Category Archives: SteveTomlinCrafts

New old tools

It’s 7am on a sunday and I’m walking around a farmer’s field in the rain – there must be a car boot sale. Following the recent workshop fire I’m planning to try and repair as many of the tools as … Continue reading

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In praise of the homegrown shavehorse

For most greenwood workers a shavehorse is at the centre of their workshop. An ingeniously simple yet effective device for holding work it is used along with a drawknife to shave chair parts, blanks for the lathe, rake heads and … Continue reading

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Back from the Bodgers Ball 2011

The Bodger’s Ball was a great weekend; plenty of interesting demos, folk to talk to and time for to relax with a beer. A wonderful setting too at Lower Brockhampton in Herefordshire. Too many things to write now so here’s … Continue reading

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Bodger's Ball 2011

This weekend I’ll be at the Bodger’s Ball, the annual get-together and AGM for the Association of Pole-lathe Turners & Greenwood Workers. This year it’s being held at Brockhampton Estate – Lower Brockhampton in Herefordshire. The weekend is normally full … Continue reading

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Straightening rake stails

A straight stail is essential for a good rake so it can slide through your hands while you work and and for balance. You can test a rake’s balance by holding it horizontally in your hands. As you relax your … Continue reading

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Rakemaking Workshop

Despite the recent setbacks with tools, over the bank holiday I ran a one-to-one workshop for Mike Carswell on making wooden rakes. This was hosted by Edward & Romola in the wonderfully inspiring Sprint Mill workshop. Mike has just completed … Continue reading

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Workshop fire

I’ve recently moved house and so have been using space in a friend’s barn to do some of my own greenwood work. On Saturday morning I got a phone message saying there’d been a fire in the barn in the area … Continue reading

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Harvey Nichols installation

just a few extra photos from the Harvey Nichols installation.    

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Harvey Nichols window display

I’ve been in Manchester this week, installing a new window display for the Harvey Nichols store. The scheme was designed and built by Charlie Whinney back in 2009 and since then has toured the group’s stores in Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham … Continue reading

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Hand exercises

In my work I use my hands a lot. Carving with knives, axe work, operating powered sanders, bending steamed wood, fine manipulations, gripping and holding work in place, lifting, pushing, typing, even using them as a hammer. It’s a cliché … Continue reading

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