Workshop Tour

French Cleats, neat battery tricks and nifty organisation hacks help maintain the usability and organisation of the workshop.

Walking you round my workshop consists of standing still and turning round until you are dizzy! Three years since its inception and the tiny 8x6 workshop has seen some new tools, minor tweaks and major changes. In this video I bring you up to date with all the changes that have taken place.

Since this video was made I have added the facility to vent the dust extractor out through the wall in the summer months and only reverting to the cut down collection bag in the winter so I do not lose expensive heat to the outside!

Scrollsaw and Woodworking Magazine

I was well chuffed to be invited to write a feature about my 8x6 workshop for Scrollsaw Woodworking and Crafts magazine.

A six page article appeared in their Spring 2020 edition and the full feature is available to read on their website.

I do hope this article will inspire others to have a go and develop their own small spaces be it woodwork, craft or knitting!

Wood Carving Repair and Restoration

Restoring an old wood carving. The owner of this ornament asked me if I could repair all the damage and re-finish it for her. I pointed out that the work would drastically effect it's value (estimated at less than £100) as it would no longer be original, but she wanted a nice piece for display rather than a tatty object stuffed in a drawer. Although the carving only stands at around 225mm (9 inches) it is exceptionally well carved and obviously not the usual run of the mill production piece. I was honoured to restore this and thoroughly enjoyed the process which was carried out over the course of a few weeks. 

The character, named Mr Pickwick, reminded me of a childhood obsession I had with the television programmes of Trumpton and Camberwick Green, both written and produced (along with a third series called Chigley) by stop motion puppeteer Gordon Murray in the mid 1960's. Brian Cant, a popular children's TV presenter narrated the action and all the music was written and performed by the British classical guitarist and composer Freddie Phillips. It gave me a good excuse to pay homage to these talented people.

Microphone Roof Mount

My roof camera rig is great but if I'm filming over my shoulder the microphone is not always in the best place so I have built a separate rig for these situations which is quick, efficient and easy to use. The magnetic mount and scissor action allows me to place it exactly where I need it. There's also a bonus to this mounting method too!

Flower of Love

A unique method for creating a flower from wood. I made this video at the invitation of a fellow YouTube creator who was organising a Valentine collaboration. 

Shooting the video was the most emotionally difficult film I have made but I am so glad I did. It's been a long time since I sent a Valentine gift and this project brought back hard memories.

Click/Tap any image for a larger view.

Roof Mount Camera Rig for filming project video's

Fed up with doing the tango with my tripod every time I move in my tiny workshop I built a ceiling mounted camera rig which will allow me to shoot from any angle without taking up floor space. 

The articulating arm was designed on the same principle as the arm of a mechanical digger which can move to any position within the diameter of its reach. So to can the arm of the rig. Not only does it make filming easier but the equipment is much safer as I no longer have to clamp the camera to the side of the bandsaw or pillar drill in order to get some difficult shots.

Penguin Glasses Holder

This episode sees Stephen create a handy solution to the problem of him continually breaking his glasses.  When he eventually manages to get to his workshop Stephen resolves the problem on the wood lathe. The style of the penguin was based on Feathers McGraw, the villain from Wallace and Gromit 'A Close Shave' as his features were well suited for the purpose of the project.

This is my way of saying thank you to all the viewers, subscribers and members of the You Tube community that have supported and inspired me. There are so many of you and some have agreed to play an indirect 'cameo' role (thank you so much). More are mentioned in the closing credits but I would still like to say thank you to the greater number out there who regularly publish and post instructive and informative video's to tease and delight all of us woodworking and woodturning nerds. You know who you are!

Sit back and enjoy the video. Do please feel free to comment, like, dislike, subscribe and please do share with your friends.

This twelve minute video took eight days to shoot and edit but I have enjoyed every minute. I hope you do too!

Knutz Turned Lidded Box

Upcycling a Beech wood rolling pin into a turned lidded box for a nut stacking game. The handle of the rolling pin becomes the handle of the box.

Black waxed hemp is used to make a tight fitting lid and the pyrography machine is used to texture and label the container.This is a game for two players racing each other or the clock. The winner is the first person to successfully stack ten hexagonal nuts on top of each other using a stylus.

Knutz game players - Anita and Ryan