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 […]
Continue ReadingSPADE 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.
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WOOD FINISHING: How to Stain and Seal Interior Woodwork Like a Pro
Wood is a beautiful home feature, but it’s only as good as the finish that’s applied to it. And truth be told, a lot of people have trouble putting a simple, smooth, effective finish on interior wood. I know because […]
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 ReadingOUTDOOR WOOD FINISH: 28 Years Experience With One Great Product
Back in 1990, I prepared my first outdoor wood finishing sample to see how a particular product actually performed in the sun, rain and weather over the long haul. Since then I’ve tested many other finishes in the same way, […]
Continue ReadingVIDEO: Fine Woodworking Without Wood
Wood is a wonderful material, but sunshine, rain and seasonal temperature swings can make it look weathered and cracked in short order when it lives outdoors. This is fine for some applications, but not others. That’s what gave me the idea to […]
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