How To Tell The Direction of Wood Grain
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 …
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Can You Use Pine For A Cutting Board?
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 …
Is Hickory Good For Cutting Boards?
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 …
Blum 564 vs 563H Drawer Slides: What Is the Difference?
Sometimes you run into a dilemma with parts and accessories in woodworking where the manufacturer is less than clear or helpful in defining the differences between their similarly named/numbered parts. We ran into one recently and would like to spare …
What Size Screws Do I Need For Blum Drawer Slides & Hinges?
I’m always on the lookout for the best hardware to enhance my projects. After experimenting with various brands and types, I’ve come to a firm conclusion: Blum drawer slides are, without a doubt, the best. Blum drawer slides use a …
How To Restore A Table Saw Top
Water is the enemy of wood. Water is also the enemy of cast iron. On wood, continued exposure to water leads to decay and rot. On cast iron, water/moisture leads to rust. We’re woodworkers, so why do we need to …
How To Fix Warped Cabinet Doors
We’re not sure how many times we’ve written these words: water is the enemy of wood, but it is germane to today’s piece on warped cabinet doors, whether kitchen or bathroom. The kitchen sink, the dishwasher, the bathroom sink, the …
Can You Stain a Charcuterie Board?
Wood kitchen countertops have become somewhat popular of late, and it’s an excellent choice for the home cook. We live near a sawmill and have access to slabs of a variety of woods at custom lengths. With a kitchen remodel …
How To Identify A Load-Bearing Post On Stairway
For those of us who like to do our own home renovation work, we easily and without doubt rip out carpet, replace floorboards with suitable plywood, and lay our own floating floors. We eagerly take down kitchen cabinet doors to …
What Can I Make With A Wood Lathe?
I remember shop class in junior high school and working the wood lathe was my favorite tool to use. We made a matching plate and bowl, including digging out the inner bowl and the concave part of the plate, smoothing …
Why Are My Miter Cuts Not Lining Up?
As a seasoned woodworker, I’ve learned that the true test of craftsmanship lies in the details. Miter cuts, for instance, are more than just angled cuts; they are a testament to precision and skill. In this article, I’ll share my …
How to Install Drawer Pulls Evenly
Remember when you were in high school math class, and it came time to study geometry? Geometry? What for? How is that going to help me in life? Bisecting an angle? Jeepers! Well, here we are now, a few years …
Where To Buy Lumber for Woodworking Projects
After outfitting your home woodworking shop with everything you need, power and hand tools, etc., it’s now time to stock your shop with various types of wood for your projects. A few boards of this and that, pine or walnut …
Guide To Woodworking Items Sell The Best & Where To Sell Them
We take on hobbies for, well, a hobby, something to spend time on away from work, something to devote a weekend on here and there. People choose a hobby because they enjoy it, find it fun, something to keep their …
How to Repair a Cracked Wooden Bowl
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 …
Picture Frame Joinery: 4 Proven Methods for Strong Corners
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 …
What Grit Sandpaper Should I Use for Distressing Furniture?
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 …
How to Straighten a Warped Barn Door
Barnboard has become very popular in home decor; wood reclaimed from old barns being demolished. That rustic look left unfinished adds a warming, countrified look in both new and old houses. Home decor has also borrowed barn door design and functionality, …