Rex Krueger

Early Access Video: The Great Neck Smoothing Plane

Friends: 

This week, I'm trying out just about the cheapest plane I can find online. Well, the cheapest that has all the features, like a double-iron and good adjusters. 

You all supported this video, so I won't keep you in suspense: this plane is not the budget smoother I'd been hoping for. It's close, ...

Early Access Video: You don't need a block plane

Friends: 

All woodworkers seem to think that you NEED a black plane for fine woodworking. I thought so, too. Until, a few weeks ago, I went to grab my block plane and found it covered with dust. Why? 

I hadn't used it in weeks. 

This got me thinking. What do I actually use this tool for? Not m...

Exclusive MP3 Download: "Furtive Flight"

Friends: 

You might have noticed the Electronic music I used in my last video. This track was composed by my friend Alex Larson, and he's graciously allowed me to give the track away as an MP3 download just for Patrons. 

I might be a little biased because Alex is an old friend, but I think this is an out...

Early Access Video: Making a Viking Shield

Friends: 

The Viking Shield is live!

As always, let me know what you think of the process and the product. I'm always interested in Patron feedback.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads!

--Rex

Sneak-Peek: Viking Shield

Friends: 

I really enjoy the Forged From Wood series, and I get SUCH good suggestions from everyone. Here's this week's project: a Viking shield. 

I have lots of period-correct details and a downright life-thre...

Free Plans: One-Handed Marking Gauge

Friends: 

Here are the plans from the recent Marking Gauge Build. I think these are my best yet, but I'll let you be the judge. 

I hope little giveaways like this underscore just how grateful I am to my Patrons. 

--Rex

Early Access Video: Make you own marking gauge for FREE

Friends: 

Do you have a good marking gauge? Do you need one? 

Good news: I've designed an built a simple and very effective marking gauge that can be made from wood scraps and a finishing nail. It's a quick and easy project and the final gauge works as well as my fancy rosewood gauge. 

When yo...

Sneak Peak: Make your own marking guages

Friends: 

Woodwork for Humans returns and I'm filling up your tool tote with cheap and effective tools!

Everyone needs a marking gauge, but commercial models are either very expensive, or kind of mediocre. But why buy it when you can make it for nothing? 

In tomorrow's video, I'll show you how to c...

Early Access Video: Spiked Mace on the Wood Lathe

Hoo-Boy!

This one was a handful. The project was challenging, the filming was tricky, and the edit was...painful. But I really think it came out in the end. 

Many of you have praised me for a minimal video style, and I'm glad that you like it. But once in a while, I'm going to stretch out a little bit. Especi...

Sneak-Peek: Wooden Mace Replica

Friends: 

To celebrate the paperback release of _One Week to Woodturning_, I decided to do an ambitions turning video. 

This is a 16th century Hungarian mace. I copied it from an example in a famous historical weapons collection. It was a lot more difficult than expected (I should have thought harder abo...

Don't Believe the Hype

I used to play in a great band. I played in a lot of bands in my 20s, but one sticks out. We were really, really good. You know what happened with that band? 

Nothing.

In a year together, we played two shows and rel...

Early Access Video: The $250 YouTube channel

Friends: 

As I've slowly been upgrading my gear, I've realized that I built my YouTube channel on some EXTREMELY basic equipment. I cannot believe I go so far with so little. So I decided to share everything I've learned about getting a channel going and keeping it running for essentially no money. 

I ad...

Farewell, my faithful servant.

Friends: 

It's a big day over here. I'm officially de-commissioning my old Cannon Vixia camcorder. It didn't break (which is a miracle) but I did get a new and much better camera (the Panasonic HC-770) and so I'm putting the old girl out to pasture. 

You might be surprised that I'm a little emotional abo...

Free Plans (now with 100% more plans)

Friends: 

This morning, I sent out the "free plans" and then attached the wrong file. Honestly, Wednesdays are a pretty rough day for me. Anyway, here are the actual plans. I'm going to double-check. 

Thanks for being patient!

--Rex

Free Plans: Make your own try-squares

Friends: 

Here are the plans for your shop-made try-squares. I've got two versions: hand-cut and laminated and of course, the plans are in Imperial and Metric. Make it YOUR way. 

These plans are free for Patrons. Thanks so much for all your support!

--Rex

Early Access Video: Make your own try-squares!

Friends: 

I'm really happy to bring you this video on shop-made squares. It exemplifies all the things I try to bring to the table: self-reliance, tool-making, keeping costs down, reusing scraps, and above all, top-shelf craftsmanship with minimal tools. 

This video is a bit longer than usual, but it's a...

Sneak Peak: Make your own (good) try-squares.

Friends: 

This week is going by quicker than most.  I guess that's a good thing because so much interesting stuff is going on. Next week, I'll be a guest blogger on the excellent woodworking blog Toolerable < http://toolerable.blogspot.com/...

Thumbnail pics: the rejects

So, Vince Mitchell just asked about the reject pics from my recent thumb. We must have taken 30 shots to get one good one. Here are some of the better shots that ended up on the cutting-room floor. 

2019-05-16 10:47:39 +0000 UTC View Post

Early Access Video: All about woodworking squares

Friends: 

He's my complete breakdown of all the squares you're likely to encounter in your woodworking. Any square is better than no square, but there are real differences between all the various squares in the world. Some are great for woodwork. Some...not so much. 

Here's hoping I clear up some of the ...

Sneak-Peak: All about squares.

Friends: 

Last week's tool tote project reinforced the necessity of a good square in woodworking. I hate to say it, but a speed square just won't cut it. 

Of course, even if you have the money for some squares, you still need to know what to get and how to use it. I plan to answer these questions and mor...

Tool tote plans are FREE for Patrons.

Friends: 

I'm delighted to send out the plans for my recent One Board Tool tote video. These are free for Patrons. 

I intend to do more plans in the future and many of them will be free to my supporters. Maybe they'll all be free. We'll just have to see what happens. 

These are my first plans,...

Early Access Video: Make a Tool Tote from One Board

Friends: 

There's STILL a back-hoe in my front yard, but the work goes on. 

Today, I bring you the One Board Tool Tote. I planned this project very carefully and I'm quite pleased with the result, but I always let you be the judge. 

There are plans for this project and they are FREE for Patron...

Exclusive video: Spring Make 2019

Friends: 

I hope you all had a great week. Me, I've got a back-hoe and a giant hole in my front yard, so it's wild times over here.

Anyway, I got to spend last weekend at Spring Make, here in Cleveland. It was an amazing experience and my business will never be the same. 

The conference had a hefty...

Sneak Peak: One-Board Tool Tote

Friends: 

I just realized that I haven't been doing these sneak peaks in a while. You're the ones making this content possible, so you should get a look ahead. 

This week, I'm finally going to make a PROJECT with the $30 bench. Since I'm having trouble keeping track of all my Woodwork for Humans tools, I...

Early Access Video: Japanese Pull Saw

Friends: 

I'm just back from Spring make and...wow. I don't think my channel or my business will ever be the same. More stories about all that in the days ahead. 

I also have a collapsed sewer pipe at my house and my yard is about to get VERY dug up...assuming my shop doesn't flood first. Please stop rai...

Early Access Video: Japanese Pull Saw

Friends: 

I'm just back from Spring Make and...wow. I don't think my channel or my business will ever be the same. Hopefully, I'll be able to bring you some more stories about the conference in the days ahead. 

I've also got a collapsed sewer pipe at my house and my yard is about to get very dug up...ass...

Early Access Video: No Vise? No Problem.

Friends: 

The $30 bench is done and it's AMAZING. With this humble pile of 2x4s and a couple of dowels and wedges, you can hold any piece of work imaginable, and all without a traditional, screw-operated vise. Honestly, using this bench is a revelation. You do all the stuff you did before, but in a totally differen...

Exclusive Video: Affordable Hammers for the Beginning Smith

Friends: 

While I was with Tim Cunningham last week, he graciously agreed to do an exclusive video just for my Patrons. In this clip, we go over your options for quality smithing hammers that you can order online. 

I know not all my Patrons are interested in blacksmithing, but if you are, grab one of the...

Early Access Video: Pro Blacksmith; Micro Shop

Friends: 

This week we take little detour and visit with Tim Cunningham, a professional blacksmith and smithing teacher in Cleveland. Tim runs a thriving business with the most minimal gear imaginable and I just had to get a tour of his modest shop and get the low-down on how he makes a living with a forge, an anvi...

Flattening the $30 Workbench

Friends: 

We built it. Now we need to flatten it.

The $30 workbench is great, but it needs to be flat to be really useful. Let's make that happen. Grab one plane (even a cheap one like the Stanley 12-404) and let's get it done. 

Happy Saturday!

--Rex