Research

Portfolio: Forging Old Gold

Portfolio: Forging Old Gold

Snapshots from my visits to Nathan Brandt at Coal Iron and the making of Old Gold No. 1.

Portfolio: Forging Old Gold

Snapshots from my visits to Nathan Brandt at Coal Iron and the making of Old Gold No. 1.

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Making Old Gold No. 1

Making Old Gold No. 1

Relaunching Best Made raised many questions, chiefly: where to begin? The axe wasn't a guaranteed starting point until I met Nathan Brandt. After announcing the reacquisition, I received an email...

Making Old Gold No. 1

Relaunching Best Made raised many questions, chiefly: where to begin? The axe wasn't a guaranteed starting point until I met Nathan Brandt. After announcing the reacquisition, I received an email...

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The Viking Valgblyant Election Pencil

The Viking Valgblyant Election Pencil

Like an axe, I love the sharpening ritual, with each turn it's like fashioning a brand-new tool. Enter my favorite pencil: the Viking Valgblyant.

The Viking Valgblyant Election Pencil

Like an axe, I love the sharpening ritual, with each turn it's like fashioning a brand-new tool. Enter my favorite pencil: the Viking Valgblyant.

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A Field Guide to Words

A Field Guide to Words

Of all the tools I own, the most useful might be my 1976 three-volume edition of Webster's Dictionary: a field guide to words. My dictionary is a permanent fixture on...

A Field Guide to Words

Of all the tools I own, the most useful might be my 1976 three-volume edition of Webster's Dictionary: a field guide to words. My dictionary is a permanent fixture on...

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A Work in Process

A Work in Process

Last week I drove 721 miles to visit a new manufacturing partner in the Midwest. While I was there I managed to snap this photo (above) of a 4-pound 9-ounce...

A Work in Process

Last week I drove 721 miles to visit a new manufacturing partner in the Midwest. While I was there I managed to snap this photo (above) of a 4-pound 9-ounce...

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The Most Durable Tool Ever Made

The Most Durable Tool Ever Made

Late last year, after almost 50 years of clear communications, a memory chip inside NASA's Voyager 1 failed, garbling its messages back to Earth. Working 15.3 billion miles away, engineers...

The Most Durable Tool Ever Made

Late last year, after almost 50 years of clear communications, a memory chip inside NASA's Voyager 1 failed, garbling its messages back to Earth. Working 15.3 billion miles away, engineers...

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Emotional Durability

Emotional Durability

We can make things that are physically durable, that will last. But if they aren't emotionally durable — if we don't connect with them on some deeper level, if we...

Emotional Durability

We can make things that are physically durable, that will last. But if they aren't emotionally durable — if we don't connect with them on some deeper level, if we...

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Spring Project Ideas

Spring Project Ideas

Some project ideas to get you started this spring: Making: Sewing Indigo dying 8 x 10 photography Landscape watercolors Weaving Clay hand-building Quilt making Woodturning Basic metal forging Leather painting...

Spring Project Ideas

Some project ideas to get you started this spring: Making: Sewing Indigo dying 8 x 10 photography Landscape watercolors Weaving Clay hand-building Quilt making Woodturning Basic metal forging Leather painting...

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Move Slow and Make Things

Move Slow and Make Things

I've been planning. Planning product assortments, time and action calendars, manufacturing matrixes. The time away has given me space to go deep. And it's paying off. I suggested picking up...

Move Slow and Make Things

I've been planning. Planning product assortments, time and action calendars, manufacturing matrixes. The time away has given me space to go deep. And it's paying off. I suggested picking up...

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