Matt Hagens 
It may seem like such an obvious statement that you should only work with dry wood when making furniture. Yet, wood can feel dry to the touch while still being wet inside, and your sense of touch will be affected …
When we began our woodworking hobby, we assumed there was a generally accepted order in which our project was to be finished. If the wood was to be stained, we stained, and then we added a topcoat, whether polyurethane, varnish, …
Temperature change affects water greatly in both directions. We know that water expands as it gets heated and eventually becomes a vapor. As it cools, it contracts until it reaches 4 degrees C, its molecular density maximum, and then it …
Teak wood is a good choice for outdoor furniture, as you probably know. You might even have a piece or two of outdoor teak furniture yourself. It’s a durable wood, has a Janka rating of 1155, which ranks it harder …
There has been an unusual trend of late in the food e-zines I subscribe to and read each day, one that does not make a lot of sense to me. Perhaps you have read about or heard of butter boards. …
I’m not a crafty person…well, let me rephrase that: I am not a crafts person. I have friends who make crafts and sell them at craft fairs. It’s a sideline for them, and making the crafts is more important to …
When I was a coffee drinker, I remember using white vinegar to clean the coffee maker every couple of weeks. It worked well and was the only reason I bought it, as I do not consider it a good vinegar …
While we have moved away somewhat from default staining our woodworking projects, turning instead to wood oils or products like Rubio Monocoat, we still will occasionally use a wood stain as part of finishing the project. Stains come in a …
If you have ever visited Japan or watched videos of Japanese techniques in woodworking, chances are you have learned of the ancient ways of wood joinery and the building of houses without nails, screws, or other mechanical connecting elements. The …
We know the value of sleep and the value of a good night’s sleep. Being well-rested for a day of work or other activity can mean the difference between good work being done and falling asleep at your desk or …
We’re so lucky to have so many different kinds of woods available to us to work within our shop. Supply chains have recovered somewhat from the disarray caused by the COVID pandemic, and lumber yards and specialty wood shops both …
We all have a pretty good idea of the value of a topcoat on our stained projects. Stains will enhance the wood’s appearance and grain and provide color to the wood. However, stains offer no protection to the wood. Key …
We’ve measured and cut the wood for our project; glued, attached, and assembled the wood according to the project plans; and it’s now time to prepare the wood for our chosen finish. We all know this drill and the progression …
There are few things worse than looking at a frame (mirror, painting, picture, window, door) or a tabletop or desk that is out of square. Fortunately, we have squares to help us, as well as accurate measurements. In the category …
I’ve used polyurethane on just about everything—bar tops, tabletops, nightstands, shelves. Some projects turned out great. Others… not so much. At first, I figured any clear coat would do the job. Just slap it on and wait for it to …
We like oil finishes on our woodworking projects. They create a beautiful finish, accentuate grains, and offer great protection for the wood surface. There are a variety of oils that work well on wood, and we’ve written about some of …
We will admit that we are not wood carvers. We love working with wood, of course, but our woodworking is in the making and building of things – desks and bed frames for the kids, outdoor decks, cutting boards, and …
The DEWALT DCS570 20V Circular Saw is known for its dependable cutting power, but like all tools, it can experience issues. This article presents 6 common problems that users may encounter and provides straightforward fixes. From lithium-ion battery malfunctions to …