What You Build Lives On - The Pagoda Cabinet and a Look at Wooden Handplanes

It's What's Between You and the Wood - Quality from Your Hand to Heirloom

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Greetings!

As you may know, I have been close to The Krenov School for 40 years and am a member of The Krenov Foundation Board. So I keep up to date with what’s happening at the school and the foundation. Unfortunately, I could not attend David Welter’s presentation at the school of James Krenov’s Pagoda Cabinet (our son’s wedding!). But, I helped with the post-production of Kevin Drake’s video documentary. So that’s my voice-over – introducing David‘s talk about his conservation of the cabinet, which we’ve featured in this newsletter. It’s a perfect segue to follow with Krenov’s use of wooden handplanes, the making of wooden handplanes, and the Hock Tools Krenov-Style Plane Kit. So you will see a few related videos below.

Also, please remember it is Kitchen Knife Kit time! In our following newsletter, along with our annual shill for Hock Tools products at $50 or less, we’ll do a little feature on kitchen knives. They are relatively easy and quick to put together. So you may want to get started soon -- they make terrific gifts.

Enjoy your Fall; the quality of light, the leaves changing color, and the anticipation of the upcoming holidays.

Of course, if there is anything you need from Hock Tools, please let me know.

Ron Hock

Hock Tools

(888) 282-5233

(707) 964-2782

What You Build Lives On

The Pagoda Cabinet—A Woodworking Legacy

Retail 4-2022 Pagoda Cabinet Bottom Doors Open

Retail 4-2022 Pagoda Cabinet Doors Closed

James Krenov built the above Pagoda Cabinet in 1971. He discusses it in his heartfelt and persuasive book, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook, published in 1976 by Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.

The Pagoda recently came up for auction, was purchased by a woodworker, and, after decades, was touched and seen by woodworkers deeply influenced by Krenov's teaching and writing.

This interview with David Welter and Steve Sobieski reveals a story about what might seem like a simple piece of furniture. Yet, like so many functional objects - simple pieces of furniture - the Pagoda Cabinet significantly impacted woodworkers and woodworking.

To the right is a cell phone shot by Steve Sobieski. This photo began it all for this issue of Sharp & to the Point; A Shameless Shill for Hock Tools .

-Linda at Hock Tools.

Retail 4-2022 Pagoda Cabinet Door with Heartwood - Sobie's

The Wooden Handplane: It's All in How You Feel

"The response you get from a wood plane is altogether different

from when you are working with metal hand planes. The tactile feeling absorbed through the sole of a perfectly flattened and polished wooden hand tool you made yourself is a satisfying and liberating experience.

Simply put, wood on the wood just feels good!"

- Tom Fidgen, The Unplugged Woodshop

Retail 4-2022 Retail 4-2022 Fine Woodworking Video JK & His Handplanes

Right: a short, inspirational video shot and edited by Justin Starr. The Unplugged Woodshop introduces students to building their wooden handplanes. Seeing the variety of handplanes the students made for themselves is delightful.

Retail 4-2022 Tom Fidgen's Youtube A round Bottom Handplane

Retail 4-2022 Woodcraft Video with Ron Making Wooden Handplane Kit

Left: James Krenov on Handplanes from Fine Woodworking, Jan/Feb 2008, Projects and Plans section. In an interview with David Heims, the legendary James Krenov discusses the design and use of his signature wooden planes.