Shop Notes & Rambles
The Rambles are the stories lived and learned over decades — the moments, the lessons, and the shop life that shaped the craft. They accumulate here, sorted by publish date. If you want the curated version, explore the Workshop Library.
Cedar
Cedar wood — soft, aromatic, and naturally rot‑resistant. This story explains why cedar lasts outdoors, why it’s so light and full of scent, and how its deep‑time evolution shaped Western Red Cedar and Eastern White Cedar into the forgiving softwoods we use today.
The Mistake Every New Woodworker Makes (And I Made It Too)
Every new woodworker makes the same mistake: trying to force wood to behave. This Ramble follows a twisted spruce workbench, glue‑up problems, and the hard‑earned lesson about wood movement that every beginner eventually learns.