Ben Strano

Jan 13, 2025 | finewoodworking.com | Ben Strano

A couple of weeks ago I wandered into a little-used room in my parent’s house. There I found the broken bits of a table I had made a few years ago. Clearly, someone had tripped over the table and one of the three legs had broken right at the dovetail joint. A nearby clamp told me the rest of the story, which I assume went like this:Don’t tell Ben. We’ll fix the table he made because he’s such a wonderful person.

Jan 10, 2025 | finewoodworking.com | R. Bruce Hoadley |Ben Strano

When considering veneer and its quality, we usually think only of characteristics such as species, thickness and figure, or defects such as knots, stain or pitch streaks. Beyond that, veneer is veneer. But of most serious concern should be knife checks. These are parallel-to-grain fracture planes produced in the veneer at the time of its manufacture and which may go unnoticed, only to cause agonizing problems later.

Dec 5, 2024 | finewoodworking.com | Ben Strano

First, I wanted to send along a heartfelt thank you for everything you do at Fine Woodworking; with the exception of the occasional YouTube video, I have learned to woodwork over the past two years exclusively through reading your articles, watching (and rewatching) the video workshops, and listening to every episode of the podcast (twice). I recently built Garrett Hack’s Shaker side table from FWW #104 (1994).

Dec 4, 2024 | finewoodworking.com | Jonathan Binzen |Ben Strano

At the end of September, when Hurricane Helene charged up from the Gulf of Mexico and dropped 14 to 30 in. of rain on Asheville and environs, engorging the French Broad River and generating floodwaters that ripped through western North Carolina, many of those in the way were woodworkers. One of them was Mike Warnock, a longtime maker who had quit his job a month before to go full-time as a solo builder of custom kitchens.

Nov 29, 2024 | finewoodworking.com | Ben Strano

From Chuck:If Mike could never hear a particular woodworking question again what would it be? And what is his definitive answer to that question? From Eric:I’m in the process of moving forward with inviting a visiting artist (local area artist in residence program/grant) to gain access to my shop. I would consider my shop well-equipped, but I have always worked solo in it. I am constructing a bench for them to use and reserving space for their materials/supplies/etc.