Last year I got the chance to meet someone I’ve wanted to meet since I was a kid, Tom Savini. He’s a pioneer in special effects makeup an a legend in the horror community. I’ve saved all my issues of Fangoria Magazine over the years and asked Tom to sign this one from 1984 where […]
Well sure, why not! Haha! I love building Halloween projects. It’s my absolute favorite holiday of the year! I made a small, coffin-shaped candy box a couple years ago and decided to ramp it up and go full sized this year. I built my own coffin! Mostly, I wanted this to be a stylized prop […]
I have fond memories of playing the Aggravation board game with my grandma when I was a kid. It’s very similar to Parcheesi, a much older game, and it’s a little like Sorry. If you aren’t familiar with the rules, here is a short video with a concise explanation. Wood versions of Aggravation typically have […]
One of the best parts about having woodworking for a hobby is that it never gets old. Every project (and I mean every project!) comes with its own set of challenges and small puzzles to figure out. But once in a while I like to take on an entire project that is a challenge. These […]
One of the core tenets of Woodworking for Mere Mortals is that creative people shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money to make fun projects out of wood. While my method of woodworking stresses the use of inexpensive power tools, I sometimes have viewers ask if I can make a project using only hand tools. […]
Making wooden spoons is similar to making cutting boards: they both seem to be projects that every woodworker will eventually attempt. Typically, spoons are hollowed out and shaped using carving knives and chisels, but I used my power tools instead. I also opted for non-traditional spoon shapes, making and acoustic guitar and an electric guitar. The wood is […]
I recently learned about hydro dipping from my friend Bill Wilson. It’s a super cool technique for applying paint the yields amazing and random results of swirled colors. Just spray some spray paint into water, give is a slight swirl, and dip your project into it!
A couple months ago, my son suggested I try to make a Legend of Zelda Master Sword which I added to my ever-growing project list and finally got around to it this week, just in time for his birthday. I always find prop-making to be super fun and enjoyable. Mostly, it’s fun to try to […]
This week I tried my hand at making a classic soldier Christmas nutcracker. Ultimately it turned out okay, but wow, this was very challenging! I began by designing lathe turning templates for the various pieces. I am so glad I took the time to do this because it sped up the turning process and allowed me to […]
I had never heard of Score Four until my friend Bill Wilson, who make lots of games, showed me the ones he has been making. Score Four is a two-person strategy game similar to Connect Four, but with an added dimension. Players take turns dropping a bead onto a rod until one player gets four beads in […]
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