Build a tool chest that’s worthy of your tools. Customize it to fit exactly the tools you want. Project #2115 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 4 days • Cost: $250 I have a confession. I like nice tools. There’s something about boutique tool makers that I love. I’m guessing it’s the combination of high-quality…

I make a lot of drawers in my shop and got tired of fiddling with squares and pinch rods to square up the boxes during assembly. I decided to build a squaring frame to make the job go much quicker. It’s really nothing more than an accurate 90° corner against which I can press the…

After a woodworking course, this student has tools, a chest – and friends. In spring 2016 I took my first woodworking course, an “Introduction to Hand Tool Woodworking.” The class promised to teach students to fix up some tools and build a tool chest – but I learned more than that. Mike Siemsen, of “The…

Basic steps for beautiful joints. Dovetails. They get put on a pedestal as a sign of quality. And while not every project or furniture style warrants them, I enjoy sitting down, listening to an audiobook, and cutting them by hand. Once you break down dovetails into a series of basic steps, I think you’ll find…

After detailing the design approach and layout in my last entry, I moved on to building the actual components for my garage post-shelf system. This phase involved crafting and installing brackets that would not only securely clamp onto the steel columns but also support a functional, sturdy shelving solution. To begin making the 2×4 brackets,…

By hand or power? With a spring joint or not? One of the most important joints in woodworking is the edge joint. Without it, our projects would look like they had been built from narrow popsicle sticks. The joint bewilders many amateur woodworkers – perhaps because there are so many ways to go about it….

Like any table saw rip fence, mine needs occasional realignment to the blade. Because my miter gauge slots are aligned parallel to the blade, I just set my fence parallel to the right-hand slot. However, instead of mounting a dial indicator on a miter gauge to check the fence alignment, I made a gauge board…

From the Archives: Dale Nish, one of the principal architects of the turning revival, shares some turning techniques. Birdhouse Christmas ornaments have become very popular the last few years, and they are excellent gifts for family and friends. Back in 1993, I saw a birdhouse ornament made by Ray Huskey from Gatlinburg, Tenn. I was…

We’re interviewing makers from across the country. Today we’re featuring Barry Dima, a woodworker from North Dakota. How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? My dad was Norm Abrams devotee and my mom’s dad was a jack of all trades, so tools and wood were always in the air for me growing…

Tool:Mini-LIGNO DX/C Shop Now  Manufacturer: Lignomat MSRP: $199 (standard meter without add-ons) One of the hardest things for me to explain as a woodworking instructor is the importance of knowing the moisture content of the wood you’re working with. As soon as you start working with rough-sawn material, or drying your own lumber, a quality…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, Logan, and John are discussing meat organization, Swedish stoves, and maybe a little woodworking too. Thank you to our show sponsor Epilog Laser, quickly and easily customize your projects for added beauty and value. Learn more at: EpilogLaser.com Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

It feels so odd, to be sitting here working on the December issue of PW, because it’s the middle of August and in the mid-90’s. But, alas, that’s how far ahead the magazine world runs. As you’re reading this, I’m guessing it’s October or November, with the holiday season looming. The years that I’ve put…

Micro fiber cloth picks up tiny dust particles as well as, if not better than, a tack cloth. Unlike a tack cloth, micro fiber cloths are washable and reusable. Rockler sells Norton’s micro fiber finishing cloth for $15, but any micro fiber cloth will work, as long as it has hemmed edges. -Kevin Southwick

Like many home woodshops in North America, mine is set up in a two-car garage. Similar to other suburban homes, our garage has two steel columns in the middle, supporting the bedrooms above. These load-bearing round steel posts, common in ranch-style and many other one-family houses, are often found in garages, basements, and unfinished spaces….

What do you look for when buying a tool? I’m guessing the same that I do (along with thousands of other woodworkers). At the top of the list are excellent performance at a fair price, reliable and available accessories, a track record of manufacturer build quality, and suitability to your working needs. Also important are…

Is it the saw or where the saw lives that increases your accuracy? There are two types of miter saws. The first can be a mainstay in the woodshop, dependably making accurate crosscuts day in and day out. Or it can be a cantankerous helper, needing constant attention and delivering inconsistent results. The difference usually…

There’s no single surface in my shop that’s the ideal height for every job. With my adjustable-height sawhorses, I can quickly set up an outfeed table, drawing table, or assembly table at different heightsas the need arises. My sawhorses are the folding, galvanized-metal kind, but any type will do. Cut 2×4’s to fit on the…

Am I protecting myself or holding myself back? There are several woodworking mediums I have yet to dip my toe into. Some, like turning, are because I’m sure I wouldn’t want to do anything else if I dared to add a lathe to my shop. Others are more reflective of my inability to maintain a…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, John, and Dillon are talking about making projects on-site, preparing for a tv shows, and designing around plywood. Thank you to our show sponsor, Grizzly Industrial, purveyors of fine woodworking machinery since 1983. Buy direct and save at www.Grizzly.com Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes…

After sharing tips on leveling the table saw wings and aligning the blade with the miter gauge slots, I’m concluding this series with calibration advice on setting the 90-degree and 45-degree tilt limits. These stops ensure your cuts match the intended angle precisely. While you could check with a square each time, setting the limits…

Hand tools complement and complete work begun with power equipment. Most folks I talk with in the woodworking hobby seem to follow a similar path. They start out by emulating what they see on television, which is of course, power tools. Eventually, whether through magazines, web sites, forums or local clubs, they hear other woodworkers…

Ever make something for one purpose, then find a new use for it later? Back in 2018, I did a doll cradle project with 1/2″ oak that I’d milled. The scrap oak wasn’t big enough for anything on my to-do list, so I squirreled it away. Then, in 2021, I wrote an article on clamping…

We’re interviewing makers from across the country. Today we’re featuring Sylvie Rosenthal, an artist and designer from Wisconsin. How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? Woodworking found me pretty early in life. When I was five, I started hammering nails into pieces of wood with my grandfather when he would visit. Soon…

Occasionally I need to drill a hole into the end of a rail or other workpiece using the drill press. I’ve found that a metal shelf bracket makes a handy support, keeping the workpiece square to the table and in line with the drill bit. I simply clamp the bracket to the drill press table,…

The difference is more than just pushing or pulling. It’s been over 20 years since the Western handsaw, a tool that cuts on the push stroke and was the pride of the English-speaking world, was surpassed as the tool most woodworkers reached for when they need a handsaw. It has been replaced by the Japanese…

On this week’s episode John, Logan, and Phil are recapping Woodworking in America, and discussing what we have going here are the magazine and tv show, as well as any personal projects. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

This live-edge coffee table is just the beginning of what you can build with a $20 doweling jig. Project #2302 • Skill Level: Beginner • Time: 4 Days • Cost: $400 This walnut coffee table is featured in my latest book, “Build More Stuff with Wood,” (see all the places you can purchase it here)…

What is a CNC? Why might I want one & How does it work? Over the last decade, CNC machines have become a common topic in woodworking. Most know that they cut things out, but that’s the extent of their knowledge. If you had a stronger understanding of what CNCs are, how they can be…

Get a period look with big box materials. The inspiration for this small hanging set of shelves is a late 18th- to early 19th-century (circa 1775-1825) English dovetailed version in oak with a dark finish. I wanted to replicate the look as much as possible using the I Can Do That tool set and big-box…

We all have to begin somewhere, and this is actually the most difficult time. Years ago I remember teaching a class about finishing that included one student who said he had never used a stain or finish, and to make matters worse, he had never even painted anything. This was a two-day class in which…

A few tools can go a long way. When you get started in woodworking there are many paths to follow, forks in the road, dead-ends and shortcuts. It’s a journey that our forebears would make with the help of a living, breathing guide: a master, a grandfather, a shop teacher. Sadly, the guides are fewer…

Discover a bit about clean, accurate boring. There are many tools in modern woodworking you can use to bore holes: powered drills (both corded and cordless), drill presses, hand-powered eggbeater drills, braces and more. Drill presses are the powered method of choice when accuracy is important. Battery-operated drills are convenient and fast. Corded drills are…

A bevel is a bevel… except when it’s a miter, unless it’s a chamfer. Confused yet? You’re not alone. To the uninitiated, woodworking can be a tough nut to crack. Even the most basic of projects assume a certain level of prior knowledge. In order to create any of the projects on this website, you…

Tools and techniques for general metalwork in the shop. While the woodshop may be where I’m most comfortable, I’ve been fascinated by metalwork for some time. I’m always watching for tips and tricks I can steal for my own use, and as such I’ve become attached to a few methods of working with metal in…

Basic woodworking tools are different from beginner woodworking tools. For one thing, I don’t like to use the word “beginner” unless I am using it accurately. It’s not a very useful label, in my opinion, because it implies that there are clear-cut and hierarchical steps in your growth as a woodworker. Who wants to return…

Do you feel that? The chill in the air? It’s the sign that peak woodworking season is upon us (especially for those of us without climate-controlled workshops). This year the first 60-degree day triggered near-compulsive response in me to go to the garage and put tool to wood. It’s a good feeling. But it feels…

“So this is what they used to look like. Wow!” That’s what I told all my friends after spending hours completely disassembling, cleaning and polishing a Porter-Cable Model 507 Extra Heavy-Duty circular saw, made in 1956. I went to all this extra trouble because I thought this particular saw was something special. It had what…

I’ve always had bad luck with really small drill bits–if I don’t break them, I lose them. I’ve stopped buying new ones, and now clip the heads off finish nails and use the nails as bits. Smooth nails–not galvanized- work best. To improve it’s cutting, file or grind the end of the nail to a…

In my previous post, I shared two useful tips to streamline the assembly of a SawStop cabinet saw. In this installment, I’ll focus on aligning the tabletop and the miter gauge slots with the saw blade. After setting up the wings and rails, I turned my attention to checking the parallelism between the blade’s surface…

Routers — love them or hate them, there are an overwhelming amount of options available. Here’s the breakdown on how this midsized lot performs. A router is a fundamental woodworking tool and sooner or later, you’ll want to equip your shop with one or more of these high RPM workhorses. Spinning nearly 10x faster than…

I like to use carpenter’s pencils until they’re worn down to stubs. Stubs aren’t very handy, though–they’re hard to dig out of a pocket. To solve this problem, I gathered up all the stubs lying around the shop and cut scarf joints on them with a handsaw. I trued up the joints with a disc…

Building for the love of wood. A visit to the Design in Wood exhibition, the annual show sponsored by the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association, inspired me to enter this chest of drawers, which I built for my daughter Christina. I got lucky on the day I found the beautiful walnut boards that I used…

My tablesaw’s top often does double duty as an assembly table. It’s a guaranteed-flat surface. When I glue or screw together a project, it won’t come out twisted. Sometimes I use the saw’s fence as a clamp to hold parts in place for fastening. The “fixed” end of the clamp is a stick that fits…

I bought this old 18” bandsaw for a song from a used machinery dealer over 30 years ago. “It came from a local high school,” he said. “I heard that it was purchased by the school back in the 1930s with funds from the WPA—one of those Depression-era back-to-work programs.” This bandsaw needed a lot…

A simple approach to this classic finishing technique. Finishing options abound in the woodworking world, however with Arts & Crafts style pieces, you need to get the finish right to complete the feel of the piece. This isn’t a project made from birch plywood, where an opaque finish might suffice. There are several finishing schedules I’m…

A little over a year ago, several boxes arrived in our garage, containing the parts for what would become the most expensive piece of equipment I’ve ever invested in: the SawStop 3HP Professional Stationary Cabinet Saw. In this and the following blog entries, I’ll share some tips on setting up this saw, which, in my…

A system as elegant as the joint itself. Compound-angle dovetails are some of the most beguiling joints in all woodworking. But, as John Lennon once suggested, they can be as difficult to make as “fixing a hole in the ocean.” Well, maybe not that hard—but it all begins with figuring out  those odd angles. I’ve…

Not only living beings retain a soul; some objects do as well. The word “Pantheism” is defined as “the religious belief or philosophical doctrine, which identifies the universe with God.” And, “The doctrine that God is not a personality, but that all laws, forces and manifestations, etc. of the universe are God.” God is everything…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, John, Logan, and Phil are talking about finishing techniques, plus an update on the latest at Woodsmith Magazine and the Woodsmith Shop TV Show. Sign up for Woodworking in America right here. Use coupon code Guild50 for a discount. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

With its quartersawn oak, and Arts & Crafts finish, this desk is sure to serve generations to come. Project #2417 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 5 Days • Cost: $450 The best thing about being a woodworker is the ability to make custom furniture for a particular spot in the home. Need a desk…

A box like this one is the perfect way to polish your hand tool skills and play with new techniques. Project #2314 • Skill Level: Beginner • Time: 1 Day • Cost: $35 Looking for a good wedding gift for family or friends? How about a wedding box such as this one I designed for…

A Sharpening Handbook: What Every Woodworker Needs to Know About Sharpening If there’s one thing to be said about woodworkers, it’s that we’re old school and prefer to pick up a book (or a magazine). With that in mind, I’m thankful for the community of master woodworkers that put forth a great effort to put…

I love the convenience of mobile bases, but I hate it when they wobble on the floor even when they’re locked down. I got my chock block idea at the airport where the ground crews use something similar for parked aircraft. My chock block locks the fixed casters on my mobile bases so they don’t…

Locking Miter Joint for Legs You need a special router bit to tackle the locking miter joint, but it’s useful for many projects. The basic idea is to mill one board flat on the router table and the adjacent board held vertically against the fence. This creates a perfect joint with one bit and one…

This traditional glue takes a little bit of preparation and planning, but is still a valuable asset in today’s shop. “Ought a turn you to glue.” It was a saying that I heard my great-grandfather tell his mules as he was out working. Roy was a muleskinner — a mule trainer. That phrase was one…

Below you can see pictures of the restoration of the rosewood knob, which belongs to my Record SS plane (read part one here and part two here). After gluing a piece of rosewood onto the knob’s broken corner and allowing the epoxy to cure, I began the process of shaping the handle. First, I cut…

On this episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, Logan, and John, are discussing the new issue of Woodsmith Magazine, Woodworking in America, and assembling Logan’s new saw mill. Sign up for Woodworking in America right here. Use coupon code Guild50 for a discount. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

Little things, such as allowing a child to spend time in your shop, can shape their future. I first learned about exploding outhouses when I was about six or seven. Maybe you’ve seen them: little banks in the shape of an outhouse with a coin slot on top, and a hidden mousetrap inside. Dropping a…

Get more from your router and router table with these fantastic accessories. A router may be one of the most versatile tools in the shop. As a hand tool nut, that hurts me a little bit to say, but it’s true. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate how versatile these screaming, dust-creating, whirling tools…

Tool:18V Brushless Planer GH018V-26N Shop Now  Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $229 (Bare Tool) Every once in a while I’m fortunate to be struck by serendipitous situations in this job. After building the record stand I was left with a pile of perfectly good rough-cut walnut that would make some great boxes. Only problem was that it…

Wooden spoons can be as elaborate or utilitarian as you’d please. Either way, it’s a great way to spend time in the shop. Project #2415 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 1 Day • Cost: $5 I began woodworking in late 2015, and the more I learned about woodworking, the more I was intrigued by…

The cost of this stock is physical exertion, but it’s fun and rewarding. The riven oak that I use for joinery work is the best stock available; but it comes at a cost – the labor invested to produce it. Money can’t buy this material; you must split and plane it. But the rewards are…

Tool:No 1 Penetrating Oil Shop Now  Manufacturer: Glancy’s Alchemy MSRP: $15 (8oz) I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The thing I love most about woodworking is the community around us. I meet some fantastic people within it. Take Chase Glancy, for example. We were introduced through a mutual friend (Jamie Harpster, from…

As I mentioned in the previous post, one of the primary reasons for a missing knob base is a traumatic fall that results in the bending of the knob screw (or threaded rod, depending on the plane) and a partial break of the knob’s flared base. Take, for example, this U.S.-made plane. After removing the…

I’m not sure if I qualify as a tool nut–machine crazy is more like it. I started out using a ShopSmith, but I now have 17 industrial-grade machines. It all started when my wife saw an ad in the local paper for a planer. They were asking $350, so I figured that it would be…

Tool: 15-Amp 10-In. Job site Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Wheeled Stand GTS15-10Shop Now Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $649 While many woodworkers dream of the largest cabinet saw they can get their hands on, reality often dictates a different path. Whether it’s space or price that’s driving your decision, the new Bosch GTS15-10 is a solid choice…

Some of the nicest saws around are coming out of Warwick, RI, at the hands of Charlie Earnest. The story behind Spring Green Saws is one that I’ve followed for years. I became aware of Charlie Earnest and his saws as I watched his saw building journey over the last several years (via social media)….

The Wendell Castle Workshop, a woodworking school located in the historic home studio of the famed artist Wendell Castle in Scottsville, NY, recently announced an artist-in-residence program. The program invites artists to live and work on-site, opening the door for artists to explore fresh ideas, experiment with new techniques, and push their artistic boundaries. The…

The reciprocating motion of a pole lathe makes it possible. My mind reels when trying to imagine what it would be like to be a woodworker in the era when the lathe was being developed. This was well over 3,000 years ago. Historians say the lathe is a direct descendant of the potter’s wheel, which…

Awaken your inner design sense with just a little practice. Talk about design often leads back to the idea of developing a good eye. For a long time I wrestled with this; it seemed a bit like trying to lasso the wind. I knew I wasn’t alone, either. Frequently I talk to woodworkers who struggle…

Tool: Stainless Steel Precision Rulers Shop Now  Manufacturer: JessEm MSRP: $24.99+ The Canadian company JessEm, known for their high-quality router lifts, recently released a new line of precision steel rules. As you can see in the photo above, what makes these rules different than others is the laser-cut shapes in the center. These shapes are…

On this week’s episode for the ShopNote’s Podcast, John, Phil, and Logan respond to some listener comments, talk about Woodworking in America, discuss “project” tools, and more… Special thanks to our show sponsor Titebond – Woodworkers, builders and contractors depend on Titebond to deliver the most consistent, highest-performing products to meet their demands. Check them…

Did I mention there would be a quiz? Here are 20 questions, together with the answers, based on my articles from Popular Woodworking. If you have been reading regularly, you should do well. For more in-depth explanations, go to the finishing section of the site, where you’ll find many of the articles, and you can…

There is an old book we used to print called “How to Make $40,000 a Year with Your Woodworking.” Years ago I dubbed it our only offering in the fiction category. Sure, there are enterprising woodworkers who pocket this and more, but there are countless others who don’t even get close. For years now I’ve…

I made some half-overlay frame-and-panel doors recently, installing the panel a bit proud of the rails and stiles on the front, which recessed the panel on the back side. This isn’t an aesthetic problem, but it does create difficulty when routing the rabbet around the edges to create the half-overlay. The doors were rather large,…

Brush up on your precision miters, and build this mid-century-inspired record player stand. Project #2416 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 3 Days • Cost: $250 I’ve always appreciated vinyl for its aesthetic qualities as much as the analog experience of putting a record on. Yet for some reason, my collection has always lived inside…

Tool:M18 FUEL 61/2″ Circular Saw 2833-20 Shop Now  Manufacturer: Milwaukee MSRP: $229 (Bare Tool) Milwaukee recently announced their next generation of tools and batteries at their annual Pipeline showcase. You can check out the full list of all of the woodworking announcements at that link, and we’ll be looking closer at some of them, like…

Morgan library pieces get extended shelf life. The call came as monumental calls do – in the middle of hanging upper cabinets. “My name is D—, and I need you to build me two walk-in closets using J.P. Morgan’s Library.” I sent a tack into the cabinet, stepped onto the porch, and asked D— to…

I recently built a chest of drawers with sliding-dovetail joinery. During assembly, I found that the fit was just a little too snug. Rather than trying to realign my router jig, I looked around for another solution. I needed something that could slip in along the dovetail. I decided to stick some sandpaper to a…

As a collector and restorer of numerous bench planes, all stemming from the classic Stanley Bailey design, I can confidently say that the two components most prone to breakage or damage over the years are the wooden knob and the handle. While cast-iron planes are notorious for cracking if dropped onto hard surfaces, that same…

Tool:Rip Resistant GlovesShop Now  Manufacturer: Venom Steel MSRP: $14.99 Just like a good pair of socks, a good set of disposable gloves is a luxury that I will not go without. My problem with cheaper gloves are that they tend to tear at the worst possible moment—the final wipe on a coat of finish, or…

Today Logan is showing you how to make a rustic bench that would be great around the fire pit, a front porch, or even as part of a farmhouse dining set. This is the perfect weekend project for you to undertake this fall. You can purchase Lumberjack tools from the Popular Woodworking Store.

How do you support an uneven piece on the drill press? Make something that’s the opposite shape, of course. After making 60 of these knobs, I realized that the directions didn’t include any advice on drilling the holes for mounting them. My tablesaw was still angled at 15°—the same angle as the bevels on the…

All it takes is a router and a bandsaw. You’ll only need two machines to make these Arts & Crafts style knobs: a bandsaw and a router table. Although the saw cuts can be done on a tablesaw; the bandsaw keeps the operation safe and simple. The router table work requires two bits: a 5/8-in….

Tool: Magnetic Straightedge Shop Now  Manufacturer: Lee Valley MSRP: $7.50 Don’t have a drafting table? Can’t draw freehand to save your life? Here’s a tool from Lee Valley that lets you easily make isometric shop sketches. The tool has two parts: a standard 12″ ruler with a matte finish and an innovative black straightedge. Seven…

This traditional finish can be tricky to apply. If you have read much in the woodworking press, you’ve surely encountered many articles, including mine, in which the writer uses and recommends shellac as a finish. This may persuade you to try shellac. I certainly don’t want to discourage you because shellac is a great finish…

On this episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, Logan, and John talk tool recommendations and more! Special thanks to our episode sponsor Epilog Lasers. Check them out at https://www.epiloglaser.com/ Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

Here’s a surefire method to ensure flat glue-ups. Use cauls, top and bottom, made from Unistrut. This steel channel is used for light-duty structural support in electrical and plumbing work. Sometimes called Superstrut, it’s available in the electrical department of many home centers in 10′ lengths. Glue plastic strips on the open side of the…

Giving a little bit of attention to the flooring in your shop can make your shop more inviting and more comfortable to work in. When’s the last time you took a good hard look at your shop floor? I know that’s an odd question. But if you think about it, it’s the one thing in…

Tool: Flat Sole Spokeshave Shop Now and Round Sole Spokeshave Shop Now Manufacturer: Melbourne Tool Company MSRP: $89 (Also available as a set for $159) If you know a woodworker that uses spokeshaves regularly… really uses them, then you know that they don’t have one. They have 10. Spoke shaves are like rabbits. You start…

For camping, conquering and contemplating, these stools have a long history among artists, soldiers and rugged individualists. Plan:  Download patterns for the leather seat and pocket. Web: Learn all about leather terminology. By Christopher Schwarz with David Lyell There are few things that British military officers and plein air painters of the 19th century would agree…

Buy Tickets Here: Woodworking in America 2024. We have a very exciting announcement to make: Woodworking in America is returning this fall! We’ve put together a top-notch group of presenters and an amazing venue right in our home base of Des Moines, IA. The October 11 & 12, 2024 event will be hosted jointly by…

After reducing the volume of the original half-mortise using two strips of wood and addressing the crack in the shallow recess of the catch plate (read part two of the story here), I decided to fill the old screw holes with dowel segments. This step was crucial because you don’t want the new mounting screws…

Thin boards glued edge to edge have a tendency to spring out of place when pressure is applied to the bar clamps. A simple solution is to use short, notched clamping cauls at the ends of the joints. The cauls keep the boards aligned, while the notch prevents glue squeeze-out from bonding the cauls to…

Phil, Logan, and John are back to together on the ShopNotes Podcast, and this week Logan is recapping his trip to the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta. Plus, an update on the Woodworking in America event we have coming up in October and so much more… Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

I really like bright-colored speed squares because they’re easy to locate on the job, but I find them difficult to read. To solve this problem, I spray-painted my speed squares black. After they were dry, I used a 3M Scotch-Brite pad to remove the paint. This left the marks and numbers black. –Dewey Armstrong

Practice your hand-tool skills and make a pair of strong, collapsible workshop companions. About a year and a half ago my wife took a job in eastern North Carolina. My work is still on the western end of the state, so most weeks I travel back and forth from one end of The Old North…

Follow these best practices to get the most out of your dust collection system. I don’t think that there has been something that’s increased my enjoyment in the shop as much as getting a good dust collection system in place. I enjoy working in a clean space, and any rogue dust drives me nuts (let…

After fine-tuning the quirks with the new replacement lock and its brass catch plate, I turned my attention to the cedar hope chest’s half-mortise. I measured and compared the existing depth and width of the half-mortise with the dimensions of the new lock, determining that I needed to route the walls of the mortise to…

I use a hand plane to remove milling marks, even on pieces that are 1/8″ thick or less. To hold the work, I made a stop whose top is only 1/32″ thick. When I’m planing wood that’s more than 3/8″ thick, I use the normal method of clamping the board between two dogs. This is…

Today Logan is showing you how to make sturdy drawers with dowel joinery. They get a bad rap sometimes, but dowel joints are easy to make and long-lasting when used correctly. Learn more about the Milescraft JointMaster here.

A woven seat adds a punch of color to this surprisingly easy project.

Tool: QUICK-LIFT Construction Jack IRHT83100 Shop Now Manufacturer: Irwin MSRP: $99 It’s on a regular basis that we need a helping hand in the shop. Often time, it’s something simple, like holding a door in place while installing hinges. With this in mind, Irwin recently released their Quick-Lift lifting jack to lend a helping hand…

The Windsor form survives trial by fire. The blaze started sometime after midnight. A weak spot in the chimney broke and glowing embers spilled out onto dry timbers. By the time the fire crew arrived and strung hoses from a nearby stream, it was all they could do to keep the adjoining barns and outbuildings…

Tool: Multiscribe Shop Now Manufacturer: Trend MSRP: $70 I like tools that can do more than one thing—they keep the clutter down. When I read that Trend’s Multiscribe performs 15 functions, I had to check it out! Opening the package, I was immediately struck by how solid the tool felt in my hand. It’s clearly made…

Assembling furniture with dozens of Allen-head fasteners is no fun if all you have is a standard Allen key. Faced with one of these jobs, I sped up the process by using a mechanic’s socket set. I cut a section off the end of the Allen key with a grinding wheel and inserted the piece…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil and Logan host special guests Vic Tesolin and Hague Haswell to talk about Melbourne Tool Company. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

Hacksaw blades ganged together make a really useful file, one that can be as wide or narrow as you wish. The blades may be full length or half-length. (Use a rotary tool to cut them in half). To bind the blades together, put a #6 machine screw through their mounting holes and add a nut….

Last winter, a friend gifted me an old cedar hope chest. The piece was made by her late father-in-law, an amateur woodworker. Since she and her husband were preparing to sell their home and move to a smaller place, she hoped to give the chest a loving home. She said the chest was in perfect…

Breezy Bandsawing Reasoning that I’d only be cutting small stuff in my basement shop, I parked my bandsaw diagonally in a corner. Then I decided to make one of those arched-top garden arbors. My old jig saw had burned out, so I took the two 5’ long cross beams down to the bandsaw. Everyone knows…

Turning a live edge bowl is the perfect way to showcase a special piece of wood, such as this Burr Elm. Project #2414 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 1 Day • Cost: $5-200 Turning a live-edge piece of wood while keeping the natural edge and bark intact can be tricky. But, with careful planning…

Finishing the plugs for covering screw holes is a pain. When you run a brush or rag over them after they’re installed, they’ll probably cause the finish to run or drip. Finishing them before they’re installed is the answer, but little plugs are hard to hold. Here’s my solution. Cover one side of a paint-stirring…

Man’s best friend deserves a worthwhile throne to rest upon, and what better aesthetic for a hunting dog than rustic logs cut with Lumberjack Tools? Logan walks you through the process of turning found lumber into a finished project.

I’ve had trouble making square and smooth edges on face frame parts, but this planer jig solved all my problems. It produces accurate and consistent results. For the jig’s base, cut T-slots in a 3/4” x 11” board that’s a little bit longer than the planer’s bed and extension tables. Use T-bolts and wing nuts…

On this episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, Logan, and John talk about plywood and plywood projects, finishing troubles and an update on the Woodworking in America conference we have coming up. Special thanks to our show sponsor Grizzly Industrial, purveyor of fine woodworking machinery since 1983. Buy direct and save at www.Grizzly.com. Find all…

Once the smokestacks were glued in, it was time for the paint job. My plan was to leave the deck floors in their natural wood look and only paint the ship’s elevations. Check out part 1 and part 2. First, I affixed masking tape underneath the main deck line (Masking Tape 1) and painted all…

Good, better or best? Small details and design decisions make a difference. It’s every manufacturer’s dream to have “one size fit all.” Yet imagine a trip to the shoe store and upon arriving, you discover they offer only one size. We understand clearly that function is tied directly to size; a poor- fitting shoe is…

Tool: Turbo T-60S Lathe Shop Now Manufacturer: Harvey MSRP: $4999.99 The first time I heard of Harvey International was in 2018, when it was announced they acquired Bridge City Toolworks. Within the year, I started to see an offering of power tools from Harvey that, on the surface, seemed to be priced very reasonably for…

This table design is reminiscent of suspension style bridges, and is easy to build in a weekend. Project #2413 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 2 Day • Cost: $150 I built the first of these “torsion tables” for my book “Making Elegant Custom Tables,” and it wasn’t until years later that I realized that…

Replace your router’s base with one that is oversized and stable. The router can be a great friend in the woodshop, but it’s one of those friends with character traits that aren’t welcome in all situations. Like the fraternity brother you want at your bachelor party but not necessarily at your wedding ceremony, the router…

As I sit here writing, it’s been a wet, humid summer in Iowa. I’ve finished most of my travels for the year. Typically, from spring to summer, I’m traveling to various contributing writers’ shops to take photos with them. I enjoy it, but I must admit, I breathed a sigh of relief when I returned…

Ironing edge-banding that has hot-melt glue backing is familiar to most woodworkers. But what if you don’t have any on hand, or it’s not available in the species you’re using? I learned this trick from a friend of mine who is a veneering expert. You can use regular wood glue, if you plan ahead a bit….

After finishing all the work on the bandsaw, I clamped the hull in a vise and, with the help of a rasp and a file, fine-tuned the bow and stern. Be sure and check out Part One of this project. Notes on the Top Deck and Bridge When reducing a complex shape like a ship…

Take a walk on the wild side of finishing. I’ve got six good reasons to skip the stain and polyurethane on your next small project: bleached, blended, charred, marbled, salt and pepper, and iron and vinegar each name beautiful finishes for wood. These finishes are rarely seen on large pieces of furniture, however, because consistent…

Biscuit joinery is great, but without an octopus for a shop assistant, how do you hold all the parts? These simple little stands can help. Made of 3/4“ melamine and some 3/8“ dowels, they hold your parts and allow you to easily add the clamps. The dowel spacing allows for either 3/4“ or 5/8“ material….

Match the size to the job–that’s the key Hand planes come in a bewildering variety of sizes. Why are there so many? I’ll help explain this mystery by dividing the field into four groups, in order of size: block planes, smoothing planes, jack planes, and leveling planes. I’ll show you what the planes in each…

All the flavors of walnut shine in this versatile storage and serving piece. Project #2313 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 60 hours • Cost: $1,000 My sister asked me to make a dining table and sideboard for her house. She was ready to move on from garage sale finds and inherited pieces that filled…

Tool: Multi-Purpose Caster SetShop Now Manufacturer: JessEm MSRP: $161.91 Mobility. It’s the key of maintaining a small shop. The ability to move tools, workbenches, and carts around are key to working efficiently. And, to getting your significant other’s car in the shop … I mean garage. Many manufacturers offer bolt-on casters. The thing that makes…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNote’s Podcast, John , Phil, and Logan go over some listener comments, wrapping up Season 18 of the Woodsmith Shop TV Show, and all of the updates on projects from PopWood and Woodsmith. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

Turning woodworking into a pastime helped me love it again. There are two ways I hear the term “hobbyist” thrown around. The first is by “professional” woodworkers and, more times than not, it is in a disparaging tone: as if a hobbyist couldn’t possibly be as good, fast or talented as a pro. The other…

This traveler’s tool case project is a great way for the wayfaring woodworker to bring tools along for the ride.

To keep stock from slipping when using my miter gauge, I rely on this simple jig. Screw a 3/4″ x 2″ fence to your miter gauge. Make it whatever length you need. Use a continuous hinge to fasten a section of 2×4 to the fence. Glue a piece of sandpaper to the inside bottom edge…

[Updated 7/17 4pm CST] Amazon Prime Day 2024 is here, and we’re rounding up the best deals for woodworkers! Keep checking in throughout the next two days as we update the list with tools and accessories! Don’t forget to check the lightning deals too! Jump to: Top Deals on Power Tools • Top Deals on…

Only a handful of tools are needed to recreate this iconic vessel. A few years ago, I crafted three identical waterline wooden toy ships based on the iconic design of the RMS Titanic and its sister ships, the Olympic and Britannic. My iterations of these ships were simple, excluding masts and delicate parts, as these…

On this week’s episode of Logan’s ShopNotes Podcast, Logan is discussing the latest Popular Woodworking Magazine contents and going over some listener comments… and oh yeah, Phil and John are there too. 🙂 Find the show notes page and the photo of Phil’s table here. This episode of the ShopNotes podcast is presented by Epilog…

The design journey isn’t a straight line. However, there are some concrete steps you can take to achieving a great design.

Waterlox is a mainstay for furniture makers. Follow these steps to get a deep glow, a buttery-smooth surface and unmatched protection.

My finishing turntable is perfect for spraying large parts or projects. To make the device, I mounted five fixed 3-1/2” casters on a plywood panel. They’re equally spaced in a 16” diameter circle. Fixed casters won’t pivot, so the project rotates around its center. I placed 3” blocks in front of the casters to keep them…

Although delicate, this graceful table should provide years of service in your home. Many years ago while teaching a chairmaking class at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, I thanked Mario Rodriguez (who was teaching a hand-tool class at the school that same week) for writing a magazine article I had seen some years before…

A hole is just a hole, no matter how you dig it. The mortise-and-tenon joint is fundamental in woodworking. Along with the dovetail, this joint has been used for thousands of years. If you judge by the number of devices and methods developed to avoid making mortises, you might think it difficult and demanding. In…

To understand, you must do. Working by hand is a viable way for hobbyists to create beautiful furniture, yet it is often seen as slow, odd and antiquated. I choose to work by hand because I enjoy the process and the adventure of learning. Learning traditional hand-tool work by reading books, blogs and message boards…

Proportion and structure outweigh ornament and showy materials. Have you ever found such a stunning piece of wood that you were almost afraid to cut into it? You know the boards I’m talking about. The tiger maple with such unbelievable striping you just want to put a frame around it and hang it on the…

I’ve been noticing a lot of new tools these days that come equipped with on-board task lighting. Then while recently perusing my local home-improvement center, I noticed these small battery-operated flexible-shaft lights equipped with an LED. They cost only about $10, and include a magnet or sometimes a laser pointer, depending on where you’re shopping….

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, John, and Logan, answer some listener questions, respond to some comments, and discuss some updates on what is coming up in Woodsmith and PopWood. Special thanks to our show sponsor Titebond – Woodworkers, builders and contractors depend on Titebond to deliver the most consistent, highest-performing products…

A quick guide to the pros and cons of how to make the difficult part of a classic joint. Many pieces of old handmade furniture owe their long life to mortise and tenon joints. There are many other ways to join wood, such as using dowels, biscuits or pocket screws, but none of them are…

If you follow woodworking news, you might have noticed a new player in the plane market: the Melbourne Tool Company from Australia. They’ve been promoting their line of planes, spokeshaves, and router planes for a few years now, gaining notable exposure on Instagram, in woodworking magazines, and on YouTube. The reviews I’ve read and the…

Dramatic details showcase leaded glass and English style. Foreward: Nancy Hiller (1959-2022) Nancy Hiller was a trailblazing writer and furniture maker who lived fully in two worlds. That of a small-town furniture maker known for taking on difficult projects. And that of a forceful yet careful writer who inspired a generation of woodworkers to pick…

Logan and Phil chat about router joinery machines in this episode. Sponsor message: You want a glue that you can trust. And fortunately, Titebond has the glue you need to get the job done with confidence. From interior glues with strong initial tack and short clamp time to exterior glues with exceptional strength and water…

In my school’s woodworking program, we have a variety of chisels, ranging from wood-handled to plastic-handled. We even have a chisel without a handle, which is a full-tang hybrid between a cold chisel and a woodworking tool. One particular type of plastic handle we have is a composite of hard, transparent plastic wrapped with soft,…

Milwaukee held their annual PIPELINE event today, and there was no shortage of exciting tool announcements for the woodworking crowd. If you want full details of any the products announced today, or to see the non-woodworking related releases, check out the Milwaukee PIPELINE landing page. Batteries It’s hard to highlight any single item as the…

Why you’re better off to look this gift horse in the mouth. There is a trap lurking within the pages of our magazine. It is also in most woodworking magazines, and many books. It is called the cutlist, and while it poses as your helpful friend, you’re better off to ignore it and make your…

These stylish amplifiers not only boost volume but can also improve the sound quality of your phone’s built-in speaker. Project #2412 • Skill Level: Beginner • Time: 2 Days • Cost: $5 Plastic smartphone amplifiers can be had for about $15 a piece, but expect to fork out $100 or even more for a fancy…

Fine furniture calls for an elegant drawer. A master cabinetmaker shares his approach to design and fitting. There are just a few things my partner at Philadelphia Furniture Workshops, Alan Turner, and I don’t see eye-to-eye on. But how to make a good drawer isn’t one of them. When building furniture, we probably spend as…

Once you’ve chosen the type of lathe you want, the next big question is figuring out what sort of turning tools you need. Logan walks you through the different tools and features you should look for when assembling a quality set of turning tools for your shop.

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, John, and Dillon, answer some listener questions, respond to some comments, and discuss some upcoming project designs. Special thanks to our show sponsor Titebond – Woodworkers, builders and contractors depend on Titebond to deliver the most consistent, highest-performing products to meet their demands. Check them out…

Mr. Sheffield’s two-year writing slope. About a decade ago, I walked into my English professor’s office for advising and couldn’t take my eyes off of his homemade writing slope. He was talking credits and prerequisites; I was thinking this guy didn’t know a tenon from a tang. A couple of quarters later, I felt comfortable…

One staple you’ll likely find in most woodworking shops is a fasteners/hardware bin filled with small plastic drawers. These drawers hold everything from nails and screws to hinges and glue tubes. Many of these organizers have been handed down from friends, neighbors, or family members, and over time, they might be missing drawers or have…

Arts & Crafts style and knockdown design team up for a winning combination. Imagine this attractive little table residing next to a comfortable chair, holding important items such as a cup of coffee and a book. Its shaped sides and wedged tenons create lots of visual appeal, it has a useful shelf and the construction…

Trimming small parts on a table saw using a miter gauge can be a little nerve wracking. In order to trim small parts safely, I mounted a handscrew to a piece of plywood. First I trimmed the plywood on the table saw so that the two long edges were exactly parallel. Then I gripped a…

Here’s what one pro always keeps in his toolbox. My favorite tools are the ones that I use every day—around the house, in the shop or at a jobsite. They’ve become old friends. They’re not complicated, gimmicky or gold-plated. Seven of them cost less than $20 apiece. My everyday kit also includes a few obvious…

Tool: HP-10 Foxtail Plane Shop Now Manufacturer: Bridge City Tool Works MSRP: $999 Several years back, when it was announced that Bridge City Toolworks had been sold, I will admit that I was disappointed. I was worried that the beautiful quality tools that everyone loved would somehow change. Well, I’ll be the first to admit…

About 30 years ago, my girlfriend led me to a dark, cluttered basement workshop to meet a sweet, 70-ish gem of a man: her grandfather, Hayes. He was surrounded by a lifetime’s collection of tools, and it was obvious that this was his domain. This was the first of my many enjoyable visits to his…

My lathe tool rack is based on a fishing rod rack that I made some time ago. Made from 3/4-in.-thick walnut, it measures 3-1/8-in. by 10-in. by 30- in. I made the matching front and back tool supports by ripping a 3-1/8- in.-wide board in half after drilling centered 1-1/2-in.-dia. holes on 1-7/8- in. centers….

It can save you lots of money—and grief! Are you a scrounger? Always looking for a deal? Self-reliant? Those words fit a lot of woodworkers, particularly those who search for unusual or inexpensive sources of wood. Once you stray from a lumberyard, there’s one tool you really ought to have: a moisture meter. A moisture…

As special as the treasures it will hold. An old, nearly disintegrated steamer trunk in my grandfather’s basement held forgotten treasure—letters, photos, and a hand-written recipe for figgy pudding from my grandmother’s early life on a Kansas farm during the depression. Not pirate’s gold, of course, but treasure to me, nonetheless. So, when a gentleman…

Creating a Nautilus Star Inlay is a great way to add detail to your woodworking projects, big and small. Online Extras: Download a PDF of the Nautilus Star layout instructions A nautilus star, also known as a compass rose, is a motif used in ancient as well as current cultures;  it’s seen on maps and…

Tool: IQ Vise Shop Now Manufacturer: Work IQ Tools MSRP: $279.99 A picture can be worth a thousand words, but I was recently reminded that it’s no substitute for hands-on experience. When I first saw pictures of the Work IQ Vise, I assumed it was exclusively for lightweight tasks. Any sort of aggressive sawing or…

Turning a bowl from green wood has unique considerations versus a dried bowl blank. Logan walks you through the process, including the trick to drying a wet-turned bowl quickly when finished — the microwave.

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, John and Phil catch up with Logan on the latest with the Woodsmith Shop TV show and all things in the woodworking magazine world. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

The aftermarket bench plane blades market is brimming with quality options, from Hock to Veritas to WoodRiver, and now, Taylor Toolworks Premium Blades. A common feature of these premium blades is their thicker steel construction compared to the classic Record or Stanley blades. This thickness enhances stability, facilitates easier freehand sharpening using the Hollow Grind…

My bandsaw’s blade-tensioning system used to be wobbly and difficult to turn. Instead of shelling out for a quick-release lever, I came up with this simple, inexpensive fix. To stabilize the long adjustment rod, I made a guide for it to pass through. The guide is just a block of wood with a 1/2″ i.d….

Some of you are probably aware that I got my start in the woodworking publication world as an assistant editor at Woodsmith Magazine. Heck, even after taking over here at Popular Woodworking, these fools still can’t shake me (or is that the other way around?). I still collaborate with them on various things, including our…

These simple shop storage solutions are quick to build, but will make a big impact in your shop. Project #2408 • Skill Level: Beginner • Time: 1 Day • Cost: $10-40 Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that can make your life better. That holds true in the shop as well. Often times, taking a bit…

Tools: A Visual Exploration of Implements & Devices in the Workshop If there’s one thing to be said about woodworkers, it’s that we’re old school and prefer to pick up a book (or a magazine). With that in mind, I’m thankful for the community of master woodworkers that put forth a great effort to put…

Tool: Ultra-Shear Blades Shop Now Manufacturer: Woodpeckers MSRP: $129.99+ Building upon the successful launch of Ultra-Shear router bits, Woodpeckers has released a new line of table saw blades sharing the same name. As with all Woodpeckers products, it’s evident that the utmost care went into manufacturing these blades. Woodpeckers manufactures these blades in-house, allowing them…

Phil and John discuss miter slots and start thinking about Christmas already. Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

Adding a hold-down to my shop-made crosscut sled makes the sled easier and safer to use. My parts don’t slip and my fingers are far from the blade because I don’t have to hold the workpiece. The hold-down swivels so I can place it on either side of the blade. To build the hold-down, you’ll…

 Knowing how to hang a new handle on a hammer or an axe opens up numerous opportunities to restore your old tools and allows you to bring back to active duty eBay and flea market-bought heads of axes, hammers, mauls, and other striking tools. The key to properly fitting a new handle to an old…

A simple test reveals ideal pressure for atomization. Spray guns can run off a compressor or a turbine. With turbines the air pressure is established by the number of “stages,” usually two, three or four. Each stage corresponds to about 2 pounds per square inch (PSI). This seems ineffectively low, but it’s made up for…

When I needed to mix two different paint colors to create a new one, I came up with the idea of removing the rod from my broken caulking gun and mounting it in my drill to serve as a paint stirrer. The straight section fit into my drill chuck without modification, while the angled end…

It’s easy to create a veneered chessboard with an inlay accent, using a minimal number of tools. Project #2306 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 2 Days • Cost: $125 Online Extra: Download the full chessboard dimensions here: April 2023 Online Extras Everyone loves a beautiful chessboard, and this project makes a perfect gift for playing…

If your Dad is a woodworker, then this is the perfect Father’s Day gift guide to help you shop. He’ll love anything you get for him on this list. Looking to build something for your Dad? Check out this gift guide instead! FastCap Right Left Tap Measure $7.99 The ability to read this tape measure…

Handmade gifts are one of the most personal ways to say that you love your Dad. No matter Dad’s interest, you’re sure to find something he’ll enjoy on this list. Seeing this list last minute with Father’s Day imminent? Don’t worry, most of these gifts can be made over the course of a weekend (and…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, Logan, and John are back from a little hiatus and are talking about a new issue of ShopNotes Magazine, found and rescued parts, and why Logan is combining the subway with woodworking. Special thanks to our episode sponsor Epilog Lasers. Check them out at https://www.epiloglaser.com/ Find…

Shape wood with a propane torch. Here’s a simple, but effective way to bend thin stock (1/4″ thick or less). The only tools you need are a length of 1-1/2″ galvanized pipe, a propane torch, a jig to hold them both, and a fire extinguisher–just in case. The pipe is attached to a flange through…

Finding a felt-tip marker or touch-up stick that actually matches the color of your project is a real crapshoot. What if you could make your own, using your own stain? You can, using the Perfect Match Stain Marker. It works like an old-fashioned refillable fountain pen and will hold any water, oil or lacquer-based stain….

Woodworking with all the comforts of home. One glance in my shop reveals an unusual device—a reclining chair. But don’t get the wrong idea; things do get done here. It’s just that my 70-year-old back isn’t what it used to be and occasionally I need to sit down, put up my feet and catch a…

Every shop can use more storage. This set of cabinets looks as good in the shop as they would in the home. Project #2411 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 4 Days • Cost: $1000 Get full details on the drawers and countertop in the online extras. Shopping for pre-made cabinets, you’ll likely find woefully…

Two simple router jigs to get perfectly sized dados and grooves, even for undersized plywood. Project #2217 • Skill Level: Beginner • Time: 1 Day • Cost: $75 The ability to cut perfectly snug-fitting dados and grooves is one of those fundamental skills that will catapult your woodworking into the realm of cabinets and fine…

Building a sash clamp is quite easy. Begin by milling a hardwood bar to the appropriate thickness. The bar’s thickness should allow it to travel smoothly between the sash clamp’s shoulders. Next, mount the sash clamp over it and mark the location of the pin or bolt hole on the bar. Then, drill multiple holes…

Super Sander After years of hard use, my tablesaw’s 120-volt motor finally expired. Eureka! This was the perfect opportunity to acquire a more powerful machine. I purchased a new 240-volt saw and proceeded to rewire the junction box that supplied power to the outlet, which was mounted on a cord that dropped down from the…

Template routing and production techniques make this a fun project to make for friends and family. And, you might even get a meal out of the deal. Project #2407 • Skill Level: Beginner • Time: 1 Day • Cost: $10 Download the full-sized templates here. Well-crafted utensils are always useful in your kitchen. They make great gifts and…

Tool: Tempest Forstner Bits Shop Now Manufacturer: Bora Tool MSRP: $9.99-$299 The new Tempest Forstner bits from BORA are a set to be reckoned with. These forged bits are made by renowned bit maker FISCH. The precision ground edges are accurate and sharp—perfect for drilling by hand or with a drill press. Drilling in hardwood…

Fictional ‘incidents’ give a piece a believable back story. In Part 1 I gave an overview of creating an aged look for new pieces of furniture, and discussed mechanical wear. The second prevalent type of wear is incidental. “Incidental” means wear that did not result from ordinary use. Incidental wear is what happens to a piece…

With five pieces of wood and a clamp, you can make vertical cuts safely. Most magazine articles about jigs miss the point entirely. Jigs exist to make work easier, safer and more accurate. They shouldn’t be complicated projects in and of themselves – they should be something simple you can put together quickly so you…

Here’s an easy way to cut bowl blanks from half log sections. Cut a round guide disc from 1/4″ thick material the size you want your blank to be, and countersink a hole in the center. First, saw the log in half on your Bandsaw, then screw the guide disc to the flat side of…

Once an inaccuracy gets started, it becomes almost impossible to correct. “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on,” said Winston Churchill (or others, if you believe different attributes). If you are familiar with my teaching and writing about finishing, you know that I have devoted…

I really like my round Veritas bench dogs because they’re so versatile and easy to install. The only problem I have with them is raising the less accessible ones when they’re tucked down flush in their holes. My bench is against a wall, which makes it difficult to push the rear-most dogs up from underneath….

Beyond its prime use as a bar clamp, an inverted T-bar sash clamp can be handy when holding pieces for planing and gouging.  Below is an example of how to use this clamp to tie down a branch and gouge its interior to turn it into a long bowl. If you don’t have a tail…

Seven solid joints comprise this sturdy custom storage unit. Bonus: View the SketchUp Model. There’s a backstory to this chimney-cupboard project. I had planned a week off to renovate the 6-1⁄2‘ x 8’ bathroom in my 110-year-old house (I was sure it wouldn’t take long – after all, I only had to gut it to…

Adding wear and tear to a piece is like writing a convincing tale of fiction. It’s your day off. So, you go into your shop to make a new piece of furniture. How do you want it to look when you’re done? Well, it’s a new piece. So, that’s how it should look – new….

Tool: Low Angle Jack and Block Plane Kit Shop Now Manufacturer: Melbourne Tool Company MSRP: $269 The premium hand tool marketplace is a much different place today than it was in the dark days of the early 1980’s. There’s no shortage of quality options at numerous price points. Melbourne Tool Company, founded in 2022, is…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, John, and Logan are talking about the delights of shop snooping, some tours, milling, and maybe dive into some mythical woodworking tools. Thanks to our episode sponsor, Grizzly Industrial, purveyor of fine woodworking machinery since 1983. Buy Direct and save from www.Grizzly.com Find all of the…

This blog entry will make our UK base readership happy and will bring a smile to the British expats who live in the USA. This week’s story is about sash clamps, a type of clamp that I haven’t seen in American woodworking catalogs or being mentioned by North American content creators. Most American woodworkers are…

We set out to compare 11 premium dado blades to help you sort out which might be right for you. Dado blade stacks, comprised of two outer blades and a series of inner chipper blades, may have not changed much in the past 15 years, but recently new features have appeared, promising quicker and easier…

If your Mom is a woodworker, then this is the perfect Mother’s Day gift guide to help you shop. She’ll love anything you get for her on this list. Looking to build something for your Mom? Check out this gift guide instead!  Graph Gear 1000 $9.99 This mechanical pencil is popular with all the major…

Handmade gifts are one of the most personal ways to say that you love your Mom. No matter Mom’s interest, you’re sure to find something she’ll love. Seeing this list last minute with Mother’s Day imminent? Don’t worry, most of these gifts can be made over the course of a weekend (and some in an…

In this week’s episode for the ShopNote’s Podcast, John, Phil, and Logan respond to some listener comments, questions, and critiques. Special thanks to our show sponsor Titebond – Woodworkers, builders and contractors depend on Titebond to deliver the most consistent, highest-performing products to meet their demands. Check them out here: http://www.titebond.com/ Find all of the…

Wedged Woodworker Winter comes early here in Oregon, a fact I’d forgotten as I carried a custom kitchen cabinet to my truck. This cabinet was long and slender, to go above an extra-wide range. As I stepped out the shop door, my foot skidded on an icy patch, and I went down in a heap. One…

Over the years I have used about every type of marking gauge made. I prefer the newer wheel gauges because they’re easy to adjust and tighten, but I think they’re hard to grip. To solve this problem, drill a hole in a piece of 3/4-in.-thick maple that exactly fits the steel rod of the gauge….

Ease and speed versus the idealization of the past – sometimes. When Lord Acton wrote that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” he was referring to politics, but he could as easily have been referring to tools. After all, he wrote this now-famous phrase in the spring of 1887, one year after Karl Benz patented his first…

Tool: Mortise Chisels Shop Now Manufacturer: Blue Spruce Toolworks MSRP: $109.99+ Walloping on a chisel to chop a mortise is a big ask. It’s no wonder that the “pig sticker” mortise chisels of old were meaty—modern variants have, in my opinion, fell short until now. The new mortise chisels from Blue Spruce are the best…

Building a sculptured rocker starts with a coopered seat. Or as I call it, “The Big Smile Seat!” A Maloof style chair design (rocker, low back, or settee) represents some of the best in seating with extraordinary form and function. The entire chair’s flowing lines and gentle s-curves fit the sitter and the coopered seat…

This simple afternoon project is perfect for handsawing, holding doors for planing, organizing tools and giving you a leg up. It will quickly become indispensable. My simple plywood two-step in the old tool shed had reached the end of the road. Looking at it you could see a pile of old wood ready for the…

Using a tablesaw to cut rabbets on the end of a board is nothing new.  If you’ve only got a couple to make, it’s hardly worth the time it takes to install you dado set. So, using your fence in conjunction with your miter gauge, you establish the final width of the rabbet. You finish…

In the first part of the story, I showcased my small bandsaw and discussed the basic procedure of aligning the blade over the tires and checking for drift during a rip cut. Now, in this segment, I will detail how I endeavored to adjust the table to compensate for the excessive drift towards the right…

Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

While our new 1955 Crescent band saw was brand new on the pallet, that doesn’t mean it was in ready-to-go condition. The tires had deteriorated over the years, and we had to deal with the three-stage power requirements before the saw could be fired up and put to work.

A mobile workbench is handy in a small shop, until you want it to stand still! After outfitting my bench with casters, I found that their locks didn’t prevent the bench from wiggling. My solution is to add levers to each leg. They work like a cam. With the lever in the horizontal position, the…

Have you ever read a magazine article that piqued your interest and then a few years later you wanted to find it but didn’t know where to start looking amongst the issues in your library? Well for 25 years, the Woodworking Magazine Index has been the solution to this problem. The index is online and…

Classic design elements combine to create a new design. Seven years ago I made my first piece of Greene & Greene-style furniture, a coffee table of my own design. It contained several elements the Greenes commonly used: cloudlifts and ebony pegs. As with many pieces inspired by their designs, it is somehow lacking. While their…

Tool: Scale Miter Gauge Shop Now Manufacturer: SawStop MSRP: $249 One of the universal truths of life is that the miter gauge that comes with any saw is dang-near worthless. Oh sure, it’s easy enough to square it up and make a 90° cut, but setting any angle outside of that is akin to piloting…

Here are the online extras for the June 2024 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. Interested in having the magazine delivered directly to your mailbox (physical or email) six times a year? Subscribe here. Download: Nautilus Star Instructions Download: Kitchen Utensils Template and Sled Dimmensions Download: Kitchen Utensils DXF Files Deep Dive: Shop Cabinet Details A…

I love my dovetail jig except for one thing: If I forget to hold the router flat, it can tip backward off the front of the jig and ruin the job. To solve the problem, I made my own Lshaped support fence that sits flush with the top of the jig. A 7/8-in.-wide ledge glued…

Ensuring your band saw’s blade runs square to the table and miter slot is crucial for accurate ripping and cross-cutting. A blade that cuts without any drift makes sawing along the grain, or ripping, a breeze and also makes sure your cross cuts will split the workpiece at the intended angle. In this and the…

Logan is really digging the new Harvey Big Eye Rip Fence System. In this video, he walks you through the standout features he appreciates.  

A few key elements push your hand tool skills. Project #2106 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 2 Days • Cost: $50 When my wife asked that I build her a box to contain a growing collection of aroma oil containers and associated accouterments for her piqued interest in aroma therapy, I was thrilled. Besides…

In some contemporary households, 17th-century style storage prevails. I once sold a chair to a woman who later told me how much she loved it. “I never let anyone sit in it!” she exclaimed, apparently to show me how special it was to her. I told her that was about the worst thing she could…

Here’s a great space-saving tip. I first made “floor drawers” like these for under-the-bed storage. They worked so well I decided to use them in the shop. Floor drawers work great for storing scrap wood or infrequently used tools and supplies. Make the drawers long but shallow so the contents are easy to get at….

The key to selection is knowing the terminology and how a lock works. Locks protect our worldly goods from outsiders who wish to take those goods from us. In earlier days, the use of furniture locks had a somewhat different purpose. It used to amaze me that spice box doors had locks. Sure, spices were…

Logan has finally found a band saw he considers to be adequately large — a 36-inch 1955 Crescent that was purchased as government surplus and never used. In this video, he walks you through the features and current condition of the saw, which does need some maintenance after 69 years of inactivity.

While Flax Oil, Shellac, and Tung oil are all good transparent finishes for students, what if you want to cover up the appearance of the natural wood instead? Let’s remember the key considerations to make when choosing a finish for kids or students: Safe and easy application Addressing finishing spills and cleanups Fast cure time…

Flattening the back of a spokeshave’s blade on sandpaper is a pain. The blade is so small that it’s hard to get a grip on it. A 1-1/2″ thick MDF block sized to fit my hand makes the job easy.  I stick the blade to the block with double-faced tape. One problem: If the blade…

If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing excessively. There are many bookcases in my house, but they’re a motley collection – poor cousins to the rest of the furniture. The really nice bookcases I’ve made have gone to live with clients, while I have kept the prototypes and the also-rans. They are nicer than…

Tool: Quick-Release Pock-It Hole Clamp Shop Now Manufacturer: Rockler MSRP: $25.99 Pocket hole joints are quick and easy to make. For some applications, such as face frames, they’re perfect. But if you’ve ever tried to assemble a face frame with narrow rails and closely spaced screws, you know that holding the pieces together can be…

For anyone that has met me, you’ll probably know that I have a pretty happy-go-lucky personality. I enjoy helping others, sometimes to my own detriment. One thing that I’ll always do is try and do things that I know will make me happy. A few weeks back, when I had some time scheduled with our…

Sooner or later, the wooden runners of your tablesaw jigs will wear and become sloppy, resulting in inaccurate cuts. Having just replaced my kitchen floor, I’ve made new runners using some extra pieces of laminate flooring. This stuff is stable, durable, inexpensive and available at home centers. A free sample may be all you need!…

Scientific Name: foundus paletus Other Common Names: Sloof lirpa, common crate. Growing Regions: Worldwide, particularly industrial areas. Characteristics of Tree: A barkless, leafless, short scrub tree of varying height, but routinely small trunk diameter. Characteristics of Wood: Wood varies from a bleached white to a dark and knurled appearance with a wide range of grain…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, John, Logan, and Phil discuss what’s going on in their woodworking lives and finally touch on the topic of “oddball” clamps. Special thanks to our show sponsor Titebond – Woodworkers, builders and contractors depend on Titebond to deliver the most consistent, highest-performing products to meet their demands….

Editor-in-Chief Logan Wittmer is finally in our new shop, and is excited to show off all the great features. In this video, he walks you through the process of applying a professional-style epoxy coating to a concrete floor, plus all of the benefits of finishing your shop floor this way.

I needed a sacrificial fence for cutting rabbets with my tablesaw. All of the designs I’d seen required drilling holes in my saw’s fence or positioning clamps strategically out of the way of the workpiece. I came up with a thick, sturdy fence that’s easy to mount–and the clamps are always completely out of the…

Save on clamps with this traditional technique for panel glue-ups. A “spring joint” is a traditional method where you join the edges of two boards to make a wider panel and leave a tiny gap in the middle of the joint. The gap reduces the number of clamps you need to make the panel and…

Get inspired to give bird carving a try by learning about the sculptural process. Project #2404 • Skill Level: Advanced • Time: 3-6 mos. • Cost: $250 I love to be outside no matter the weather conditions. I am rarely without binoculars and always have an eye to the sky. When I catch a glimpse…

Tool: Mortise Chisels Shop Now Manufacturer: Veritas MSRP: $76.50+ The Veritas (Lee Valley) mortise chisels are awesome in every sense of the word. They’re big, heavy and can plow through a mortise in just a few good passes. The size, shape and substantial thickness of the blades bring English “dagger”-style mortise chisels to mind, while…

Small changes can make a big design difference – and help train your eye. How do you dial in the proportions on a furniture design? I used to pose that question a lot. Perhaps what makes this puzzling is the fact that small differences can have a dramatic effect. The line between the merely good…

After showcasing the two most popular finishes I work with as an educator—Flaxseed oil and Shellac—I’m excited to delve into another favored option: Tung oil. Tung oil and Walnut oil stand out as a natural choice for woodworking projects, offering both durability and a distinctive finish. As with all finishes being used by students, there…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, it’s Phil, Logan, and Dillon on a special Spring Break episode talking about listener comments, woodworking, and so much more! Special thanks to our show sponsor, Titebond. They have the glue to get the job done at www.titebond.com Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.  

Traditionally-trained furniture maker Martin Goebel takes you through the step-by-step process of making a live-edge solid-slab top. Follow along and learn: Why bark — while appealing — isn’t a good thing How to remove bark without damaging the edge underneath To clean an edge for the best look and leave a stable surface ready for…

Epoxy is a two-part glue: a hardener and a resin that combine to form a hard, durable plastic. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and use correct ratios of resin and hardener to ensure the glue cures fully and reaches its maximum strength. Epoxy generates heat as it cures; in fact, the heat helps…

You’re measuring wrong, and making it more difficult to do good work. If the title has you expecting high-tech procedures or suggestions for expensive measurement gear that’ll get you closer to Angstrom-level measurements, then let me disappoint you quite thoroughly before paragraph one ends. This isn’t that kind of party. That shouldn’t suggest that I’m…

Combine spindle turning skills with a special chucking method to make this utilitarian scoop. Project #2304 • Skill Level: Advanced • Time: 3 Hours • Cost: $20 One of the most popular projects of my woodturning classes here in Las Vegas is a turned scoop with a pewter finial. These scoops provide practice for hollowing…

Chisel Sharpening Jig If you’ve had trouble grinding a straight edge on a chisel or plane iron, try using your disc sander. All you need is a guide that slides in your sander’s miter gauge slot and an 80 or 100-grit disc. To make the guide, start with a 3/4″ x 5″ x 8″ base….

These once-standard tools still have a place in the modern shop. Here’s what you need to know about the use, care and keeping of drawknives and spokeshaves.

Tool: CPM Magnacut Blades Shop Now Manufacturer: Lake Erie Tool Works MSRP: $46.99+ As a hand tool junkie, I look at a few things when deciding if a tool is up to snuff. One of those is the condition of the blade. Luckily, replacement blades are readily available, at least in hand planes. The team…

The end grain holds the secret to what stock to use where. The single-most important factor in the appearance of any woodworking project is the selection of the material. This isn’t what species to use or what color of finish; it is the choice of which board goes where. The wrong grain pattern in the…

Online extras from the April 2024 #277 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine. Carve a Ringneck Pheasant These are all Holbein Oil Paints because I like the ratio of binder to pigment. But you can find nearly all of these colors in other brands, they just may have a slightly different name.) Zinc White Foundation Umber…

Situated in a picturesque Ozark town, the Eureka Springs School of the Arts has something for everybody. About an hour south of Branson, Missouri is the small town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It’s home to about 2,100 people and it has a rich history. Walking down the historic main street, you’ll be surrounded by a…

Toggle clamps are great for all sorts of jigs and fixtures. However, you need a wrench to adjust the length of their posts. To make life easier, replace the clamp’s hex nut with a wing nut. For clamps with two nuts, once the wing nut is loose, the adjustment nut can be turned by hand….

As I mentioned in the last article, I’ve experimented with a wide variety of finishes over the years as an educator and woodworker. This has helped me figure out what kinds of finish are ideal for working with kids. I’m hoping the knowledge I’ve picked up will help you, whether you’re a professional teacher or…

Coopered legs and tusk tenons build the structure of this beautiful hall table. Project #2310 • Skill Level: Beginner • Time: 3 Days • Cost: $150 During the start of the Covid pandemic and as things were shutting down, my wife, Jean, gave me a list of things to do, one of which was a…

Tool: HP-6FX Multiplane Shop Now Manufacturer: Bridge City Tool Works MSRP: $789 If you’ve ever taken a look at Bridge City Tools, you’ll know that they have a history of having futuristic-looking tools that perform as well as they look. Last year, Bridge City released an update to their HP-6 multiplane. The new HP-6FX is…

Decorative banding within moulding adds a distinctive detail. For my very first veneer project, I decided to make a curved-top jewelry box. I knew I would need to use solid wood on the edges to protect the fragile veneer and I also wanted to embellish the box with some geometric inlay bands. At the same…

Drilling small pieces on the drill press can be difficult because most clamps won’t reach to the center of the table. This simple three-piece platform jig solves the problem and ensures a fast and safe setup. It consists of a small elevated panel that overhangs its support post, allowing easy clamping of small pieces. The…

On this week’s episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Logan, Phil, and John are talking dust collection strategies, pricing your work when you’re not a pro, and updates on the tv show filming. Special thanks to our show sponsor, Titebond. They have the glue to get the job done at www.titebond.com Find all of the ShopNotes…

Vermont-based toolmaker Will Adams offers some of the best hand-made tools around. A marking knife. There are few tools that can, nearly instantly, increase the accuracy of a woodworker’s work. But for Vermont-based toolmaker Will Adams, a marking knife was so much more. His first tool, a marking knife, was made from his great-grandfather’s straight…

Three ways to achieve different types of textures with your CNC router. CNC Routers open up lots of new ways to create textures in wood. Here are my three favorite ways of creating textures using a CNC. The first method uses the repetition of shapes to create a design that is routed using one or…

My beam compass is perfect for drawing huge arcs. It’s super easy to make, and I can adjust it quickly without using screws or clamps. To change the arc’s radius, I just slide a saddle-style head along the beam. Make the beam from a piece of hardwood. Mine is 1″ x 1-1/4″ x 36″, but…

People ask, “How in the world did you make that weird wiffle thing? ”The truth is, it’s really quite simple: it’s just a hollow cube with the corners cut off. Can you figure it out?

Tool: Big Eye Rip Fence Shop Now Manufacturer: Harvey Woodworking MSRP: $1249+ There are times when there is a product released that I think really met the mark. One of those is the Harvey Big Eye Rip Fence. For years, there hasn’t been a quality aftermarket fence available. Now, I think there is, as the…

As a woodworking teacher and a maker, I’ve tried almost every finish out there, perhaps short of Urushi. I’ve experimented with everything from oil and wax finishes to lacquer, water-based, and shellac finishes. Through these experiences, I’ve discovered that some work better on larger furniture, while others are more suitable for smaller projects. Additionally, certain…

As hard as I try to avoid it, every now and then I need to mill a small part on the router table. I’ve learned the hard way that you should never hold that part by hand, for three good reasons: first, your fingers would be way too close to the bit; second, the part…

Flaming Scroll Saw When I work in my garage shop, I keep the garage door open to let the sunlight stream in. After working for several hours one fine afternoon, I smelled something burning—that acrid “electrical” smell. None of my tools were running or even plugged in, so I checked outside. Nothing. But as I…

The fastest way to rabbet the back of a cabinet is to do it all at once, after the cabinet is assembled. Unlike rabbeting individual pieces before assembly, I don’t have to worry about where to start or stop a rabbet or whether each rabbet will be level with its neighbor. As long as the…

A small project such as this pen box is a great way to hone your skills and focus on precision work. Project #2406 • Skill Level: Intermediate • Time: 3 Days • Cost: $35 I was asked by a friend to design a box to hold a bottle of ink and two fountain pens. These…

Tool: Optima Chisel Plane Shop Now Manufacturer: Blue Spruce Toolworks MSRP: $119.99 It goes without saying that a chisel is a staple in almost any shop. However, there are some operations where you really need a hybrid—something between a chisel and a plane. Enter, the chisel plane. Many manufacturers have produced these goofy planes throughout…

How to make strong mortise and tenon joints with a plunge router and a tablesaw. Imagine turning the clock back 500 years and visiting a fellow woodworker in any large European town. You could instantly strike up a conversation about the fine points of building a door with mortise and tenon joints—he’d know exactly what…

Achieving exact thickness is really important when making splines to reinforce box corners. The splines have to fit perfectly in the saw kerfs—a few thousandths of an inch one way or the other can make a big difference. I cut my spline material on the tablesaw, making it a bit thicker than needed, then plane…

On this episode of the ShopNotes Podcast, Phil, Logan, and John talk about useless tools, tours and visits, timber management, and a design challenge idea for a project. Special thanks to our episode sponsor Epilog Lasers. Check them out at https://www.epiloglaser.com/ Find all of the ShopNotes podcast episodes here.

This hand surgeon likes meeting fellow woodworkers – but not at work. I long ago lost track of how many people, upon learning of my interest in woodworking, have puzzled aloud over my table saw. They follow up with, “Do you know how important your hands are?” or, “Do you know how dangerous that thing…

Tool: P2 Laser Shop Now Manufacturer: xTool MSRP: $4999 If you spend any amount of time flipping through woodworking content online or on YouTube, you’ve probably been introduced to lasers, and maybe even the xTool P2. The P2 is a laser that’s just a bit larger and more powerful than other in its class. The…

Drawer knobs that work loose and spin around drive me crazy. So instead of drilling a hole through the drawer front and screwing the knobs on from the back, I fasten them to a post that’s securely anchored in the drawer front. I drill a pilot hole twothirds of the way through the drawer front…