Gluing up a panel for a woodworking project is an important skill to develop as a new woodworker. I’ve made panels for many projects, including a dining table, coffee tables, end tables, a computer desk, and others. I’ve messed a few up, but I’ve also learned some tricks along the way. Now when I glue up a panel, I can test my results like this: … Read More
So you’re at a crossroads. You want to invest some money in a good woodworking power tool that can handle all (or most) of your cuts. The choice really comes down to the table saw vs the miter saw. Your decision really depends on what types of projects you’ll be using it for. I’ve been doing DIY home renovation projects, as well as building furniture … Read More
Would you like to get ahold of a simple, low-cost, effective pocket hole jig? One that is quick to set up, accurate, and adaptable to any project? That’s what came to mind as I read about the all-new Kreg pocket hole jig 320, so I went ahead and ordered one so I could review it for my readers. I’m going to give you my complete … Read More
The table saw sacrificial fence is a special shop-made fence that literally sacrifices itself to serve its purpose. You can use the sacrificial table saw fence to help you line up notches that run along the edge of a board. This type of cut is called a rabbet, and to get a better idea of what a rabbet is, vs a dado or groove, read … Read More
Do you feel like the list of woodworking tools for beginners is never ending? It seems like a person could spend tens of thousands of dollars before they can even get started. Well I can assure you, it does NOT have to be that expensive. There are some basic techniques you need to be equipped to handle. I’ve learned over the years how to do … Read More
With all the toxins that exist around us, in what seems like everything…. It’s no wonder there’s been a surge in the popularity of food safe wood finishes. I mean, we have to be careful about what we ingest, right? So it only makes sense to use food safe finishes when we’re working on wood projects that will come in contact with our mouths, our … Read More
Depending on the type of cabinet you’re building, this process will vary some. But the basics are the same, you need a frame, that fits around a panel, which can be plain, raised, or decorated somehow. For this tutorial on how to build cabinet doors, I’ll be making a tongue and groove, framed x-style sliding door. And don’t worry about the hardware. Whether you’re using … Read More
In this article I’m going to show you (with pictures) how to build, finish, and attach your kitchen island trim. For the sake of this post, that includes the face frame, trim work on the sides, and the base. For the trim and face frame I used white oak, stained with Minwax’s English Chestnut. The base is made from pine 2x4s, painted black, and set … Read More
Are you tired of over-crowded silverware slots? Are your forks and spoons overflowing your k-mart-special plastic fork divider? Keep reading to learn how to build a silverware drawer organizer that fits tight and gives you more space. TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED: Table saw Curve-cutting saw (jig saw, band saw, etc…) Sandpaper 1/4″ plywood Ideally, the plywood you use for this should be a high quality … Read More
We’re talking about flattening, milling, straightening, ripping, truing, paralleling, etc… All of this is used interchangebly when desribing the process that can be summed up as “Squaring Up Rough Cut Lumber”. It’s everything you do before the glue ups, before the sanding, before the finishing. It’s the Prep Work that you just gotta do. And if you get this right, your completed project will thank … Read More
In this part of the Kitchen Island Tutorial, I’m going to show you (with lots of pictures) how to build dovetail drawers the easy way. I say the “easy way” because the process I use is beginner friendly. You don’t need years of experience, however you will need a table saw jig for cutting your dovetails. If you haven’t made a dovetailing jig yet, check … Read More
You’re about to learn how to build cabinet shelves using plywood and a very simple process. These shelves work for any kind of cabinetry, including kitchen islands, base cabinets, hanging cabinets, etc… Plywood makes great shelves, because it’s very sturdy and stable. Plywood won’t shrink and expand like regular solid wood, making it ideal for not only the cabinet carcass itself, but the shelving within. … Read More
This tutorial is part of a larger project – my Kitchen Island. Below I’ll show you how to build base cabinets for an island using basic plywood you can get from any lumber store. This kitchen island is going to be counter height, which is usually 35″ to 36″. Depending on the top I go with (which as of right now has not been decided), … Read More
This toy shelf / book case / seat is sized for a kid. It’s made with 3/4″ plywood, joined with dado, rabbet, and pocket hole joints. A single full sheet of plywood is plenty for this project. If you prefer to work with half sheets, you’ll need 2. Plywood edges are all covered with veneer edge banding, which you can buy from most home stores … Read More
Is dust collection really that important? Well, for small-shop woodworking, yes it is. While the most important reason may be that we need to take care of our lungs, the reason I actually care most about is finish work. In a small wood shop, your work area is also where you apply your finishes. And for me, that’s usually polyurethane. Polyurethane + Dust = 2 … Read More
Spam not included. Unsubscribe anytime.