Can you really build fine furniture from construction lumber? Yes, you can. The secret is knowing which boards to buy, how dry they need to be, which parts of each board to keep, and how to finish the wood so…
Good woodworking often comes down to small details that are easy to overlook. Saw blades and router bits are a perfect example. Even a very good saw or router can perform poorly with a dirty blade, a dull cutter, or…
A miter saw is one of the most useful power tools a homeowner can own. Also called a chop saw, it’s designed mainly for crosscutting wood quickly, accurately, and safely. This makes it especially valuable for jobs such as basement…
A subscriber asked me: “Why is it that no woodworkers I watch on YouTube tell viewers specific amounts of time it takes to complete projects? It’s discouraging for newbies like me when something looks easy but takes me forever. What…
Building a table seems simple until the top starts causing trouble. Board alignment, glue-up strategy, sanding technique and finish choice all affect whether your table ends up flat, durable and attractive – or not. Here’s how you can avoid trouble…
Key Takeaways Can a MIG welder work from a regular 110 volt outlet? If your shop only has standard household power, the good news is yes. In my experience a 110 volt MIG welder can handle many light welding jobs…
Have you ever been on a workshop date? Let Steve tell you about the workshop dates that he and his wife Mary do, and what they’ve made together on their last one.
In this video, Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, talks about three very useful families of router bit profiles for woodworking.
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.
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.
Mold stains can be stubborn—especially on wood and outdoor surfaces where they soak in and darken over time. Oxygen-based cleaners can remove these stains surprisingly well, but only if you use them the right way. In this test, you’ll see…
Wood thickness planers are one of the most useful machines in any home workshop. They turn rough lumber into smooth, uniform boards and open up new design options you simply can’t achieve otherwise. Whether you’re buying your first planer or…