This is a consolidation of several single topic articles. The previous articles are combined here in on LARGE article.
How I made guitar wall hangers to save floor space and make room for an iRoomba parking spot.
A side sound port or player port allows the guitar player to better hear what’s projected from the front sound hole.
A detailed description (with photos) of my Merlin solo canoe build.
I’ve built four cedar strip canoes and two cedar strip kayaks, but I purchased paddles to use with them. Here's how it worked when I set about building my own paddle.
Learn do-it-yourself deer antler repair with step-by-step instructions and photos for putting tines back in place.
This article will break down how I selected a design, drew plans, selected materials, then built two Adirondack chairs.
This article will walk you through an amateur's repair of an old, damaged violin.
My experience building a Northwest Passage solo cedar-strip canoe.
Instructions for making custom knives using old saw blades.
Here's how to make cane-woven DIY canoe seats. They are attractive and can be tricky, which is why I provide a complete step-by-step guide here.
I'll show you how I made wooden foot braces for a cedar-strip solo canoe or kayak.
An overview of how much it costs to build an acoustic guitar from scratch, plus the guitar-making materials you'll need.
A tale of two small children and a house with a dark history. Losely based on a True story.
This article will explore the specific steps I went through to build my own acoustic guitar, from choosing the type of wood to attaching the bridge and completing the finishing touches (with photos).
A canoe can potentially sink or scuttle if it ever capsizes. Here's how I added flotation chambers to the bow and stern of my canoe.
I built a lean-to shed on the side of my garage, closer to the house, and with a roof to protect the wood from rain and snow.
My research about the parts that I could make or substitute to reduce the cost of a homemade big-bore flintlock rifle.
Did you know that you can reinforce a cedar-strip canoe with a durable bottom coating? Here's how to add a black graphite bottom to a canoe.
Now is time to cut holes in the beautiful deck. This step can be a little intimidating because if you mess it up too bad, there is no fixing it.
Want to know the basics of building a cedar-strip kayak? Here's a practical account, with photos, of how I built one.
I am in the final stretch of completing my second cedar strip kayak build. I though I'd publish the final cost since I have now purchased all the material.
After a thorough round of planning, sanding, patching and more sanding on both the lower half and deck interior sides I was ready to apply the fiberglass.
Once you have completed all of the sanding and caressing of wood in the lower part of the hull it is time to apply the fiberglass and epoxy
This is the step in the build process where your kayak actually starts to look like something. This can be a source of motivation.
The stems on a wood strip kayak are ¼ strips of wood which are steamed, shaped and glued together with thickened epoxy. The sheer clamp is what is used to attach the deck to the bottom of the hull.
Making forms that determine the shape of the hull and deck, then setting them up on a build table for construction of a Cedar Strip Kayak.
Are you planning to build a cedar strip kayak? Here's how I "lofted" the plans (made 3-dimensional templates) for my second cedar-strip kayak.
This is another in a series of articles about Gold Mines in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula written by my father(James M. Clem) in the early 1960’s and published in the Marquette Mining Journal.
This is another in a series of articles about Gold Mines in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula written by my father(James M. Clem) in the early 1960’s and published in the Marquette Mining Journal.
When building a cedar strip canoe, red cedar strips are one of the larger components of the total material cost. This is an estimate of the cost for red cedar strips.
These are step-by-step instructions on how I built an outdoor, wood-fired sauna by taking advantage of an existing small outbuilding and an old fireplace insert.
Johnny Clem was famous for his bravery on the battlefield and became the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history.
This is a simple homemade portage yoke that is inexpensive and simple to construct. It works well with no slippage and is quick and easy to attach.
Firing a flintlock rifle is something that every hunter or shooting sport enthusiast should experience.
Here is my 10-step process for building a whitetail European-style skull mount to preserve a trophy.
In 1895, at 12 years of age, Jim became the youngest miner at the Ropes Gold Mine in Ishpeming, Michigan.
This is an excerpt from an article written by my father (James M. Clem) in the early 1960’s about Gold mining in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The Sylvania Wilderness area, one of my favorite spots in Michigan, is a small backcountry canoe camping reserve with great fishing for Smallmouth Bass.
These are my recollections of building a Tennessee Flintlock Longrifle.
I restored this 1965 Gibson Melody Maker. It was a real piece of junk when I recieved it, now it looks good and plays good too.
Things I learned during my first attempt at taxidermy of the whitetail deer I took while hunting my property.
A practical account of my experiences and a brief guide to building the cedar-strip canoe I use for wilderness camping and fishing.