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 […]
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RAISED 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 […]
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 ReadingLearn How To Build Your Own Classic Kitchen Cabinets
If you’re interested in saving tons of money building great kitchen cabinets, built-ins or a bathroom vanity, all while working in your garage or basement, then I’ve got some specific things to show you. In fact, I’ve already started showing people how to build cabinets like the ones you see here.
Continue ReadingWOOD PLANERS: Tips for Choosing & Maintaining One
UPDATED 13Jun2019 (Video below): There are big reasons to like a wood planer for your workshop. Not to be confuses with a jointer, wood planers (also called “thickness planers”) are a class of stationary power tool designed to smooth the […]
Continue ReadingOIL FINISHES FOR WOOD: A Beautiful & Repairable Option
Steve explains an under-appreciated option for finishing interior wood using a mixture of oil and varnish.
Continue ReadingSANDING CABINET FACE FRAMES: Video Shows the Right Way To Do It
Face frames surround cabinet door and drawer openings and they’re also used as part of frame and panel construction of all kinds. Click below to watch the video of my classic lesson on sanding face frames from back in 2008. […]
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