Workshop
Woodworking, metalworking and repairs all happen in workshops, and this is where you’ll find lots of inspiration and information
Review the entire Archive of Workshop Articles here, or do a more in-depth search to find what you’re looking for.
SANDING BETWEEN COATS: The Most Important Wood Finishing Step
Video Watch Time = 11 minutes Sanding lightly between coats is the single most important step you need to take…
WOODWORKING: See Essential Tricks for Crosscutting Boards to Length
Woodworking is all about cutting wood into pieces and joining those pieces together again in better ways. The video above…
WORKSHOP: Tips for Choosing & Maintaining a Thickness Planer
There are big reasons a woodworking thickness planer is so useful in the home shop. Not to be confused with…
METALWORKING: See The Simplest, Easiest Welding Process in Action
Have you ever wanted to weld? It’s a powerful home workshop skill and MIG welding is the simplest of all…
WORKBENCH PLANS: Download First-Class Design & Instructions for Free
If you don’t have a workbench somewhere around your home, you should change that. You’ll never find a simpler, more…
PHILOSOPHY: Leaving a Legacy With Your Handiwork
Leonard Lee, famous Canadian and founder of Lee Valley Tools, died on July 7, 2016 and when that happened it…
WOODWORKING: Assess The Ends of Boards, Not Just the Face
I’ve noticed that most woodworkers start assessing a board by looking at its face, but if this is where your…
METALWORKING: Simple Plug Weld Joins Metal Invisibly
Plug welds offer a simple way of joining two pieces of metal when you don’t want a visible weld bead. You…
WOODWORKING: This Footstool Project Teaches the Basics
Are you interested in learning to work with wood? You’ve come to the right place. The best way to make…
ANCHORING TO CONCRETE: Powder-Actuated Tools Make It Easy
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, informs homeowners of the benefits of powder-actuated tools (PATs), especially for basement renovations.
ROUTER PITFALLS TO AVOID: Watch Out for These Five Big Ones
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, provides 5 pitfalls woodworkers should avoid when working with routers.
GOT WONKY CABINET DOORS? Adjust Or Replace Those Bad European Hinges
From everything I see, modern kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors in many homes are in bad shape. It’s mostly because…
EASIER TIMBER FRAMING: Canadian Hardware Brings Big Wood Into View
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, explains an alternative lumber framing method called Timberlinx.
WOOD CARVING: How to Create Incised Letters & Numbers By Hand
It’s funny what sticks with you from childhood. One of my earliest woodworking memories is of my grandfather using a…
EXTENDING CHAINSAW LIFE: Watch & Learn the Tips That Kept This Saw Going for 30+ Years
Want your chainsaw to last a long, long time? Watch my video tutorial above, along with my 30+ year-old chainsaw…
BUILD YOUR OWN CLASSIC CABINETS: Learn How With My Online Course 50% Off Until July 9, 2025
If you’re interested in saving tons of money building great kitchen cabinets, built-ins or a bathroom vanity, all while working in…
COLOURED OIL FINISHES: See Why This Under-Rated Approach is Great
Coloured wood finishing oils are beautiful and repairable, and that’s why they work exceptionally well on surfaces that get regular…
AUTOMOTIVE DIY: Three Tricks for Amazing Driveway Autobody Work
If you’re interested in reducing the cost of owning a vehicle, then learning to do basic paint repairs and autobody…
METALWORKING: How to Make Perfect Curved Ends for Welding Railings & Frames
Black iron pipe is a great material for making railings, roll cages, frames and more. The trick is getting the…
WOODWORKING: See A Century-Old Smoothing Plane & A Great New Hand Plane
Learn what makes a hand plane work well, and get a close-up tour of the oldest plane I use and…
CIRCULAR SAWS: Tips on Choosing A Model You’ll Love
Hand-held circular saw power tools open a wide range of home improvement possibilities, says Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man.
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Woodworking, metalworking and repairs all happen in workshops, and this is where you’ll find lots of inspiration and information.