I’m in Colonial Williamsburg right now, attending the 15th annual Working Wood in the 18th Century conference. This year’s program is about “small things.” Last night there were slide shows about dressing boxes, mirrors, traveling boxes and several types of little works made by cabinetmakers. Today, we got down to the business of making stuff. In the morning Mac Headly began work on a dressing case in Cuban Mahogany, showing a great technique for making a stopped groove with a chisel (sorry, no pics). Brian Weldy demonstrated drafting techniques for perspective drawings and Kaare Loftheim demonstrated how cut mortise-and-tenon joinery in some 5/16 in. thick stock as he was making a face frame for a small clock. But the highlight of the day, at least for me, was in the afternoon. That’s when two joiners (Ted Boscana and David Salisbury) took the stage to show how they make hanging wall cabinets for various buildings around Colonial Williamsburg. They’re demonstration essentially became a case of dueling woodworkers as they both worked at the same time. Ted cut a dado while David was cutting dovetails. Then Ted cut a tenon and David made the through mortise for it. Ted showed how he makes a mortise-and-tenon joint with scooped decorative bead (for a door frame) and David demonstrated how to fit a door panel using several different techniques. And both guys were working at the same time, rolling from one joint to the next without stopping. It was great to watch.

See all of the coverage from the Working Wood in the 18th Century conference at Colonial Williamsburg.

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