UPDATED 19Jul2019: Building a table is one of the most deceptively simple woodworking projects going. What could be easier than gluing up a few boards and applying a finish, right? But reality is often surprising, because building a table – […]
Continue ReadingQ&A OF THE WEEK: “Is a Wood Planer Worth Buying for a Basic Shop?”
PUBLISHED 13Jun2019 Q: I’m planning the buy one of the benchtop jointers you recommended in your kitchen cabinetmaking course, but can you also recommend a benchtop wood planer? Is this a good piece of equipment to add to a very basic […]
Continue ReadingQ&A OF THE WEEK: “Why Does My Woodworking Take So Long?”
Q: Why is it that no woodworkers I watch on YouTube give specific amounts of time it takes to make projects? It’s discouraging for newbies like me when something looks easy but takes me forever. What am I doing wrong? […]
Continue ReadingWOODWORKING TIPS: Five Saw Blade & Router Bit Tips
A big part of woodworking success always comes down to small but important details, and some of these have to do with the saw blades and router bits you use to cut and shape wood. Remembering the five tips here […]
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BAILEY LINE LIFE EP. 7: Making Wooden Wedges, Manual Skills Decline & Great Old Tools
In this week’s episode, watch . . . a simple and effective way to make your own construction wedges; a rant about the sorry state of manual common sense in the world; a tour of some old tools and a century-old metal name stamp
Continue ReadingHOW TO INSTALL TRIM Q&A: “Should I Trust My Contractor’s Advice?”
Q: What should I think of a contractor who wants to fasten 8” wide Douglas fir exterior window trim using stainless steel screws? Not the nicest look in my opinion. He also wants to do the same thing with interior […]
Continue ReadingGAP-FREE WOODWORKING JOINTS: Simple Trick Makes It Easy
Sometimes a little woodworking trick can deliver a lot of value. That’s the case with an operation called “kerfing”. Click below to watch how I use kerfing to tighten up a visible joint that’s got more of a gap than […]
Continue ReadingEDGE-GLUING SOLID WOOD: Three steps for success in the home workshop
Gluing boards edge-to-edge to make wider pieces is an essential woodworking skill. Learn these three tips for getting this job done right.
Continue ReadingQuartersawn Wood 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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