Matt Hagens 
Removing wood stain from your skin is not just a matter of cleanliness; it’s also about safety. Some stains contain chemicals that can irritate or damage your skin if left on for too long. That’s why it’s crucial to know …
I don’t know much about electricity, plugs, circuit breakers, and such, except that electricity can kill you if you don’t know what you’re doing and touch the wrong thing. I did once dare to replace a copper lantern outside my …
What Is Polyurethane? Polyurethane is a versatile polymer material that is made by reacting a polyol with an isocyanate. The resulting product is a strong, durable material that can be used in a wide variety of applications. Polyurethanes are known …
I scratched my head, looking at the drunken zig-zag cuts. After meticulously jointing, planing, and measuring the wood, what had caused them to go so wonky?! Before you sweep your crooked scraps off the table in defeat, let me show …
In woodworking, patience is as important as precision, especially when it comes to finishes like polyurethane. QUICK ANSWER: For water-based polyurethane, the wait time is generally 2-4 hours, while for oil-based, it’s 8-24 hours. Environmental factors like humidity and ventilation …
Unless we are practicing the old style of woodworking that does not use mechanical connection methods of nails and screws, we’re going to be making holes in our wood. I marvel at the building methods of Japanese home construction that …
There is the notion that nothing ever lasts forever and that things change always, in time. Those thoughts crossed my mind as I was looking for a way to begin this piece. While J-B Weld is an excellent bonding agent, …
We all know in woodworking that there are many types of cuts – straight cuts, through cuts, non-through cuts, mitered cuts – and the power tool or tools we use to make these cuts depends on the type of cut. …
We like our table saw. It’s a great tool for ripping plywood or other boards, but it can do much more. We use it often, maybe not as often as the chop saw, but still quite often. But what do …
We recently wrote about lathes and, in particular, a mandrel, a tool used with lathes that hold a work piece at the center so the spin of the piece is balanced. This is an essential element of turnery, and it …
Ever found yourself in the middle of a project, only to be halted by a drained battery? As a woodworker, I know the importance of efficient tool use, and a key factor is understanding ‘How Long Do DeWALT Batteries Take …
If you’ve read previous articles I’ve written, you know my brother is a turnery artist in Boston. His work is stunningly beautiful, true works of art. I especially loved his spring 2022 collection from spalted maple. His lathe talent is …
Sometimes what we think will be good turns out not to be so much. Whether it’s a paint color that looked good on the chip but turned out to be too light or too dark for the room, or a …
Interior trim work signals you are nearing the end of the carpentry work for that reno job or room addition in your home. It is the “home” stretch if you will. Window and door trim, maybe some crown moulding, maybe …
In restaurant kitchens, you are likely to see plastic cutting boards used. They are color-coded and used for a specific cutting purpose: vegetables on one, raw chicken on another, cooked chicken on a third, then fish, raw meat, cooked meat, …
This question often surfaces among both new and experienced woodworkers and DIY enthusiasts. I understand the dilemma of choosing the right brand that balances quality with affordability. Black and Decker, a name synonymous with power tools, offers a range that …
Our woodworking projects go in cycles. A burst of enthusiasm overcomes us, and we rush to the shop for the next project. Or, a particular need arises, whether it’s a desk for one of the kids or a new platform …
No matter how many times I watch the SawStop video demo using a hot dog to show how quickly the blade stops spinning when it comes in contact with the dog, it still amazes me. The mark left on the …