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.
🍁 Hard Maple
Hard maple comes from the sugar maple — a northern, slow‑grown hardwood shaped by freeze–thaw cycles, tight grain, and dense, closed‑pore anatomy. This Ramble explains why it burns on dull blades, shines under sharp tools, and remains one of the most reliable woods in the shop.