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An oldie and still the best! Learn how to dovetail a drawer for every day furniture projects. This video blows most woodworkers away, which is too bad because many are too intimidated to actually try the method shown. But in Frank's world, this is how the apprentices learn to cut dovetails, its how they cut the dovetails in the packing cases they ship their furniture in , it's supposed to be an everyday skill for a cabinetmaker.
It is actually about the best way to learn to cut dovetails. It eliminates a lot of unnecessary time wasting jigs and steps, and if you try it you may be surprised at how quickly you can pick it up.
The video also covers how to perfectly fit drawers.
Fast paced for a wood video.
One of the best woodworking videos I have seen. Well organized, densely packed with information. If you want to build a ladder back chair, or are interested in Green woodworking more generally, this is the tape for you.
Alexander is credited with bringing green woodworking back into the mainstream with his writings over the years. He has researched chair making joints and methods for decades. He looks first for the simplest tools and solutions, and every method shown is pretty easily copied by woodworker at home.
My interest was to see how a new doctrine of shooting the lever action might have developed out of Cowboy Action Shooting. I'm not in the CAS scene so it was completely new to me. In that regard info on rifles, customizing, shooting techniques were great. Any shooter who had seen these guys in action would already know that. However, Evil Roy is a top shooter so when he picks out certain details to focus on you know they are important.
A lot of the tape is concerned with drills, and action shooters who are looking for training tips should find those useful. most of the drills could be done as dry fire practice if you don't have a place to shoot regularly. Some of the drills are the same in the pistol tape, so there is some repetition (better get used to that if you want to shoot well). I think this tape is just as good value as the pistol tape, but the pistol tape is longer due to the different combinations of left and right side shooting and exchanges.
This video covers truing up the model 700 action and bolt; chambering and installing a barrel; cutting various crowns. The tool required is a long bed metal lathe, with appropriate cutters, preferably one with a good sized through-bore in the headstock, though not necessary.
This video takes you through planing, procuring, cutting, and assembling the parts. This is a workshop video with a close-up of a spinning lathe in just about every frame. While finished rifles are shown they are not fired. The "target rifle" chosen is a medium contour 308 repeater, as a general purpose rifle for various big bore shooting disciplines. Other than the use of a target reamer this rifle could just as easily have been made up for big game hunting. So anyone who likes a target quality rifle for that purpose, is going to find all the required info here also.
This isn't the Wizard of Oz, not everyone needs to see it, but if you need this info, it's all here!
This is a great video that I had really wanted to see for some time, and it's perfect for a rental. I suspect most people who see this video just want to know how the heck it's possible to build from junk a machine, that can make match grade barrels. It's a hobbyist's Everest adventure. A competent machinist could make one of these machines from the information contained in this video, but I think the primary audience is really for the wow! factor. Not wow for the production values, you really just have to love this kind of project.
The first video outlines the machine's construction, and covers drilling and reaming. This really is a relatively simple machine, but there are a variety of competencies required, machining, plumbing, electrical, heat treating, scrounging... The second video covers rifling, which struck me as the simpler process, though more advanced tool making skill would be required to make the cut rifling head.
The practical role for this kind of machine has mostly expired. The price of barrels has not risen much, and I can't see many people choosing to make their own just to keep costs down. I think there are jurisdictions like Canada, where the video was produced (filmed in US), where having access to this kind of thing might be useful since some calibers are legal but difficult to come by. I found this video inspiring: If a barrel making machine can be made in a small shop anything is possible.
I agree with other reviews that there are some production issues, but that's the cost of getting this kind of info out there.
Note: I read on one forum that this machine is not variable for rifling rate of twist. It is, by means of swapping a gear.
I watched this set of videos in order to learn a little more about doctrine for assault rifle. I am knowledgeable about rifle marksmanship but not the assault rifle end of it. The personalities and tactics on display here are all new to me. I found the series of tapes credible, but I really can't comment further on most specifics.
The assault rifle is a compromise between the sub-machinegun, and the battle rifle, that means that it's a close and medium range weapon. As regards the latter there was virtually no coverage. It may be that almost all use is on close range targets, and maybe that should be the emphasis, but I saw only one sequence where the targets appeared to be 50-100yds away, certainly nothing out to the ultimate range of the weapon. Most targets looked to be about 7 yards, that may be the average Iraq or police range, but in Afghanistan the targets can be way the heck out there.
In general I enjoyed Yeager's presentation skills. He communicates well, and can be quite funny. There are some odd segments where he attacks posts/postees than apparently appeared on the internet, and at times this degenerates into expletives, which I doubt will worry the average viewer. You have been warned.
The videos do teach the subject, but an equal purpose is to prepare people for attending a course at Tactical Response, that's OK too, since a lot of that info is pretty serviceable generally, but again, you have been warned.
Overall, my guess is the full series is closer to 360 minutes long, than 720.
So far of hundreds of how-to videos, this one has the best theme tune.
This is an excellent video. Fowler is a legendary knife maker, who has developed a personal approach to "using" knives. His approach, as with other's in the ABS stream, is to develop forged blades with the greatest flexibility in the blade, while maintaining superior edge holding. This kind of thing isn't everyone's definition of a great knife, but Fowler has a well defined target and he hits it. He combines traditional techniques with a lot of experimentation.
The tape moves briskly through breaking down the bearing stock, to forging the blade, and grinding. This is not a masterclass with every aspect detailed, but there is enough info to provide an outline of his methods. I feel I could follow his methods if left in charge of his shop.
Fowler has moved on with his methods since this video was made. He now forges specially procured steel stock rather than recycling bearings, and he has changed his heat treating procedures somewhat. There is supposed to be a new video in the works. This video is possibly more accessible since the tools and materials are a little closer to what might be found in an average shop.
This is an excellent video introduction to the Horizontal mill. This class of machine is no longer made for small shops, though old machines remain fairly available. The horizontal mill evolved from a form of milling operation that can be done on lathes, though not as efficiently given the lack of Z axis.
This is not an exciting video, the first cut isn't performed until one is over an hour into the viewing. Still, at the end of the tape, I was left knowing how the machine worked, and wishing I had one. Since this kind of machine is no longer a mainstay, you really don't need this tape in the average machine shop setting. These machines, However, do a lot of work in a very sturdy fashion for their size and cost, so if you like old steel this tape is for you!
Great video, should be a solid addition for anyone who is teaching themselves lathe work. No home user should be concerned about this tape covering "advanced" topics. It might have been called: "More Machine Lathe Operation". Certainly info on how to align the tail stock; or on how to hand turn with fine accuracy; or how to mill on the lathe, are all topics for the average home shop user. Take milling on the lathe. A "real" machinist would probably have several mills to choose from, it's the little guy who needs these techniques.
The presentation is just like being in Rudy's shop, steady but engaging.
This tape takes one through the process of designing and building a straw bale home with many environmental details. It is really two tapes in one since there is one highly produced version, and a second with the same video, but with the designer voicing over many technical considerations. Well done with many cutting edge "alternative" building ideas in one project. Professional grade production.
Not sure when the video was first shot, but they look like they might have been hired to entertain at the Clevers...
Nonetheless, they shoot really well. The Hill style is correctly described. Hill himself was not only an amazing archer, but not surprisingly, his style is in some ways the most complete and the nearest modern practices such as FITA. That may be hard to believe, but it is true. The basis are archery is as follows:
- Strength/conditioning - Stance/grip/drawhand - Initiation/tempo/shot routine - Drawing and holding - Aiming or otherwise providing for the arrow to hit with accuracy - The surprise release - Follow through
- Mental game
This kind of list/sports science approach, is not addressed in this video, but it is in the Hill system.
Hill is widely respected as possibly the greatest archery shot of the modern era, yet very few people actually try to shoot according to his style. But whether for information or practical purposes this is how it is done.
The production will require patience from those who don't remember an earlier age of TV, or short film subjects. I give it a top rating because it's the real deal.
These guys are some pretty good bowhunters (tape is all indoors), and between them they are also top bowyers, and leathersmiths (American Leathers). Schultz taught a number of the current big names in instinctive archery back when he was in the Montana scene. He has been profiled in major mags.
Excellent video, Harvey is a natural teacher.
The style taught is a flat grind to near the edge with a little convexity.
The knife ground from the video starts as a beginner's forged blank, so it isn't all that pre-contoured, and you get the sense of what it is like to forge from a blank, as well as a forging.
The only warning I would issue is that while this tape is totally understandable from a beginner's perspective, you need to be a beginner with a clue. No specialized terminology is explained in advance, and the broad brush of the knife building process is not set out. A completely oblivious beginner could start with Ed Fowler's tape, or any of the other tapes that show the process from beginning to end, or just click around the web and learn the basics before taking on this tape.
It seems as though Rudy's advanced videos are often the ones with a little less talk. He often deals with machine accuracy issues, and indicating in pieces. They aren't advanced in that they will teach you secrets of the trade, though usually he has a plan in mind and you will be able to take on a surprising number of tasks if you learn to apply all the techniques shown. I normally rent the advanced videos first, and get the basic ones at a later date if I feel like more info. This video would be excellent for someone buying a second hand mill because it teaches how to check and correct accuracy problems.
I think this video set is really good. Kent is a good presenter here, and I find his combo of advertising his products, covering a wide range of related topics, and welding fairly useful. The advertising creeps in because He really does sell the unique products required to do this particular form of aircraft welding. The torches he uses are not super powerful so we are in the range of welding sheet metals and light tubing.
Right now, wadding into the aluminum welding field requires buying a tig machine in the 3-7 K range. There are other machines that while less expensive are probably too expensive to be worth investing in. Any shop that has AO in it, can get going with Kent's tools for 100-a few hundred dollars. These tools also produce welds with different, possibly greater, integrity in certain situations. This is part of the reason certain large manufacturers have stayed with gas welding even with the advances in electro welding.
This video is very well produced and covers all the info required to make a blank, showing hand and production options. I think it would be enormously helpful to anyone who was at sea about the rod building process, or had not seen the procedures first hand. I wish it had been available when I started out. Viewers should be aware that while solid methods are shown throughout in several places he takes production shortcuts that most hobby fanatics would not accept. Nodes come to mind as an example. At least one learns that professional results are possible even within those constraints.
This falls into the category of tapes that are as entertaining as informative. A lot of very good shooters demonstrate their techniques, and almost anyone is likely to find some new tips to work on. The barebow, mostly in this case what one might call the American instinctive style, shooters do not have a consistent core method. This tends to suggest that the fundamentals of this method have not really been developed or agreed to. The same is not true in other areas of archery. This tape shows that problem clearly.
A number of the shooters also have severe style problems, bad releases being the most common.
This is a credentialed group of seriously good shooters, but watchers should be critical and skeptical of what they see, and the format really encourages that approach since the shooter are all pretty different.
It is like watching golf in the Trevino era, not the current Tiger Woods one where all the top pros pretty much have increasingly similar fundamentals and style, if not the same coach.
This is my favorite Rudy tape so far. Of course you need to like shapers. The six projects are useful and they demonstrate the capabilities of the tool. More action than most in this series.
This in an excellent tape, my favorite so far on the accurazation topic. That subject is covered quickly enough that the tape covers a number of other key topics. Some I had not come across before, like muzzle crowning techniques to reduce muzzle blast.
Good feature on the life and work of Tage Frid. Frid was a staple of Fine Woodworking articles and books in the early days of the craft revival in the late 70. He wrote 3 durable books and while some of his furniture is dated or ugly, he developed at least one timeless piece, his stool, which is a huge achiement. He trained many generations of woodworkers at RIT.
His working style was practical without any limitations due to lack of skill or familiarity with hand or machine tools. His approach can at times be a little rough, like the picture in one of his books of a saw with it's teeth mangled due to his own rough use.
This tape covers some day to day aspects of his home life, travels to his retirement shop, with detailed scenes of Frid at work. He cuts half blind dovetails, does veneer, and so on. Some of this material appeared in short pieces otherwise released by FWW.
This is an important subject with increased interest in fly fishing lakes, and this video will complement the existing book. The star is obviously competent both as a tier, naturalist, and on-screen presence. That said this video is virtually unwatchable due to excessive and artless production.
Tying flies encompasses some routine procedures that one hardly even noticed as one does them. In this tape each bending on of the most minor material is a STEP, and each step is a screen brake and gets announced by a sultry super model voice. Even people not watching the video, but in the vicinity as it played, were reaching for the Tylenol after a few flies had been tied. This excess formality, as though course are being served to the Queen, is oddly paired with the off-camera voice of the producer asking the odd stupid question.
Overall the patterns look effective, don't require an excess pallet of miracle new materials with each tie, and should be easy for any tier. Good luck with watching it.
This video is focused on making simple pinstripe ornaments as sometimes seen on antique machines or model engines. This is not pinstriping as done by custom painters on hot rods. Within that limited frame this video tells you what you need to know. Not a broad subject or a big tape, but it gets the job done.
Vintage Rudy, a fair amount of talk; not much action; but it covers exactly what you need to know to get the job done. Should be most popular among those who enjoy spending time with people of Rudy's generation, and who own classic lathes (Southbend in this case) with American toolposts, and HSS cuters, which is to say many serious home shop machinists. Of course nothing really changes in the "modern" manual lathes so you are covered there also.
This is an excellent video that complements the approach taken in Haye's Katana video, simple stock removal approaches for using blades.
In Workshop Knifemaking he makes two small knives, a tanto neck knife, and a using knife that could be configured as a hunter/camp/utility knife. As has been noted the approach taken here is all towards simple small shop methods, available O-1 steel (any industrial supply), and home shop grinders and heat treating. I made a couple of the tantos, and the approach works. Possibly a little cheaper than the olive oil would be farmer's co-op mineral oil, or make some Wayne Goddard goop, since it hardens to a lard consistency after use, and is easier to store. If you use the small belt grinders get some real belts for them otherwise you will find the grinding really heavy going. I use some blue norzone like ones.
Conversely the Katana video covers a sword, 2x72 size grinder (though Hayes says he has made swords with the cheapo 1x42. He uses an open charcoal fire, and a water quench. While the fire and quench are pretty backyard, overall you need a little commitment to work at this scale. The steel is also mostly available from Aadmiralty, which is expensive depending on how far you need to ship it. At the end of this process you end up with a real sword, it isn't a refiend samurai swords, but it is made out of serious steel properly tempered (at least it's up to you). It might be a little heavy, but for most uses the backyard swordsman has in mind, it should be fine.
I noticed several comments about 2 thousand dollar 2x72 grinders. They certainly exist, but there are many that are well below that price range. The KMG is now a well respected commercial grinder, but it started out as a prototype for a home workshop grinder that could be made with not much more than a drill press. There are a lot of online blogs on this grinder, and they are the equal of anything out there. Don't be put off stock removal knife making for the absence of a grinder. Also very professional blades can be flat ground on 6x48 shop grinders. If you want to find your way you can.
Just as far as the scientific basis of multiple quenches etc... there are quite a few folks out there who are working hand in hand with admirers who have lab access and these traditional techniques are performing. It's certainly true that great blades can be made without this kind of approach, but normally there is a reason within the process for proceeding this way. One reason, as suggested, can be the difference between what can be done in holding temperatures in an electric oven, and in an open flame. Essentially you are getting similar results but duration in the heat is being handled differently.
There probably aren't any serious "scientists" doing work on ABS style knives, so what science tells us directly about these things is probably pretty close to zero. We have excellent science on heat treating pursued by other means for other purposes.
I'm not being argumentative. There are some who might be interested in the primative end of bladesmithing. There is quite a lot of interest in so called neo-tribal methods. True there are other methods that are more technical, and use propane etc... in preference to charcoal. Still if you want a simpler cheaper to enter approach, this might be it.
This series of tapes is very good. It consists of a classroom format presentation, conducted with a South Bend Heavy 10. Each DVD has 3-4 hours worth of information on it covering all relevant basics for lathe operation.
The instructor is a gunsmith and project scales are sellected with that type of work in mind, though no specific gun projects are covered, and this tape set would be suitable for anyone interested in lathe work.
Some have mentioned the lack of humour in the tapes. I found that there was some there, but like any serious class it isn't the focus of the info.
Another item that gets mentioned is the overhead mirror views. These obviously are from the classroom, where students would see the overhead views via the mirror. It can take a little getting used to, though it really doesn't affect learning. I did laugh at one point when the instruction on taper cutting required referencing set-up dirction, for and aft, through a mirror. That could be confusing.
Highly recomended.
