Wood Times

Fly fishing and woodworking share a certain meditative quality - patience, attention to detail, appreciation for natural materials. I wanted…

Remember those wood cookies from my parent oak tree? After proper drying time, they were finally ready to become furniture. The challenge…

The recliners needed some companions - somewhere to set a drink while relaxing. But I wanted something more interesting than a typical side…

A new stone fireplace became the focal point of the den, but it lacked a proper mantle. A floating walnut shelf would add warmth…

The first pair of Adirondacks had proven themselves on the patio, weathering seasons and hosting countless evening conversations. Time to…

The corner by the couch needed a side table - somewhere to set a drink, hold a plant, maybe stack a few books. I had some spectacular curly…

This was a quick project for a photographer friend that needed a really stable grip for a 360 camera to film commercials for a local…

Some projects start with a piece of wood that’s too beautiful not to use. I’d been holding onto a board of birdseye maple, waiting for the…

The TV nook above our fireplace had a problem: plenty of room for a big screen, but nowhere elegant to put the stereo receiver and other…

Craft beer deserves a proper presentation. When hosting tastings at home, I wanted something better than a cardboard carrier. A wooden…

When my parents oak tree came down at their old house, I saw an opportunity. Cross-sections of a tree - “wood cookies” - make beautiful…

Halloween called for a quick project, and my daughter was a helper eager to try out the bandsaw. With proper safety gear - hearing…

Hand tools have a special place in woodworking. There’s something about the direct connection between your hands and the wood that power…

There’s something deeply satisfying about building furniture you can actually sit in. Adirondack chairs had been on my project list since…

After completing several projects, I had a better sense of how I actually used the shop. Time for another round of reorganization based on…

The original pop tops were a hit, but after making a bunch of them I started seeing ways to improve the design. Time for Mark 2. Starting…

Sometimes the smallest projects bring the most satisfaction. Paper towels are essential in any shop - cleaning up finishes, wiping down…

With the basic infrastructure in place, it was time for some finishing touches that would make the shop not just functional, but enjoyable…

After a few projects, the limitations of the raw garage space became apparent. Exposed studs collected dust, the lighting was bad, and…

The holidays were approaching, and I needed gift ideas. What better way to spread woodworking cheer than handmade bottle openers? Simple…

With a shop space secured and a bench in place, it was time to populate the shop with its leading cast of characters: the power tools. The…

Every woodworker remembers their first real project. Mine came with a request from a my brothers who were moving their fly fishing shop to a…

My dad impressed upon me early on the truism that every good woodshop needs a good bench. As I was just setting up my shop, a fortuitous…

It would be over 6 months of learning about woodworking and chomping at the bit before I was able to start building out a shop space. My…

Welcome Reader! My name is Harper Trow. Here you will find some stories from my forays into the world of woodworking. I hope you find a few…