As the lads I'm writing for have made good progress in the last year, the next article I write for them is gonna be on something a bit more complicated than basic tools and joinery:
It's an improved coping saw....more blade tension that in the commercial models....good enuf to cut dovetails with.
Also making a run of 8 to demonstrate some precision technique applicable to any multiple or furniture project.
I’m still playing with how light I can get them without risk of breakage, but the unfinished trial saw cuts two-pass dovetails in hard maple like butter and with enuf accuracy to clean up with 3 chisel strokes. Not too bad considering zero practice with a brand new design.
And the blade twangs to a nice high “C”.
Will finish the article and post the design when I get it all worked out.
Caulking mallets (accurate Drew replicas) will be later this winter when my blacksmith partner and I are freed up from summer projects and I finish negotiating the price of original "black" mesquite.