Woodworking Crafts, Issue 62

Issue 62 of Woodworking Crafts arrives with a theme that many makers will recognise: time. Whether the lockdown left you with more workshop hours or fewer, this edition looks at how time shapes what we make—and how making shapes the time we give ourselves.

Projects to Build

This issue is packed with practical projects, ranging from quick kitchen makes to larger furniture pieces. The detailed step-by-step articles include:

• Steam-bent lamp by Abdollah Nafisi — a creative introduction to steam bending and a striking oak lamp design.
• Herb planter by Fred and Julie Byrne — a scrollsawn project that brings fresh herbs within easy reach.
• Hanging bookcase by Francesco Cremonini and Giacomo Malaspina — a traditional-style built-in piece with contemporary practicality.
• Mobile tablesaw unit by James Hatter — a handy cabinet that keeps a small workshop organised.
• Bamboo bug house by Derek Jones — a simple build that welcomes beneficial insects into the garden.
• Low Japanese-style coffee table by Mattia Migliorati — natural edge boards paired with a modern underframe.
• Carved salad servers by Peter Benson — an adaptable spoon shape that becomes a useful kitchen set.

Skills and Techniques

Alongside the plans, the issue digs into skills that can be applied far beyond the featured projects. Readers can learn how to tame compound angles by hand without relying on complex maths, use a router to make loose tenon joints, understand the basics of pyrography, and explore traditional green woodworking joints. Furniture restoration also gets thoughtful attention, with a Queen Anne-style dressing stool repair and a sympathetic restoration of an antique oak table.

Ideas and Perspectives

Issue 62 goes further than the workbench. Articles consider whether rushing to plant trees is always the best environmental choice, examine the history of the lathe as the mother of machine tools, and look at Art Deco style as a source of design inspiration. A profile of young furniture maker and beekeeper Tom Rowell adds a personal story about how woodworking can shape a life.

Throughout, the magazine balances detailed technique with readable insight, making this issue equally valuable for dedicated hobbyists and experienced woodworkers looking for fresh ideas.