Top 4 Woodworking Jigs for Hand Tool Woodworking

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Matt Hagens

This guide was created by Norman Pirollo, a furniture designer and woodworking educator from WoodSkills. It features four essential jigs that make hand tool woodworking more accurate, efficient, and enjoyable. Each jig highlighted here is built for a specific purpose …

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Setting up a Woodworking Shop || Workshop Layout Tips

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Matt Hagens

This educational video was created by Norman Pirollo from WoodSkills. With over two decades of woodworking experience, Norman shares how thoughtful workshop design can improve efficiency, comfort, and overall enjoyment. Whether you’re outfitting a garage or a dedicated studio, the …

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The Bench Hook (Why You Need One)

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Matt Hagens

This tip was shared by Norman Pirollo from WoodSkills. It covers the design, function, and value of a bench hook—an often overlooked but powerful tool for precision hand-cut joinery. Whether you’re just starting with hand tools or looking to improve …

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Best Hand Planes for Starting Hand Tool Woodworking

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Matt Hagens

This guide was created by Norman Pirollo from WoodSkills. It highlights the essential hand planes every beginner should consider when starting out with hand tool woodworking and furniture making. Understanding which planes to use—and why—can dramatically improve your results at …

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Wood Joinery Basics for Stronger, Smarter Builds

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Matt Hagens

This woodworking guide was created by Norman Pirollo from WoodSkills. It’s an in-depth overview of essential wood joinery techniques, including both traditional and modern methods used in furniture and cabinetry. Strong joinery is at the heart of successful woodworking. Whether …

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How To Contain Falling Debris When Drilling Overhead

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Matt Hagens

This tip comes from Jodee at Inspire Woodcraft. It’s a clever way to contain dust and debris while drilling overhead—using nothing more than a recycled yogurt container. Whether you’re installing fixtures, running wires, or mounting hardware, overhead drilling usually comes …

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How To Cut Splined Miters Without a Jig

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Matt Hagens

This tip comes from Jodee at Inspire Woodcraft. It’s a straightforward method for cutting splined miters using a table saw—no fancy jig required. Splined miters offer both strength and style, especially in frames, boxes, and decorative joinery. Jodee’s technique is …

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How To Cut Tapers on a Table Saw Without a Jig

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Matt Hagens

This tip was shared by Jodee from Inspire Woodcraft. It’s a practical method for making tapered cuts on a table saw using only a few simple tools—no jig required. Tapered cuts are often used in furniture and cabinetry work, but …

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A Table Saw Trick So Crazy, It’s Genius!

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Matt Hagens

This tip was shared by Jodee from Inspire Woodcraft. It’s a clever technique for breaking down large sheet goods on a small table saw—without the need for a track saw or oversized workspace. By rethinking how the saw is used …

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WHY You Get Sanding Pigtails, and HOW TO AVOID THEM

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Matt Hagens

This woodworking tip comes from Jodee at Inspire Woodcraft. In this video, he breaks down what causes sanding pigtails and shares specific techniques to avoid them, helping you improve your finishes and reduce frustration in the shop. Pigtails are one …

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Wood Burning Tips for a Shou Sugi Ban–Inspired Finish

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Matt Hagens

This woodworking technique was demonstrated by Jodee from Inspire Woodcraft. It’s a detailed walkthrough of achieving a clean, consistent charred finish inspired by the traditional Japanese method known as Shou Sugi Ban. Jodee explains how burning wood not only adds …

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