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A recent poll may have had a low response rate, but what it revealed was far more important. It showed me that behind the numbers are real people who have been following my work for years, even if many choose to remain silent.

A Question for My Readers About My New Video Format

A properly fitted hammer handle is held in place by mechanical force, not adhesive. Here's why the wedge still beats glue, and always has.

For years I believed that if you made something with enough care, honesty and skill, people would eventually flock to it. It would command a high price, your reputation as a craftsman would be highly valued. That was the old way. A craftsman would build something beautiful, show it to people, build a reputation, and over time customers would appear.

I was looking for videos on YT on how to film woodworking videos. I'm curious how they get all those close up angle shots without themselves or their hands being in the way. As always on YT I get everything else, but what I want.

The Blunt Chisel TrickWhy Woodworkers Dull Their Chisels on PurposeThe Blunt Chisel Trick

What I make is for others, but how I make it is for me.

Over the last week or so I’ve had a couple of people question me over the new Lost Scrolls of Handwork logo. Some were disappointed that I used AI to create it while others immediately assumed that meant I was about to start making fully AI generated podcasts and content. So let me explain where I actually stand on all this.

“Creating the characters for YouTube has easily been the most difficult part of producing the podcast. I underestimated just how challenging lip syncing and animation would be, but the tenacity and perseverance that hand tool woodworking teaches you kept me pushing forward. Despite the setbacks, I’m genuinely excited about this project. I haven’t really come across a podcast dedicated specifically to hand tool woodworking, so I hope this becomes a positive and informative addition for those who love the craft.

Journeyman’s Journal has always been the ongoing record of work at the bench—notes, reflections, and lessons gathered over more than thirty years of hand tool woodworking, and still continuing. Some of you will remember The Lost Scrolls of Handwork. That name belonged to a magazine we ran alongside the work, carrying forward the same philosophy: sharing knowledge gained over time spent at the bench. The magazine eventually came to an end, but the idea behind it never disappeared. Now, The Lost Scrolls of Handwork returns—not as a magazine, but as a broader extension of the work at the bench.

I have read many books on saw sharpening and watched various videos on the subject, and most of them tend to repeat the same information. However, the Spear & Jackson handbook goes that little extra mile by elaborating on certain points. For example, when topping (jointing) the teeth, it recommends doing the work in stages: make a pass, file the teeth, then joint again, repeating the process until all the teeth are of uniform height.

Timothy Rousseau is a Maine-based furniture maker and woodworking instructor recognized for his finely crafted, functional furniture designs. Working from his studio in Rockport, he combines traditional craftsmanship with clean, contemporary forms and has become a leading figure in the American studio furniture movement.

There is a flow to it, something almost musical. He is not fighting the material, and he is not forcing the outcome. He is guiding it. That is where the romance sits. He works with the material, listening to the wood as it speaks to him, working in harmony with nature rather than against it.

That’s absolutely true. Sharp tools should always be the starting point, and relying on force to compensate for dull edges is poor practice.

What type of files and to correctly use them

Incredible Saw Making Techniques

Hey everyone I just wanted to share a little insight from my workshop. Working with wood by hand has always been a deeply satisfying experience for me, the feel of a sharp plane, the clean sound of a saw, the focus it demands. Recently, I’ve started combining that hands-on craft with tools like FreeCAD and it has quietly transformed the way I work. Using a CAD program does not take anything away from the craft. It helps me plan, see potential mistakes before they happen, and save both time and material. It has allowed me to experiment freely, refine my designs, and approach each project with confidence while keeping the joy of working with my hands front and center. For anyone curious about integrating digital tools into woodworking, I hope my experience shows that it does not replace the craft, it supports it. And the best part is the software I use is all free, professional-grade, and accessible to anyone who wants to give it a try. Stay creative Salko Safic