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.
Walnut
Walnut has a reputation bigger than the tree itself. People treat it like a rare, luxury hardwood, but in the shop it’s just walnut — honest, stable, beautiful, and one of the most enjoyable woods to work with. This Ramble cuts through the hype and looks at black walnut as it really is: the tree, the lumber, the grain, the chemistry, and the truth behind its reputation.