Matt Hagens 
Every home shop woodworking enthusiast has their favorite power tool, which they consider indispensable in the shop. Perhaps it’s a miter saw, or maybe a table saw, or a planer. But, what do you do when your space or budget …
Sometimes the answers to questions are pretty obvious in the asking. This might be one of them: “What is the difference between red oak and white oak?” That obvious answer is in the color, of course. But it’s a bit …
We all know a table saw has a blade. Duh? The home woodworking enthusiast also knows the blade turns toward you as you push the wood through it for your cut. But just as that branch will close in on …
I’ve learned over the years that one of the most crucial steps in achieving a flawless wood finish on any woodworking project is thoroughly removing all dust from the wood after sanding. No matter how precise my cuts are or …
Two old sayings came to mind prior to writing this article: Stay with this piece for just a few moments, and you’ll see what we mean. What, you may ask, does either have to do with woodworking or, in particular, …
There’s an old story, often used by Daoist and Buddhist teachers, about an aging butcher in a small village. He knew his working days were coming to an end, and so he took in three apprentices to teach them butchery …
Not all wood stock will come to you flat, square and smooth. This is, of course, true of rough lumber purchased directly from a sawmill. But it’s also true of your neighborhood lumber yard. For serious woodworking, whether making furniture …
Among the many power tools in a home woodworking shop, beyond the table saw and chop saw, are jointers and planers. For the serious woodworker, one or both of these tools can be indispensable for woodworking projects. This article will …
Lumber is like meat. With meat, the fewer times a butcher needs to touch it with his knife, the cheaper it will be. But, you’ll have to touch it with your knife when you get it home: breaking down a …
From episodes of This Old House to shop classes in school, we saw, heard about, and employed biscuit joinery as part of our woodworking education on joining two pieces of wood together. It’s a quick and easy way to glue …
Proper sanding is a key step in almost all woodworking projects. While hand sanding is an option, it’s time-consuming (and not much fun). A more efficient choice is using a power sander, particularly a random orbital sander. As sandpaper wears …
Old school woodworkers were accustomed to simply wrapping a rectangular piece of sandpaper around a small block of wood to smooth down surfaces that could accommodate the block and then use their hands to hold the paper for the harder-to-reach …
Most woodworking enthusiasts, the home craftsman, know of compound sliding miter saws. The blade not only moves down through the workpiece, but it also slides out through it as well. It’s not uncommon to see a sliding miter saw in …
Many of us have kitchen “stuff” that once belonged to a grandmother or even a great grandmother. Treasured heirlooms, kitchen utensils no longer made but still used, or an old Fanny Farmer Cookbook from 1896, they all carry the energy and …
Building a picture frame consists of multiple steps: measuring, cutting, gluing, and clamping. The corner joints are the hallmark of a well-made frame. We describe 4 methods of joining the corners are described below. Tools for Making Picture Frames What …
Let’s examine the specifics of amps, watts, and volts and how these factors impact your table saw’s performance. Whether you’re setting up a new workshop or fine-tuning an existing one, understanding these electrical fundamentals is key to ensuring your table …
When the build is complete on your woodworking project, perhaps a side table, a dinner table, a desk, or a chair, it’s time to choose the wood finish. You probably had some idea of the type of finish before the project began, but maybe …
Antiquing furniture is a popular project for adding to a home’s decor. The introduction of antique pieces, whether genuine or faux, into a room’s furnishings adds to its ambiance and aesthetic, as well as its warmth. Finding just that right piece at …