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.
HOW SIMPLE WOOD SCREWS ARE NO LONGER THE SAME
Are the higher-priced construction screws such as GRK and Spax worth the cost if you aren’t building something structural, such as framing a house or a deck? Do the fancy features of these screws—such as fluted points, serrated teeth, and complex head geometry—make any difference at all for most day-to-day projects?
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.
JOINTER VS PLANER VS SANDER - WHERE SHOULD YOU START?
When I first started woodworking, there was no way I could afford a jointer and a planer, let alone a drum sander. I knew that each of those machines would be useful, but since I had little experience with any of them, I had no idea which one to buy first, which to get next, or if I even needed all three of them at all…. Let’s take a few minutes to sort this out.
THE TRUTH ABOUT MDF WILL MAKE YOU THINK TWICE!
Don’t get me wrong, I love beautifully figured, natural wood. I use solid wood in most of my projects. But if you set aside your preconceived notions about manufactured materials, you will find that there is a time and place for MDF, even in fine furniture making.
THE SCOURGE OF WOODWORKING
Case hardening. What is it? This occurs when the wood has been kiln-dried on an overly aggressive schedule. Essentially, the process is rushed: they crank up the heat, drop the humidity, and speed up the drying to push more lumber through the kiln and to market faster.
UNDERSTANDING AIR-DRIED VS. KILN-DRIED LUMBER
When it comes to woodworking, one of the most important decisions you'll make is choosing the right lumber for your project. But how dry does it really have to be? And can you trust lumber that you've cut and dried yourself?