Making Monster Pegs

Jerome and Megan got right to work making pegs the morning of the last day of filming. It didn’t take me long to ask if I could jump in and help in any way. After checking with my Dad to make sure I’m allowed to use sharp objects, they plopped me down in front of the bench and gave me an enormous chisel and hammer. I got a lil’ how-to on chopping wood – including a lesson on grain direction – and I started hammering away. I knew making pegs was going to be tough work, but I didn’t realize just how tedious (and humbling) it would be. I didn’t dare try to get a peg to the finished stage, in fear of my wasting it after chopping it to size. Chopping with a chisel and hammer, though, I got more comfortable with. I started off lucky and my first few were a pretty good size (close to 1/2" square) for Megan and Jerome to work on, but my sticks gradually got thicker – maybe from exhaustion.

Jerome showed me up-close how he shaves each stick down with a chisel. Whittling down the peg one shaving at a time until it fits perfectly into a 1/2" hole takes time. The cherry was cutting like butter for him. My cuts were … not that good. But hey – it was my first handmade peg ever, so my expectations were low. (I give mad props to Jerome for making at least 20 pegs for each of four tables that he’s made, in four different species of wood.) Back to chopping I went. My hands still aren’t used to woodworking tools, and my body isn’t used to the positioning. I did get a few blisters from swinging a lump hammer, but I just saw it as evidence I put in some work. It had been a while since I got blisters on my hands – working with clay I just got chronically dry hands. One accomplishment was not bleeding on this trip.

Making the pegs on the last day was nice. I had watched Jerome making this table over the past few days and worked myself up to wanting to get on the bench, too. Instead of being behind the camera, I was up there helping make the table. The three of us working together to make the pegs off camera was when we got to let loose a bit. All of us in the same sweaty boat was a nice get-to-know-you and I was able to tell Jerome all my favorite marsupial facts.¹ Getting in a good groove after making five of the 20 pegs made it go by fast, and soon we were back to filming.