My time at Rowdens

Apologies for the lack of blogs recently though I have been busy! Alongside the course I’ve been setting up a Ltd company with a good friend with the aim of beginning in a couple of weeks! So watch this space!

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of months whilst studying at Rowden workshop. It’s been a great six months full of learning new skills meeting like-minded people along with giving me a good insight into the world of fine furniture.

Since I last blogged I’ve now finished my bench top and made fitted a Tail vice completing the bench. It will last me for the rest of my making days and is a pleasure to work on. I then moved onto a jewellery box being on a completely different scale to the bench I learnt some new skills also trying French polishing which I really enjoyed.

Would like to thank family and girlfriend for the support during this time as I couldn’t have done it without you. Enjoy the pictures and will blog with exciting news soon!!!

Posted 9 years ago by Steve Fearn Less than a minute to read

My Journey Begins at Rowden Farm week 1-4!

Just finished the first month of my six month course studying under David Savage at Rowden Farm. During this time i have completed a number of projects involving a range of skill sets.

Starting with pieces of sawn timber I planed a face and then squared an edge making sure all surfaces were planed true, parallel and square to the face side.

I have made a pair of winding sticks, Mallet, cross havling, mortice and tenon, Bread board and a pair of dovetail bookends.

I then using three grades of sand paper starting with the 180 each piece has been sanded making sure to clean sand paper of any build up so not to mark the piece.

Now for different finishes making sure that the bread board is oiled with a food safe oil such as Danish oil. The winding sticks were done with shellac and bees-wax.

Applying 100 coats of Shellac being careful not to put too much on whilst building the layers up to create a glass like finish. I then sanded one last time careful not to go though the shellac then a bit of wire wool and they are ready for a coat of bees-wax.

Moving into the machine room to make a pair of pine trestles I used a range of machines to cut all components to length, width, thickness including all housings and joints. These were then given a light plane to take out the machine marks, after a dry test run making sure all legs sat nicely on the floor it was time for the final glue up plus the weights just to make sure!

Sharpening chisels.

Just got my new set of chisels and getting them up to workshop standards, flattening the back then grinding and honing an edge. Back of the hand shave test, not a hair to be seen!

Timber Delivery

Got my timber delivery from Devon Hardwoods for my next project which is a workbench, I have decided to use beech for the top and ash for the legs.

Week 6

Starting on my workbench underframe made from Ash. I Cut the legs, strechers and rails down on the bandsaw. I then Planed a face and an edge in order to put them through the thicknesser taking them down making sure leaving 6 mm over the finished size. All stacked on my new trestles ready for when i get back after the Christmas break.

Week 7 + 8

Good to be back in the workshop after an extended break, currently working on my ash bench under frame.

First job was to take the components down to the correct thickness and width. Then decide the origination of the components according to the grain and any knotty features.

Clamping and marking the components in their pairs limits the amount of errors that could occur when I come to cutting the mortise and tenons.

Making sure to place the same face against the fence each time this ensures that there is a square and even cut all the way through ready to accept a tenon.

I cut the shoulders of the tenon on the table saw then used the bandsaw to strike down cutting away down to the shoulder.

Working on each tenon shoulder with a shoulder plane cleaning up the blade marks and squaring up any that may be slightly out. Testing each piece by dry clamping the frame together and marking any high spots to be taken down doing this until it sits flush and when clamped makes a tight fit.

Week 9 Workbench under-frame!

Ready for glue up making sure all joints and components are clean of any dirt and wedges, glue and clamps are all to hand.

Once glued and clamped I have hammered home two America Walnut wedges into the tenon end.

Cleaning up the wedges with a block plane.

Applying a white floor wax with a brush and buffing off with a clean rag.

week 11 Bench Top!

Creating the slots for the vice using a router.

Just removing any excess glue with a damp cloth and testing with a straight edge making sure the clamps are equal and even pressure is applied.

Last few months...

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of months whilst studying at Rowden workshop. It’s been a great six months full of learning new skills meeting like-minded people along with giving me a good insight into the world of fine furniture.