HOW TO READ A TAPE MEASURE WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE AN IDIOT
Believe it or not, the first question on some job interviews in industrial trades is, “Can you read a measuring tape?” That may sound silly to a lot of you old-timers, but you'd be surprised how many younger folks never make it past that first question because they have no idea what they're doing with this simple tool. So, in this post, I’m going to share with you how to teach a poor, ignorant kid in your life.
CASTLE JOINTS
I love interesting joinery. The right joint can be incredibly strong, but it can also be beautiful in and of itself. I think this joint is a perfect example. I call it the Triple-Castle Joint. If I were a gamer, I might call it the Tri-Force Joint. I have no idea who first came up with it, but I love the complexity—at least the perceived complexity. While this joint looks like a puzzle of mortises and tenons that would be frustratingly difficult to cut, it’s actually made from…
HOW TO BEND 3/4” PLYWOOD
In this post, I’ll share the lessons we learned along the way, including how to bend plywood, edge band around a curve, and a few other skills you might want to apply to a future project of your own.
WILL A CHEAP 2X6 PINE WORKBENCH LAST?
It’s been 8 years since I made this workbench in a two-part series on YouTube. In that time, this bench has seen a lot of use across three different workshops. Since it's made entirely from old construction lumber I thought some of you might be interested to see how it’s held up and if there’s anything I would change in its design.
THE CLEVER 10-SECOND WOODWORKING TRICK I USE TO IMPRESS PEOPLE
In this post, I'll share with you a clever method to make two pieces of wood fit together in such a satisfying way that you'll start looking all over for scraps to use. Honestly, this technique will make you feel like a woodworking master.
THE SECRET TO SILKY SMOOTH FINISHES
After spending so much time on a project, pouring your heart, soul, and even your wallet into it, the last thing you want is for someone’s first impression to be spoiled by a rough, bumpy finish. You want those surfaces to be silky-smooth. And that means knowing how to properly sand your project, including between coats of finish.
A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO SHARPEN TOOLS
What you’re about to read is one of those forehead-smackingly good ideas which has the potential to completely change how you work. It’s about sharpening—not just getting your tools sharp, but a way to efficiently keep them razor-sharp all the time. How great would that be? You’ll never again struggle through a job with a dull tool because you didn’t want to take the time to sharpen it.
INDESTRUCTIBLE: I have NEVER seen a box made like this before
I built this box seven years ago, and I keep it in my shop because I believe it may be the only one like it in the world. I don't think anyone has built one quite like it—certainly not in the way I did, because I had to develop new methods to make it even possible.
THE BEST ROUTER TRICK I KNOW - MAKING PICTURE FRAMES WITH REGULAR ROUTER BITS
Router bits aren't cheap. I think that's why a lot of folks just use the same one or two profiles on every project. Those are simply the bits in their set, and they don't have the budget to buy a fancy, complex profile bit just to make one project. But early on in my woodworking career I learned a skill that saved me a lot of money…
UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF YOUR BANDSAW
For years, I thought I had the bandsaw figured out. My method was straightforward: cut as close to the lines as possible and then rely on sanding to clean up the edges. It worked, but it was labor-intensive, generating a lot of dust and requiring significant effort. It wasn’t until I discovered a new technique for steering the blade that I realized I had been missing out on the bandsaw's true potential.
MAKE LOOSE-TENON JOINERY WITHOUT A FESTOOL DOMINO
Mortise and tenon joinery is fundamental to good, sturdy woodworking. In the "old-timey" days, the mortise would be chopped by hand, and the tenon would be cut one cheek at a time with a hand saw….