps sorted for the possibility of later carrying out thoughts of using the pieces for something worthwhile.

    Is there value hidden in those heaps other than firewood.  The winter is coming.  The value is going up.  But is that how you want to use those piles?

    Andrew reflects on his approach in What's in Your Scrap?  Paraphrasing the commercial, don't leave the website without reading it.

    Andrew welcomes your feedback.


  • Posted Feature Piece of October 2020 "Federal-ish Mahogany Dining Table" by Dan Sichel

    October 01, 2020 10:30 PM | Vincent Valvo (Administrator)

    Federal-ish Mahogany Dining Table

    by Dan Sichel

    If this dining table looks familiar, it was presented during the Show and Tell at the last end of year Zoom gathering.  Here Dan presents the full story that woodworkers will enjoy.

    If you like reading about curved aprons, working from 16/4 mahogany, cutting semicircle ends, do-overs because of wood movement and a blotchy finish, and bridle joints this is the article for you.  If that wasn’t enough, Dan designed the table to be an extension table with space for two leaves by cleverly using heavy-duty steel drawer slides encased in mahogany.  Read all this and more in this month's Feature Piece.

    You can reach Dan at here.

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