Hide glue gets its name from the fact that it comes from animal hides, bones, hooves… (I’ll stop there). It’s a very archaic glue that’s been around as long as woodworking has. But even still, today’s hide glue creates just as good of a bond as PVA wood glues. Read more about PVA wood glue here. Traditional hide glue is pliable when it’s heated up, and … Read More
A good PVA glue is a woodworkers best friend. It’s cheap, easy to apply, easy to clean up, and creates a bond stronger than the wood itself, which is really all you could ask for, right? Well apparently there are a few more things to consider when choosing the right wood glue for your next project. Keep reading to learn all about what PVA wood … Read More
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
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
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
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
The dovetail joint is a classic woodworking joint that is known best for its use with drawers. But that’s not the only reason to use this joint. Dovetail joinery can be used for many different types of projects, and the joint itself has several different variations. There’s the standard through dovetail joint, there’s the half-blind dovetail joint, the sliding dovetail, the lap dovetail, and even … Read More
Accuracy is a big hurdle for many aspiring woodworkers. All too often, your cuts and your joints end up out of square, unlevel, not flat, gapped, and so on… So what do you do about it? Well, for starters, don’t let it get you down! It’s not your fault. We all lack the ability to a certain extent to produce all of our cuts with … Read More
There are tons of opinions out there on how to sharpen a blade. I’ve got my methods, and so that is the best I can offer you here today. I’ve learned, through trial and error, a simple and systematic process for sharpening my blades, and if you haven’t got your process down yet, then this article should really help. You may think your chisels are … Read More
Burning wood. Slow, difficult cuts. Dulling blade. All bad things. This is what happens more and more, the dirtier your table saw blade becomes. The carbide tips on your blade will get packed with pitch and resin from the wood you cut, some wood types are worse than others. So after a couple projects, it’s a good idea to spend 20 minutes cleaning your blade … Read More
Do you enjoy working with plywood as much as I do? It really does have a ton of applications, and can be used for all kinds of projects. But mostly, I just love how it’s really heavy… And it’s so awkward to carry too! Was that sarcasm you’re wondering? Yes. Yes it was. Although very useful, plywood is heavy, and that part sucks. While you … Read More
So you’re interested in beginning woodworking? Awesome! You’re probably wondering where to begin. How should you break into this incredibly fun and rewarding hobby? Well, you need to find out what kind of projects really inspire you. When beginning woodworking, most people draw inspiration just from seeing what’s possible from other woodworkers’ projects. Plus, the fact that some of these projects are really basic, especially … Read More
Let’s talk about the table saw. And I mean at the most basic level. This is for real beginners, for those of you that still need a good, basic understanding of this amazing tool and what it can do for you. As with most woodworkers, this tool will likely become the most important power tool in your wood shop. So it’s worth spending a little … Read More
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