This month marks the 200th issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine, and to mark the special occasion we’ve changed up our format. Inside you’ll find profiles of some of our woodworking heroes – all talented innovators that keep the craft thriving, and inspire us create projects with our own hands and from our hearts. In December we’ll be back to our standard format with all the woodworking projects and features you know and love.
In this digital issue, Christopher Schwarz visits the always-excited Roy Underhill, host of “The Woodwright’s Shop,” at his shop in Pittsboro, N.C., and takes a look back at his long, illustrious woodworking career in “Roy Underhill: Still an Agent of Subversion.”
You may know Wendell Castle’s beautiful sculpture, which includes the exquisitely carved Ghost Clock from 1985 – but do you know the man? Scott Gibson talks with Castle, now nearing his 80th year, on the techniques that launched his career in “Wendell Castle: The Art of Furniture.”
Artist and carver Mary May recently launched an online carving school. In “Mary May: Classical to the Core,” Christopher Schwarz relates her journey through Greece, Malaysia and South Carolina to get where she is today.
After years as a professional woodworker, Dale Barnard is now performing the most important mission of any craftsman: passing the knowledge along. Robert W. Lang has the story in “Dale Barnard: Handing Down Tradition.”
Before Brian Boggs became the legend he is today, he picked tobacco as a seasonal worker to scrape by. In “Brain Boggs: The Chairmaker Evolves,” Matthew Teague tells us how his story continues to be written.
In “Jameel Abraham: Benchcrafted Tools,” Steve Shanesy introduces us to the woodworker, luthier and toolmaker behind one of today’s best woodworking tool shops.
It’s a been a few years since Norm Abram, possibly woodworking’s most recognizable personality, signed off from his classic show. Jefferson Kolle finds out what he’s been up to in “Norm Abram: Life After ‘New Yankee.’”
Finally, Megan Fitzpatrick visits blacksmith/whitesmith Peter Ross in his shop where he forges custom tools and hardware in “Peter Ross: Controlled Irregularity.” His philosophy: In the modern world we are too focused on perfection.