Making half lapped dividers

This video is about making half lapped dividers for jewelry box drawers.

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Hinges

Today in the small metals building at ESSA I made a box hinge, proving to myself I could make one. 

You could, too.

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Assembling a "torsion table"

Assembling an "torsion table" made of white oak.

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tables

While it is obvious that children develop through certain stages when getting their teeth early in childhood, losing them at a later age and as permanent teeth replace them, the dates at which they do so, are not exact. 

While some toddlers take off walking at 9 months and some do so at 13 months is not a mark of shame or anything else when it comes down to the parenting of kids and what they'll become in later life. Your pediatrician will tell you that if you are listening. Kids develop more or less at all ages and the gulf between developmental landmarks widens despite the efforts made to pull loose ends together. So by the time they hit school age they're not alike. If you are lucky and have two, you'll soon learn they're not alike.

And yet, when it comes to reading, parents and teachers are having conniption fits if a child is not reading on schedule and as required for what the've gotta learn to do next. Poor kid! The pressure is on. You don't want to get behind the class, or let that happen to your kid.  Do you?

A big mistake folks make in education is a misunderstanding of the word "class". Just because students all fall upon a certain age range, does not mean they are at the same levels of readiness in reading or anything else. Class should be understood as an illusion. But I can assure you that all children are imitative. They do what they see others do, and if you are a reader, your child will become one also at the age most appropriate to them. Pressure needs not be applied. But read to your children.  Then take them to the wood shop so that they'll have something interesting to write about.

Today I've been in the shop assembling a couple tables and learning just a bit more of the process.

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Wordless woodshop #2

Making white oak dowels for a project.

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Wordless woodshop one Making a Necklace Hanging Box

Making a necklace hanging box.

A use for Pi

I was curious how much shaker tape remains on some rolls left over from writing my book "Rustic Furniture Basics." The following website helped me determine whether or not I'd have enough to do a project later in the month. Thanks to Pi.

https://www.omnicalculator.com/everyday-life/roll-length

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My Reliquary Box

This is a prototype reliquary box using wooden hinges and is made of cherry.

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Youtube

This morning I was informed that my youtube site https://www.youtube.com/@MrDougStowe had reached the threshold for receiving advertising revenue. Please subscribe. The videos are from my own shop, and include the three DVD's produced by Taunton Press about box making, rustic furniture and making small cabinets.

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Making a finger joint variation

This video is about making a modified finger joint for milling drawer sides.

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Making brass jewelry hangers

This video shows ho to make brass jewelry hangers.

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Making a lift tab on a small box.

This video shows a technique for adding a lift tab to the lid of a small wooden box.

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Hinging a box.

 Applying surface mounted 90 degree stopped hinges to a custom crafted box.

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A Pivot Lid Box

This a box from my book Beautiful Boxes: Design and Techniques published by Taunton Press. 

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Crafting the ideal school

I have an article in the Front Porch Republic as follows:

 https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2025/02/crafting-the-ideal-school-finding-a-balance-between-high-tech-and-the-hands/

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there's an article about my work

In the local paper http://eureka.news/wood-whisperer-turns-consumers-into-creators/

Learning for Work

Connie Goddard's book, Learning for Work: How Industrial Education Fostered Democratic Opportunity was sent to me for review but a better job is done here at the Front Porch Republic.

 https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2025/01/educating-hands-for-human-flourishing-or-economic-growth/

The truly important point is that industrial arts in some manner should be offered to all... whether in the kitchen, garden or woodshop. 

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my stroke

I had a stroke on December 1, 2024  while waiting to board a flight home to Arkansas. I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance from O'Hare Airport to Resurrection Hospital in Chicago where I underwent treatment for 17 days.  

I am currently home in Arkansas and receiving regular therapies. You may have wondered. I'll be back to my advocacy of hands-on learning when I am more able.

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My favorite box

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