ASF Staff's Favorite Things - 2022
Just in time for the holidays we have some stocking stuffer and present ideas for that special woodworker in you life. These tools are woodworking items we love or wish we had.
Shinwa 6" Ruler 4R
By Austin Waldo | Managing Director
One way to up your woodworking game is to upgrade youmeasuring. An excellent place to start is to begin using Shinwa precision rulers for measurement and layout tasks. This one has the end graduations which is great for height set up of various tools.
Julia Kalthoff Axe
By Aspen Golann | Curriculum Committee
The small carver is a specialty axe and a precision tool. Useful when removing lots of material and fine cutting surfaces. It works well for beginner and senior carvers. It is developed in cooperation with renowned carver Beth Moen.
The 550 gram axe head is easy to swing. The axe is balanced just below the axe head. This balance makes every gram work to your advantage, so when you need more power the axe feels larger.
The edge comes ready to use and will hold a sharp edge for a long time. Hardened to 57 Rockwell, it has good edge retention and is still easy to sharpen.
Mobius + Ruppert Brass Artists Pencil Sharpener
By Philip Morley | Lead Instructor
Built for heavy-duty use, these brass pencil sharpeners from Mobius & Ruppert are virtually unbreakable. Available in single-hole or double-hole Grenade and Wedge models, they’re very popular with design professionals and artists. Made in Germany.
Plunge Cut Track Saw
By Mark Love | Instructor & Dave Cutherell | Board of Advisors
Millions of saws do not lie: The TS has always stood out with its absolute precision cuts, maximum power and extreme durability. The usual reliability remains – but the working speed is unprecedented: The TS 55 now saws at up to twice the speed.
55° Frog - Lie-Nielsen
By Dean Cruse | Board of Advisors
Until now, all Stanley-type bench plane irons were bedded at 45°, or Common Pitch. But the famous English Smoothers like Norris are usually 50° (York Pitch) or 55° (Middle Pitch). The higher pitches make smoothing difficult wood easier. York Pitch will handle most tear-out prone wood well. Middle Pitch is for the most difficult woods.
Nicpro Mechanical Pencil Set
By Nicole Reidinger | Curriculum Committee
These graphite lead refills were manufactured to be break resistant and formulated to write darkly, vibrantly, smoothly, and cleanly.
Ideal for artists, professionals, teachers and students alike. Perfect for writing, drafting, drawing, sketching
Each Pencil Includes a comfortable metal threaded anti-skidding grip as well as a sharpener on the cap of each pencil. graphite lead is advanced by rear click.
Clifton 3110 Rabbet Plane
By Mark Macek | Board of Advisors
It is the best-machined hand tool that I own. The Clifton is precise, easy to adjust, easy to sharpen, and a pleasure to use. You don’t need a rabbet plane often, but when you do, there is no substitute for a good one. The hazards of cross-grain planing are compensated for by the low angle blade and the tight tolerances. I like the way it fits in my hand. I sometimes sculpt wood in 3D and use this tool to cut v-grooves which adds crisp lines to the shapes. For me, part of the appeal of this tool is its potential uses.
Sawstop Jobsite Table Saw
By Bonnie Hawk | Curriculum Committee
The SawStop(R) Jobsite Saw Pro delivers durability, innovation and precision with a design that’s built for the worksite.
- SAWSTOP’S PATENTED SAFETY SYSTEM
- CLASS-LEADING FEATURES
- HIGH-LOW T-STYLE FENCE WITH ERGOLOCK
- EASY MOBILITY
- ONBOARD STORAGE
- RELIABILITY
Tormek T8
By Ryan Stadt | Curriculum Committee
The Tormek Hand Tool Kit is for just about anything that is broadly considered a hand tool. It includes jigs to sharpen knives, scissors, carving tools and axes. This kit really extends the usefulness of the Tormek System.
The Tormek T8 sharpener has many imitators, but for those that understand the quality and versatility of this sharpener, there is no substitute. This sharpener has quality built into the design and a 7 year manufacturer’s warranty shows the long term commitment to quality. We are under no illusions that this is an inexpensive sharpener, owning a Tormek is a long term commitment to sharp tools and knives.
Parallel Edge Guide Rail Square
By Kim McIntyre | Board of Advisors
Introducing the newest version of the best-selling guide rail square on the market: the GRS-16 PE. Like its sibling GRS-16, the GRS-16 PE is designed to make it much faster to achieve dead square cuts with your FESTOOL, MAKITA or TRITON track saw—but adds a second “parallel edge” to permit squaring against the front and back of your workpiece.
Details
Written by Bonnie Scott, (Cohort 1)
In May 2022, twelve students gathered to form the first cohort of the 3 Month Intensive program at the Austin School of Furniture (ASF) in Austin, Texas. Hand-selected from around the country for their passion, previous experience, and potential, these students entrusted their education to the wisdom of award-winning, lead instructor, Phillip Morley.
