So the clock in my shop died … or did it just need new batteries?!? Who cares, I made a new shop clock! I took the thin outer pieces of the 100+ year old oak I broke down a couple of months ago and made an asymmetrical, modern, rustic, eclectic, colorful, something-or-other clock. At least …read in detail
Author: Fr. Thomas
The Maker-Troll Bible Has Been Found!
There is a saying in my line of work that one of the problems is that sophomores think they know everything. They’ve been there a year, so they’ve experienced it, but they haven’t had the responsibility yet to know when they are wrong. I think anyone who has taken the opportunity to put their work …read in detail
Christmas Giveaway!!!!
It‘s the Christmas Season, I saw that I am close to 8,000 subscribers (officially 7,842 as of Dec. 23rd at 10:25pm), and I am in the giving mood!  And what do I have to give away … well I have been collecting some vintage woodworking books and my mother always taught me to share.  So I’m …read in detail
Getting Back into the Groove đź’§
It seems that I have started to produce content a little more consistently over the last month or so. I’ve also started a multi-part build that I’m very excited to share with you … a beautiful teardrop trailer. Come to the website and check out the first two parts and the back story for the …read in detail
I’m baaaack with a New Build Video!
I have been wanting to do a knife for a while. About a year ago I decided on a design, nine months ago I gathered most of the supplies, in the spring John Zhu gave me the wood for the scales, in June I started working on it, and now at the end of October …read in detail
Anybody Have a Match?
A little less than a year ago, a friend of mine told me about some 12/4 oak that was going to be hauled out to the dumpster. There were several pieces that were bolted together as part of a delivery of construction material being used in a renovation project. Shortly after bringing it to the …read in detail
It was a bright, cold day in April
“The history of storytelling isn’t one of simply entertaining the masses but of also advising, instructing, challenging the status quo.” —Therese Fowler As a trained historian I am supposed to be used to telling stories, or at least interpretations of the evidence in a logical yet pleasing narrative.  I must admit however that I have been …read in detail
Television and Electronics Cabinet
After you come to grips with the fact that monks do watch television … While at the abbey for a little vacation, the abbot asked if I would build a new electronics cabinet for the monastery. Since he is the one that pays the bills, it was one of those “offers you cannot refuse.” I …read in detail
My Dirty Little Secret
“For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.” – Luke 8:17 It was bound to happen one of these days, but I was finally caught at Harbor Freight. Â And so, “My name is Fr. Thomas, and I am an Harbor Freight …read in detail
Not only a new video, but a new N.E.S.T. video!
The N.E.S.T. series was conceived in my acronym phase, which the doctor says I will grow out of in a few more years if not later. Â But anyway, it stands for Non-Earth Shattering Tips. Â They typically come about when I am in the middle of a project and there is a little tip or trick …read in detail