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 ReadingCORDLESS TOOLS: Three New Kinds You’ve Probably Never Used – Yet
Power tool technology is the same as every other kind of advancement in the world. New stuff is expensive and exclusive at first, then it gets cheaper and more widely available over time. So what kind of new and interesting […]
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. […]
Continue ReadingWOODWORKING VIDEO: Use a Router to Make Fancy Handrails
In this video Steve Maxwell shows DIY (do-it-yourself) homeowners how to build wood handrails, beginning with making blanks from rough lumber.
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Learn More from Bailey Line Road
TOOLS: Two Portable Workstation Strategies
More than one old-timer I know tells how new carpenters used to be judged on the job by their ability to build a sawhorse. If they could deal successfully with the required angles and joints of a sawhorse, creating something solid and […]
Continue ReadingHOW-TO: Why You Should Love Dowel Joinery
Dowel joints are one of the easiest, strongest and more versatile way to connect wood parts. Read Steve’s quick-start guide on how to succeed with dowel joints
Continue ReadingMill Your Own Micro Lumber
It’s easy to look past the obvious fact that lumber comes from logs, but once you start thinking this way, interesting things can happen. It’s surprisingly easy to mill short, small logs into furniture-grade boards, right in your own workshop, […]
Continue ReadingCRAFTSMANSHIP: Creating Quality in a World of Junk
All good things eventually come to an end. That said, the right attitude towards woodworking offers a unique chance to extend ourselves a little beyond the usual limits of life. That’s because building beautiful things isn’t just about making something […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: Smoother Cuts With a Chopsaw
Why do my chopsaw cuts bind? I’m building the workbench you offered free plans for a while back, and some of the cuts seem to pinch the blade of the saw, causing friction and burning. What should I do? Read on for Steve’s advice.
Continue ReadingFIELD TRIAL: Minwax Finishing Cloths
Read about Steve’s experiences using a simple, new method for staining and sealing wood.
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