Click here for a PRINTABLE version of the above blueprints.
Students come to my studio and fall in love with my quick
and easy grinding jigs. Over the years I have struggled with how can students make there own version
of my grinding jigs. This is my solution to the problem. Continue reading Carl’s 4x7x2 Sharpening Jigs
Recently two new manufactures have started making "Vari-Grind Jigs" that are very similar to
the well known Oneway Vari-Grind jig that has been around for a long time.
I own all 3 of these jigs. Here is what I have found.
In a nutshell. I recommend people go with the Oneway Vari-Grind Jig. Continue reading Vevor vs Easy Grind vs Oneway Vari-Grind Jig
I like to spray Chroma Craft Wood Dyes from cheap Harbor Freight Airbrushes. The airbrushes are cheap. Around $22 each on 4/30/2022. Thus, I like to have one airbrush for each color. Like Nick Agar does in his demos and classes.
The airbrushes are a pain to deal with when not in use. They don’t stand up on there own. Thus, I created a cheap holder out of a 2×4 with a series of 1-1/2″ diameter holes.
I painted the 2×4 white so I could spray color samples next to each hole.
I really like this holder. I can easily move it around and store it on a shelf.
Continue reading 2×4 Harbor Freight Airbrush Holder
Carl’s Turntable
I often use my homemade turntable (aka lazy susan) when painting and finishing things. It really helps me get a nice even finish on things with out finger prints.
If I was going to pay big bucks for a caliper than I would get a “Andre Martel Caliper”. I have one. It was expensive and worth every penny.
The UNIQUE shape of the Martel calipers makes them REALLY useful for measuring the depth of things (plates, bowls and hollow forms) while they are STILL IN THE CHUCK. i.e. I don’t want to go thru the bottom. How much wood do I have left to play with? See pictures below.
The Marten calipers are DESIGNED to work while things are still in a chuck. See photos below. The calibers fit between the jaws on a 4 jaw scroll chuck.
Continue reading Martel 4 Way Caliper
If want to sharpen your tools at home, the same way you learned in a class, then you need to have the same grinder setup at home.
If you want to match the setup in my Studio, then here is what I recommend.