Blog Posts by Jim Tolpin
Does this Entasis Make Me Look Fat?
Well no, dear, the curvaceous tapering just makes you look muscular. Or maybe it's just an optical illusion. Or maybe the builders knew that the swelling, though slight,…
The Degree to Which Your Angle Lies
Here’s an old school carpenter’s (or landscaper’s) method of laying out a line--such as a foundation form or a hedge row--to a specified angle. The tools needed are…
Handmade Tools for By Hand and Eye
I am now taking orders for try squares and straightedges as shown in the photo above. I make and true these tools completely by hand from carefully selected and…
Traditional Joiner’s Chest Fundraiser
FYI: The chest sold at auction at eBay for $3650. Maybe I'll just have to make another one this winter! I just finished up work on this…
Hexagoned!
We (and our kids) have all been inoculated with enough Geometry during middle school to "know" the Pythagorean theorem. You know, the one that enables us to rattle…
Plumbing a Masonic Medal Mystery
Amongst this collection of Masonic "Past-Master's Jewels" medals, two show a representation of the pythagorean theorem. It is reported that its presence on the owner's medal indicates…
Mini-Straightedge for the Drawing Table
Spent the weekend after Thanksgiving making up a batch of mini-straightedges (16-in. long) for using at the drawing board. I'm using old-growth, perfectly vertical grain Douglas fir from…
From Point to Poem
I recently enjoyed a phone call from retired engineer and gifted woodworker Garrett Smith who wanted to tell me how the ideas in By Hand and Eye had…
Tour of Jim’s Handtool-Only shop
Lot's of folks have been asking for a more in-depth look at my little backyard shop...all 196 square feet of it. So here it is. Sorry for the…
Eyeball Your Bevel Angle?
Some time ago Chris Schwarz of Lost Art Press mentioned an old-school tradesman trick for eyeballing the standard bevel angle on a plane or chisel blade. Basically, if…
