Epiphany

The COVID-19 Pandemic changed the world it seems forever, business has not been the same, not least the woodworking community in Australia.

Meeting and greeting at venues have become increasingly difficult, as venues have become rarer and woodworking is poorer for it. Lie-Nielsen Toolworks  Australia must take some responsibility for this, as our profit margins have slipped, and increasing costs means we can no longer afford, both the venue charges and travel costs, therefore you will see less of us out and about.

To overcome this we see the need to begin again a regular blog. It seems a blog can fulfill some aspects of the Hand Tool Events because information, ideas, tips, and advice can pass both ways, with relative ease as they used to.

I am also working on an online Catalogue that you will be able to page through or download as a PDF, this will be able to be tailored as items are no longer available, deleted, or new, which has been an ongoing problem since the pandemic. This will be much easier than coursing through a website. We will add links that will take you to the website product pages for price and purchase, something we could not do with a printed Catalogue.

Our woodworking school is progressing with some new classes, and this will be a source for this blog, as the creation of a new class, which focuses on technique and skills often shows new ways of doing, that most often, is a two-way street with the students teaching us some things that we can pass on. Learning never stops.

As an example recently I purchased some Pony Jorgensen Clutched Quick Action Clamps, which I highly recommend, but found them difficult to adjust the bottom jaws up and down the bar, ( having never used them before I was trying to release the tension of the clutch by pressing the tabs at the front of the bar, with my arthritic hands they were fiercely stiff ), when a student suggested the tabs at the rear of the bar had better leverage, really better, it was one of those head slap moments, and they have turned into my go-to clamps. As it turns out Timbecon has a video about this on their website, who reads the instructions, right. Point is these little tips can make all the difference, hence the re-establishment of this blog.

- Anthony