The Woodhaven II forum

Woodworking and AI I need to make 3 round 600mm wide table tops for Son’s church to replace MDF tops on a metal frame. First resource is this forum and also yonder forum. That gave me what I need to do, maybe not in detail. So I searched my wood folders and also did a Google search. First found a PDF downloaded from Popular Woodworking “How to Rout a Large Arc.” Google search - AI then started asking questions: What type of wood - Laminated Pine board 600mm wide and 2400mm long. How... Read more

The Craftmans Shop Home page of MAC Timbers. Local supplier of finest quality English hardwoods mactimbers.com Mike and Rene announce the last open day of this year. 27th Sept 2026 - 10.00am to 4.00pm Everyone welcome with refreshments and BBQ available. Alas I am elsewhere on this date. Cheers Andy

I recently found this nice little Keen drill press by M C Gooding of Keens Road, Croydon. It was rusty and movement was very stiff. Some oil got it moving freely and I gave it a quick trial and found I could make 5mm dia, holes in ¼” thick mild steel plate quickly and easily. Although I lived near Croydon for many years, I was not aware of M C Gooding. A little research revealed that they ceased trading in 1959 but I found the drill press... Read more

I have been asked several time to make an instrument. I have always resisted any commitment. But it was on the big list. So this year, I have enrolled to go to Newark Music School evening classes to learn to change a dozen or so bits of wood into a musical instrument. The design is a Benedetto Manhattan Archtop https://www.benedettoguitars.com/product/manhattan/ . I bought some wood, plans etc so I am ready to start. This going to be a spare time project so it will be a year at... Read more

What the heading says. I've dug it out ready for my long trip to Bristol as I've heard they're a very suspicious lot when it comes to Northern invaders. Driving down on Friday hoping my dodgy knees hold out and unfortunately have to come back on Saturday so just an overnight close to the dealer.. I'm changing my car and arrangements to have it delivered fell through so needs must. So you lot down there have had a lucky escape as I was originally planning on staying a couple of nights... Read more

What the heading says. I've dug it out ready for my long trip to Bristol as I've heard they're a very supicious lot when it comes to Northern invaders. Driving down on Friday hoping my dodgy knees hold out and unfortunately have to come back on Saturday so just an overnight close to the dealer.. I'm changing my car and arrangements to have it delivered fell through so needs must. So you lot down there have had a lucky escape as I was originally planning on staying a couple of nights... Read more

Today we popped into a Brocante (antiques shop) in Brittany & I got tempted to part with €15 for a souvenir. I don't think it's anything particularly special & I doubt I'll end up using it that much, but sometimes we must allow temptation to get the better of us! It needs a bit of TLC that'll have to wait until I get home. The sole attachment shows some curvy ripples (I imagine these were cut by machine): The mouth opening is relatively small: Most... Read more

Mirka® DEOS II 663 UK Delta 100 mm x 152 mm x 152 mm, orbit 3.0 mm TIA

I mentioned in another thread that I'm involved in a project to restore some old railway carriages. There seems to be some interest, so rather than continue to hijack that thread, I've started this one. I'm 70 years old and worked for New Zealand Railways (through numerous name changes to the current KiwiRail) for 49 years. I intially did an apprenticeship as a railway coachbuilder, and still think of myself primarily as a coachbuilder. Around 2000 a mate got me involved in a project to... Read more

Hi chaps I made these Padouk marking gauges years ago and as I have lots I have decided to give them away. Marking gauges by Pete Maddex , on Flickr Marking gauges by Pete Maddex , on Flickr They are Stanley 5061 clones in padouk and brass, they have knives instead of pins so you need two to mark a mortice... Read more

Along with thousands of others, we've decided on an excursion to the BM in the New Year to see the Bayeux Tapestry and to that end, SWIMBO ordered a little light reading: ...to prepare ourselves for the occasion. We've been to several of these prominent events at both the BM and the V&A; the Faberge exhibition was way beyond stunning! We usually always buy a book of some description and the one that the postie has just delivered is the deluxe edition; the lhs has... Read more

Today we popped into a Brocante (antiques shop) in Brittany & I got tempted to part with €15 for a souvenir. I don't think it's anything particularly special & I doubt I'll end up using it that much, but sometimes we must allow temptation to get the better of us! It needs a bit of TLC that'll have to wait until I get home. The sole attachment shows some curvy ripples (I imagine these were cut by machine): The mouth opening is relatively small: Most... Read more