Friends:
This week, we have an exclusive video just for Patrons. My neighbor's father was a huge tool collector and she invited me over to look at DOZENS of vintage hand tools. I grabbed a camera and made it a fun video. There's a ton of go...
2025-08-02 11:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Isn't is funny how a simple repair job can spiral out of control? For years, my wife has been after me to fix a broken drawer and when I finally get around to it, I am astonished to discover that the drawer is totally handmade.
... 2025-07-19 11:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Patreon has been a little buggy recently. I posted this video on Friday, just like usual, but it never went out and my post disappeared. I'm really sorry about that. We're dedicated to making regular content and getting it out ...
2025-07-07 15:49:17 +0000 UTC View PostFriends:
Over the last few months, we've had a major headache with our online courses. Retrieve (our hosting company) went out of business earlier this year with very little notice. I’ve been working with them for years and didn’t even ...
2025-06-21 16:50:38 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I just got back from the MWTCA National Meet in Erie, PA. It was an amazing experience. I've never seen so many tools in one place. I also got to meet MANY fascinating people and learn a ton about tool history.
And I brough...
2025-06-21 11:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I think today's video is a real treat. It combines a mystery, an old tool, and a bit of tool-making. I learned a lot making this one and I think you'll like it.
Also, I'm currently at the National Meet for the Midwest Tool Col...
2025-06-07 11:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
We're very happy to have finished the plans for the Joiner's Chest. We're including this in our "Joiner's" collection of plans because it represents the same commitment to accessibility and affordability as the 2025-05-28 11:00:08 +0000 UTC
View Post
Friends:
It’s been a struggle, but the Joiner’s Chest is finally done. We’re super proud to bring you this long-awaited project and I can say that it’s everything we promised. This chest is easy enough for a beginner to buil...
2025-05-24 11:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
There's been a little confusion on why we've done so many Compass Rose releases recently and I wanted to come to you and just explain what's been going on recently. Also, the Joiner's Chest is done! The video has some updates and ...
2025-05-17 11:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Compass Rose is getting ready for the Summer Slump, that time of year when people don’t do woodworking because they’re outside hiking or playing frisbee. ...
2025-05-13 11:56:34 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
It's been a week. Compass Rose launched our new mallet and I've got a big hole in my face!
Curious? The details are all in the video.
Links to things I mention:
James Wright's Grooving Plane Kit (recommended):
Friends:
It’s New Tool Day here at Compass Rose. After years of development, we’re finally able to release our Advanced Joiner’s M...
2025-04-26 11:00:43 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I love posting sneak peeks of upcoming Compass Rose releases. I take a pic from an odd angle and try to stump the Patrons. But my past experience with this game has humbled me. You guys figure it out nearly every time, even when I...
2025-04-25 17:23:48 +0000 UTC View PostFriends:
We're often scrambling to get videos to you early, so I don't have time to put in the links to products. (It takes longer than you would think). But the recent grinding video had a LOT of links and I thought those needed their own ...
2025-04-15 11:56:16 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I’m happy to report that we’re healthy and fully back to work! This week, we present the (long-awaited) sequel to my review of affordable grinders. In today’s video, we’re covering everything you need to grind your wo...
2025-04-12 11:00:17 +0000 UTC View PostThis is a post from Fabrication First, my email newsletter. I always try to post these here for Patron early access, but I do forget...often. Hope you enjoy it.
Would you like...
2025-04-01 11:42:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
The slow recovery continues. I'm up to working half-days at the shop and we're ramping up again. Nate and Lucas are totally recovered. We're almost back to normal.
Today, I'd like to tell you about my first ever MWTCA meet, w...
2025-03-29 11:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
We're nearly healthy again! In fact, Lucas and Nate are back in the saddle and I'm the one holding up the show. The virus I had was CRAZY. This is the first time in my life I've had a fever and taken ibuprophen or Tylenol, and STI...
Friends:
Everyone in this company is currently sick or just barely recovering. I'm down with a respiratory infection and a bad fever. Nate has the flu (or something). Lucas is just getting better from (possibly) his third COIVD infection. I...
2025-03-08 12:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
You might think you know the story of the Compass Rose Vise Block, but you don't. The REAL story of how an idea becomes a product is agony....
2025-03-01 12:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Today, we're doing a bit of inside baseball as I discuss the finances of Patreon and our content business as a whole. We're going to make some small changes to our video production schedule and (hopefully) make higher quality videos...
2025-02-15 12:00:11 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Welcome to the first "regular" video of the year! Today, we're chronicling my road trip to Colonial Homestead, a legendary woodworking tool store in rural Ohio. I knew I was in for a treat, but I wasn't prepared for what we found a...
2025-02-08 12:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
We're still getting back to normal video production around here, but we're not going to leave you hanging. Today, we've got a look inside our little 3D Print Farm. Here's the day-to-day of running and maintaining these machines in a...
2025-01-25 12:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
The New Year is here and we're back to work! We've got a bunch of fun stuff and behind-the-scenes extras to share with you, and ONLY you. Everyone else has to wait.
Happy New Year!
--Rex
2025-01-18 12:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Many of you were at my livestream last week where I broke a wooden plane in half. The plane itself is interesting, so I made a whole video about it. Stay tuned to the end for a special message just for my Patrons.
This is also...
2024-12-21 12:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
To go with our recent video on the traditional Chinese workbench, I've put together a quick video on traditional Chinese workholding. The rural Chinese carpenter had all kinds of ingenious methods of holding wood and I've learned a ...
2024-12-14 12:00:11 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
I've been frustrated with dovetail layout tools for a long time. Most of the layout gauges out there are cheap and flimsy, or they're expensive and they only do one thing. And I get irritated switching back and forth between an ang...
2024-12-06 19:22:49 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
We're super-proud to present you with the plans to our recent Chinese Workbench. Everyone else pays $15 for these, but Patrons get them FREE.
This is a fairly complex build with many unfamiliar details and angles. We did our ...
2024-11-27 13:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
Here we are, 20 videos later and the Shaker Table is done! This was a very educational project and it gave me a reminder of what it's like to build something in tiny little increments.
In this last part, we trim the top and ...
2024-11-27 12:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post
Friends:
The Chinese bench is finally done! It took me a long time and a LOT of problem-solving, but I got it done.
This bench has so many opportunities for growth and skill building. You need to do mortise-and-tenon joints angled in...
2024-11-23 12:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post