Woodworking with Hand Tools

By Troy Griepentrog
Published on October 16, 2008
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Plans for this spring-pole lathe are available in the appendix of The Woodwright’s Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge.
Plans for this spring-pole lathe are available in the appendix of The Woodwright’s Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge.
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Roy Underhill is an expert in historical woodworking methods.
Roy Underhill is an expert in historical woodworking methods.
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The Woodwright’s Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge traces wood from tree to finished furniture — all using hand tools.
The Woodwright’s Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge traces wood from tree to finished furniture — all using hand tools.

More than 25 years ago, Roy Underhill adopted the word “woodwright” when he developed the concept for his PBS television show, “The Woodwright’s Shop.” Since then, he’s been known as the woodwright — the expert on historical woodworking methods and proponent of hand tools.

How did you become interested in woodworking?

Just like all kids, I enjoyed making things. My sister worked at the Smithsonian when she was in college; early America was her area. That might have been a big influence.

But a lot of it was being a product of the times — getting out of college in the early ’70s during a deep recession and time of unemployment. This was the time of a strong back-to-the-land movement. That grew into the beginning of environmental awareness, and I jumped into that wave with both feet.


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