Rob Poccaro's Blog

1. Junking a project midway through

   

   Two questions developed as I was working on a standing cabinet of my design. One: Am I likely to be pleased and happy with the final result? Two: Have I significantly learned from the process so far?  Answer to the first question: No. But why?  The solid walnut was excellent, though the walnut veneer did […]

2. A basic safety principle

   

   A machine will more readily move rather than cut a piece wood, given the chance. If you are holding the piece of wood with your hand, the hand may go with the wood, maybe to the cutting blade.   Compare the action of a coarse rasp with a machine. Consider the work piece just sitting […]

3. Woodworking and art

   

   Is creative woodworking art – true art? Though there are some exceptions, no, building woodwork is not true art. It is about much more than art.  Does it involve or use art? That is a different question. The answer is yes, virtually always! That is what’s important. Thus, woodworking is virtually always, at least partly, […]

4. A little sanding help

   

   Is sanding part of almost all woodworking projects? Yup. Is it one of the fun parts? Nope. Yet, it almost always must be done, so we appreciate any available good help. Here is a good one that I recently found and you will likely find helpful too. “Sand-It” is made by Milescraft. (See photo above.) […]

5. Authors from whom I learned the most

   

   Time goes on for all, but I would like to list the woodworking greats from whom I learned the most, particularly in the earlier years of my development. These are among the many more from whom I learned and still do.  James Krenov (1920 – 2009): I think there is no more influential woodworker for […]