Percy Bishton - Woodworker and Turner

It's amazing how quickly things can change! Since I last wrote a blog post I have travelled to Japan for the test event for the Olympic Games - an event which was very successful, as well as very useful for me to learn a bit more about how my job as a route setter will...

Last time I blogged I mentioned that I was about to become a little bit busier. The reason for this is that the IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) asked me if I would like to be chief route setter for the bouldering at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this sum...

The new year ahead will see a number of exciting things happening for me, but will be particularly busy too. Thoughts of spending less of my work time in the climbing wall route setting and more time in the workshop have been put on hold for the short-term whilst I tur...

So, after a brief pause for summer holidays, I've finally found a little time to finish the roof of the timber frame I've been building. Photo below. (It's not totally finished - there are still the wind braces to go into the roof structure, but its all but done bar th...

So, the main frame for the house is now complete, and there will be a short delay whilst the wood for the roof trusses is processed. The tree that the roof timbers will come from is still growing, but is due to be felled, milled and dried in August. This should allow m...

Just a quick update with things. The house build is coming along, in between the showers. A couple more days on the main structure and then I will tackle the roof trusses. This house will have a tree (yes, a whole 25 foot high section of beech tree) holding up the roof...

Every now and then I get to do some carpentry.

As I have been lead to understand, a joiner joins bits of wood together to make functional, everyday things like cupboards, window frames, doors - that sort of thing. A cabinet maker does finer work - beautiful cabinets and...

I am a big fan of Paul Sellers, and I was reading his blog the other day. He pointed out how efficient modern machinery is at mass producing furniture, and how a factory with machines set up to produce very complex wooden constructions such as Windsor chairs could stil...

Just a quick update. Big bookcase is finished and in its final home which means I can move freely around the workshop again with bumping into big bits of oak or sash clamps! Now I can maybe get to the lathe again and do dome turning. Here's a picture of an ash vessel I...

I have been tempted to try a milk paint finish on a Windsor chair, but have never quite managed to get around to it. There are a few reasons for this. 

Firstly, a milk paint finish is considered by those in the know to be more typical of American Windsor chairs, whereas...