Matt Hagens 
Waterproofing plywood is essential for outdoor projects since moisture exposure causes swelling, warping, and rotting that compromises the wood’s structure and longevity. This article provides instructions on how to do it effectively to protect outdoor structures for years. Choosing the …
Deciphering Elm wood’s true nature: is it a hardwood or a softwood? This common question perplexes many woodworkers. Whether you’re selecting materials for a new project or deepening your woodworking knowledge, let’s explore Elm’s unique characteristics together, bridging the gap …
Polyurethane is a common choice for finishing wood flooring and furniture, providing a hard, clear coating that safeguards against moisture and scratches. However, polyurethane’s drawback is its strong odor during application and drying. This odor is primarily due to VOCs …
In my woodworking projects, I often find myself reaching for polyurethane, whether it’s oil-based or water-based. This choice always leads to a crucial question: How many coats are necessary for that perfect finish? Water-based polyurethane requires 3 to 4 coats, …
The cutting boards in our kitchen get a lot of work. That’s boards, plural. There’s one for poultry, another for red and white meats, and a third for vegetables. The one thing in common among the three, though, is the …
Green has become a popular color in the past decade for a number of reasons. The term “green” often refers to something that is environmentally friendly; green tea has risen in popularity, and Starbucks even offers a green tea chai …
If you’ve had trees removed from your yard, chances are some of that tree was run through a chipper. While one run through the chipper creates a coarse mulch, a second run will smooth it out more, and a third …
Any rumors about the Festool Domino’s patent expiring soon are patently false. Bad word game there, patent/patently, but if you did hear such a rumor, it would be, at the moment of this article, wrong. The degree to which it …
Cutterheads significantly impact woodworking tool performance. While straight cutterheads are standard, helical and spiral designs offer big improvements. Helical cutterheads minimize tear-out through a shearing cut action, excelling on hardwoods. Spiral cutterheads efficiently cut common woods but lack helical finesse …
I once had a teak bench in my garden. It was lovely, and over time it acquired the gray color it is known for after aging. I still treated it with a little oil, including teak oil, which actually does …
Ever wondered if spruce is a softwood or a hardwood? You’re not alone. I’ve seen many struggle with this question, especially when selecting the right wood for their projects. With its unique characteristics, Spruce often leaves us guessing about its …
Even though the warp drives in Star Trek lore were merely make-believe and came from Ray Bradbury’s imagination, engineers and scientists today appear to be close to a warp drive engine. Imagine that. (pun intended) A warped sense of humor …
My, how impatient we have become these days. Instant gratification is the rule now – we want it all, and we want it now. Those of us who work with wood know this doesn’t work well in the shop. Years …
I’ve often been asked about the best wood for making cutting boards. Through my experience and practice, I’ve found that white oak is a strong candidate. I’ve discovered that white oak’s natural antibacterial properties and water resistance make it stand …
Those of us who are proficient in the kitchen know that it’s important to put lids and covers on tightly to prevent food from going bad in some way. Sometimes that bad can be a film forming on the top; …
It’s inevitable that we will make holes in or dent wood as we work with it on a project. We have sharp tools in our hands and in our shop, and sometimes our hands are clumsy. We have hammers and …
I saw a sign in a woodworking shop once that read: “Life’s a birch,” and it made me smile. You may not have worked with solid birch wood before, in birch flooring, for instance, but you may have worked with …
I winced, looking at the scratches and dings all over my dresser, wondering if all that wood filler I’d smoothed into the gashes would prevent the new paint from adhering properly. Should I prime it first? Before you risk peeling …