Skip to content

I’m Rui. I build oak furniture with hand tools in a converted garage in Porto, and I sell the plans for it, a short guide to the first tools, and a course on cutting dovetails.

Rui Matos

I’m Rui. I build oak furniture with hand tools in a converted garage in Porto, and I sell the plans for it, a short guide to the first tools, and a course on cutting dovetails.

Rui with a pencil behind his ear holding a hand plane

About

About me

I work in a converted garage near the river in Porto, with the roll-up door open to a small courtyard and a stray dog who sleeps beside whatever I am building. I learned the trade from my uncle, who made doors and shutters, and I kept his saws.

I draw every plan myself, build the piece, then draw it again. Each plan lists the joints, the size and how hard it is, so you know what you are taking on. I film the builds, and a new video comes every other Thursday.

Wall of hand tools in a woodworking shop

Newsletter

Sawdust Notes

A short letter every other Thursday about one build, one joint and one thing the garage workshop taught me.

One email every other Thursday. Unsubscribe any time.