Matt Hagens 
In woodworking, there are some givens that we expect and plan for as the project nears completion and the pieces are assembled. Our nails, brads, and screws are handy, as are the drill and hammer. The piece comes together well, …
We’ve written quite a bit about wood fillers and putties, products that fill nail holes, cracks and holes in wood generally, and any opening in wood that needs to be filled. Key Points: One such article is about staining wood …
We know it to be a durable finish on our woodworking projects, and we’ve all likely used it in our shop. It’s a protective finish that saves the wood from heat (to a degree, pun intended) and moisture. It sits …
I own the DW735 and can attest it is a fantastic planer, the best “lunchbox” style planer on the market, in my opinion. Among the many power tools commonly found in the woodworking shop is a thickness planer. Depending on …
Once again, with the acronyms. If there isn’t a terms and terminology book for woodworking shops, there ought to be just to keep up with the acronyms. Key Points: Today’s 3-letter term is CBN, and to understand the answer to …
Got water-damaged, swollen wood furniture? Our easy-to-follow article will guide you in the water damage restoration process. The most important thing to do is allow the furniture to dry completely. You can do this by leaving it out in the …
Wood filler is a substance used to fill imperfections in wood, such as nail holes, cracks, and dents. It is typically made from a combination of wood fibers, resin, and a hardening agent. It can be applied with a putty …
Everything today has an acronym, and they have become a part of the English lexicon in everyday use now. You probably use some of them, too, at the least when you are using a messaging app on your phone. LOL, …
I know a little bit about maple trees. I live in the mountains of western Massachusetts, the northern Berkshires, and my property is surrounded by a lot of swamp maple, which is a dense wood. One of the trees is …
I hate shaving. Fortunately, I do not need to be clean-shaven every day, especially if I am working in the shop or the garden. Still, even shaving 3 days a week is an annoyance. But, when I do shave, I …
Cypress is valued for a number of reasons by woodworkers, carpenters, and home DIY enthusiasts for a number of reasons. The trees are slow-growing and can be somewhat expensive because it takes time to accumulate a meaningful amount of cypress …
Woodworkers tend to be pretty free in expressing frustration or anger with their power tools. The things that get said to them are NSFW, to be sure. Forums among woodworkers are filled with complaints and venting just as much as …
I now tend more to oil finishes for our woodworking projects; there is something to be said for a high-gloss finish. It adds a wonderful air of elegance to wood and adds depth and quality to its appearance. QUICK ANSWER: …
A day doesn’t go by that I don’t use a wooden cutting board in my kitchen. All of my cutting boards are wooden, although I’ve used hard plastic cutting boards in the past. Two are of bamboo, and one is …
I’ve made my fair share of wooden coasters over the years—usually as a way to use up scrap wood from bigger projects. At first, I didn’t put much thought into the finish… until I started seeing water rings and dull, …
Wood’s natural patterns are beautiful, and our goal is to make them stand out. This article will show you how to highlight wood grain (make it pop) using simple, effective techniques. Each technique is easy to follow and can make …
Having worked with both Southern Yellow Pine and Douglas Fir, I’ve learned a lot about what makes each of these woods unique from a woodworking perspective. In this article, I will share my experiences with these two types of wood. …
We woodworkers make all sorts of things to work within our shop, from jigs to fences, to all sorts of workarounds and such, and it is always satisfying to do that for ourselves. We always have scrap pieces of this …