Poppy Table Reproduction
It’s been an interesting summer to say the least. For the first time in years my wife and I planned a vacation; a two week trip to the island of Ibiza, Spain for the marriage of my son and his … Continue reading →
Bob Lang
On Vacation July 16-30, 2019-Summer Download Sale
I’m leaving Cincinnati tomorrow and won’t be back until July 30, 2019. It’s a long overdue vacation and we’re going to the island of Ibiza for my son’s wedding and meeting the family of his lovely, smart and charming bride. … Continue reading →
Popular Woodworking Sold But Future Not Clear
Two bankruptcy auctions were recently held by what remains of F+W Media. In the first sale, approved on June 10, 2019 by the court, Penguin/Random House purchased the F+W book division. In the second auction, held June 17, 2019 Active … Continue reading →
A Different Kind of SketchUp Class
This August 10 & 11 I will be returning to the Marc Adams School of Woodworking to teach a class called “Supercharge SketchUp”. Unlike most of my SketchUp classes this is intended for folks who already have some experience in … Continue reading →
Morris Chair Class at MASW
Woodworking classes at Marc Adams School of Woodworking are supposed to be a challenge. That applies to the instructor as well as the students. One of the challenges this year was the passing of Zane Powell who kept students safe, … Continue reading →
Popular Woodworking Corporate Owner Files for Bankruptcy
Click Here for an Update to This Story F+W Publications, Media, A Content & E-commerce Company, Community filed for bankruptcy protection on March 10, 2019. I would rather not be writing this post, but one of my pet peeves as an … Continue reading →
Why Woodworkers Should Write About Furniture History
I’m working on a new book project, but because I’ve been at this one for several years now it doesn’t feel so new. In any case I’m approaching the finish line (excerpt for figuring out how to publish it). I … Continue reading →
The Toughest Question a Student Can Ask
A few times a year I teach woodworking classes. It’s good to spend time out in the real world with new people and with those who have been in earlier classes with me. I’m told I do a good job, … Continue reading →
SketchUp Free-Woodworker’s Guide
Software updates and changes to business models by software companies are something we should all be used to, but for a lot of us (including me) news of something different fills us with dread. I depend on software to create … Continue reading →
Gustav Stickley No. 369 Morris Chair PDF Download Plans
Gustav Stickley No. 369 Morris Chair Plans Available for instant download in PDF format Complete detailed plans to build a reproduction of this Gustav Stickley Morris Chair 12 letter size pages of detailed drawingsStandard views, Details and Exploded ViewsDetails for … Continue reading →
Cincinnati Area SketchUp Class-Spring 2019
I’ve had several emails lately asking about upcoming SketchUp classes. I will be teaching a weekend advanced class at Marc Adams School of Woodworking August 10 & 11, 2019. Click here to visit MASW website for details. For the past … Continue reading →
Morris Chair Class at Marc Adams-Apr. 15-19, 2019
This spring I will be returning to the Marc Adams School of Woodworking for a week-long class on building a reproduction of the Gustav Stickley No. 369 bent arm Morris Chair. Of all the chairs of this type this is … Continue reading →
Are Woodworkers Abnormally Fearful?
And should editors of woodworking magazines practice psychology? Way back in 2006 I built a reproduction of the Byrdcliffe Sassafras Linen Press. The original lives in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and there are a few … Continue reading →
Table Saw Tenon Jig
A recent discussion on WoodCentral led me to dig through some old photos to find an example of a great jig for cutting tenon cheeks on the table saw. If you’ve ever fiddled forever with a jig that rides in the … Continue reading →
American Period Furniture: A Deliberately Different Magazine
I haven’t posted much in the last few months. Excuse number 1 is we bought a new house and that house needed a new kitchen (note to self: don’t ever say “it’s a nice place, except the kitchen needs to … Continue reading →
SketchUp Class October 13-14, 2018, Pittsburgh
On October 13-14, 2018 I will be conducting a two-day SketchUp class, in Pittsburgh, PA thanks to the Western Pennsylvania Woodworkers club. I will also be giving a presentation of my work to the club (guests are welcome) on Friday … Continue reading →
Transition From Rectangle to Circle In SketchUp
Way back when I was in design school (board drafting with T-square and pencil) one of my teachers mentioned that people who work with sheet metal duct work know more about practical geometry than anyone in the world. I was … Continue reading →
Router Jig for Through Tenons Video
Note: This is another older post (from about 5 years ago) that sank to the bottom of this site’s feed. I’ve brought it back to the top because it’s a good (and easy and fool-resistant) way to make these joints. … Continue reading →
Bamboo Glue Brush – Cheap and Pretty Good
Note: This post originally appeared a few years ago. One of the problems with online content is that good stuff drifts to the bottom. This is a good tip, so I’ve pushed it back to the top of the feed. … Continue reading →
Damaged Solid Wood–Fix It With a Gouge
Note: This post originally appeared about 5 years ago. I think it’s pretty good so I moved it back up in the feed. Tearing an ugly hunk out of a nice piece of solid wood can be a heartbreaker. You … Continue reading →
SketchUp Make, Free, Pro, or Shop-Which Version For Me
When I first started using (and teaching and writing about) 3D modeling with SketchUp, the differences between the free and paid versions of the software were simple to understand (this 2015 post goes into detail about the differences between “SketchUp … Continue reading →
SketchUp Classes 2018
It’s been a busy spring. I just completed a two-day SketchUp class. Earlier in April I taught a week-long woodworking class at MASW, and attended half of my local Society of American Period Furniture Makers chapter meeting. As often happens, … Continue reading →
Space Available in SketchUp Class April 26-27
If learning how to make 3D models in SketchUp is on your “to-do” list, and you want to shorten the learning curve, there are still a few slots available in my upcoming class, April 26-27 in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. … Continue reading →
MASW Poppy Table Class
There is a lot to like about classes at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking. The first time you visit you’re impressed by the size and scope of the facility. As a class goes on you realize how good the … Continue reading →
SketchUp Class Cincinnati April 26-27, 2018
I will be hosting a two-day SketchUp class on Thursday and Friday, April 26-26, 2018, 9am to 5pm in the Cincinnati area. This is your opportunity to learn 3D modeling from an expert SketchUp trainer in a small class, held … Continue reading →
SketchUp Class – Spring 2018
Several people have contacted me lately, wondering when I will host a SketchUp class here in the Cincinnati area. I’m thinking this March or April will work, if I can round up enough students. If you’re thinking that now is … Continue reading →
Join Profiled Parts in SketchUp
I don’t mind answering questions from readers, because good questions often become useful blog posts. In this instance, the question wasn’t quite clear so I’m showing two solutions. One way to solve problems in SketchUp is to consider how it … Continue reading →
Classes with Bob Lang at MASW in 2018
Sometimes the best things appear in the most unexpected places. You wouldn’t expect to find a woodworking school smack dab in the middle of central Indiana, but that’s the location of the Marc Adams School of Woodworking. MASW has been … Continue reading →
American Period Furniture
I am pleased to announce that I have agreed to edit the 2018 edition of “American Period Furniture” the annual journal of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers. This will be a refreshing change for me as the focus … Continue reading →
What a Class at MASW is Like – A Students Perspective
I don’t teach woodworking classes very often, although I usually say yes when someone asks me to. The picture at left is from a series of blog posts written by one of the guys in my most recent class at … Continue reading →
Philadelphia SketchUp Class — November 11-12
There are still seats available in my upcoming SketchUp class at the Philadelphia Furniture Workshop, November 11 & 12, 2017. This is the last live class I have scheduled for this year, and a rare appearance for me in the … Continue reading →
SketchUp Makes Good Woodworkers Better Woodworkers
The most important skill in woodworking isn’t what you might think it is. It isn’t the ability to master a specific tool or technique. The things that look impossible become approachable, and picking up new tools and methods isn’t a … Continue reading →
Adventures in Teaching a Woodworking Class
Last week I was at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking teaching a dozen woodworkers how to make a chair. Usually when I teach I write about the class ahead of time, but this was different from the norm. I … Continue reading →
Woodworkers — Do You Practice?
One of the ways to improve your woodworking skills has more to do with your mindset than your skill set. If you aren’t willing to do things you’ve never done before you won’t improve. That’s a simple concept, but it … Continue reading →
Why Every Woodworker Needs to Know SketchUp
I’ve been making stuff from wood for more than 40 years and I do better work now than I used to. (If you’re curious about my woodworking, you can find photos going way back at this link.) I’m not one … Continue reading →
Do You Really Need to Measure Diagonals?
I was one of those kids who continually asked “why?” and I’ve never outgrown that. My mother taught me how to look things up and my dad, a card-carrying chemical engineer, taught me to weigh the results of anything I … Continue reading →
Stickley Poppy Table – Art and Engineering
Before Gustav Stickley became “The Craftsman” he manufactured furniture in upstate New York. After twenty-some years in the business, he took a trip to Europe, where the Arts & Crafts movement was popular in England and L’art Nouveau was a … Continue reading →
Simple and Accurate Dado Router Jig
The dado joint, a channel cut in one piece of wood that holds another piece of wood, is one of the bread and butter joints in woodworking. It isn’t as charming as a dovetail joint, or as manly as a … Continue reading →
The Importance of Ignoring Cutting Diagrams
Early in my career I was told by the man who hired me “we’ll teach you to think like a cabinetmaker”. Apparently that worked, and since I’ve transitioned from full time woodworking to writing about woodworking, I feel compelled to … Continue reading →
SketchUp Class Philadelphia Furniture Workshop – Nov. 11-12, 2017
I’m delighted to announce a SketchUp Class to be held the weekend of November 11-12, 2017 at the Philadelphia Furniture Workshop in Philadelphia, PA. You can get detailed information and register for this class at the PFW website. While this … Continue reading →