Every good woodworker needs to be something of a mechanic. That’s because all woodworking machines need tender loving care from time to time. The jointer needs this more than most. Click below to watch a video I made a few […]
Continue ReadingQUALITY & MORALITY: Build Unto Others As You Would Have Them Build for You
If you do anything at all creative with your hands, you need to understand an idea I call “the challenge of a thousand decisions”. From moment to creative moment we’re all faced with decisions – many of them small – […]
Continue ReadingQUARTERSAWN LUMBER: Why Woodworkers Should Be Looking At The Ends of Boards
UPDATED 26Sep2018: I’ve noticed that most woodworkers start assessing a board by looking at its face. But if this is where your investigations end, you’re missing out on insights that can lead to a lot of creative control and better […]
Continue ReadingRAISED PANELS, HAND-PLANED: Make Solid Wood Panels Without a Router
Woodworking machines are great, but there’s more of a place for hand tools than many people think. Click below to watch how I refine the bevel on the edge of raised door panels using a sharp hand plane. The results […]
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SPADE BITS: A Simple & Undervalued Woodworking Tool
Spade bits are one of my favourites for boring large holes in wood, and they’re useful in ways that other bits aren’t. And though every hardware store in the civilized world sells spade bits, I find that few people appreciate […]
Continue ReadingWOODWORKING: 4 Most Important Air-Drying Tips for Your Next Project
Learning to dry wood is one of the most important woodworking skills. Success depends on understanding what’s going on when wood dries, and how to make it happen reliably. Every woodworker needs to know this if they want to avoid disappointment.
Continue ReadingDETAIL SANDERS: Tips for Using This Key Tool for Outdoor Wood Refinishing
Summer is the season you’re most likely to refinish outdoor trim, door frames, window sashes and finickity woodwork of all kinds, and detail sanders are tools I’ve come to rely on for this kind of work. Also called multitools these days because they can also cut and grind, detail sanders are not for stripping back large expanses of bare wood.
Continue ReadingQ&A: How Can I Dispose of Shavings From My Planer?
Q: I recently bought a benchtop wood planer and have been happily generating bags and bags of sawdust in my workshop. Trouble is, I just found out that my municipality doesn’t accept sawdust as garbage. How can I dispose of […]
Continue ReadingWOODWORKING TOOLS: Three Pieces of Essential Gear You’ll Love
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, shares his three essential woodworking hand tools.
Continue ReadingSOLAR GENERATORS: Build-It-Yourself Plans Beat Ready-Made
Have you ever heard about solar generators? They’re an up-and-coming portable energy technology that lets you make modest amounts of electricity without connection to the utility grid and without burning any fuel or making any noise.
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