How to Address Woodworking Problems
Knots, cracked wood, shrinking & expanding stock and blemishes are just a few of the problems a woodworker may have to deal with. Learn some easy to follow tips for avoiding problems before they occur or address them after they have occurred.
How to Store Wood and Moulding
When you finish a woodworking project, you may have to store some extra wood and moulding. How should you store wood and moulding? Should it be stored flat or on end? Should it be on a rack or a flat surface? Is there any prep work that needs to be done when it's time to re-use the stock?
When you finish a woodworking project, you may have to store some extra wood and moulding. How should you store wood and moulding? Should it be stored flat or on end? Should it be on a rack or a flat surface? Is there any prep work that needs to be done when it's time to re-use the stock?
Dealing with Uneven Shrinkage or Swelling of Woods
All woodworkers have experienced issues with uneven shrinking or swelling of wood stock. When wood stock dries unevenly, it tends to warp, cup, bow, twist, kink, crook and check. Understanding what may happen to your stock when it swells or shrinks is essential to building a quality woodworking project.
All woodworkers have experienced issues with uneven shrinking or swelling of wood stock. When wood stock dries unevenly, it tends to warp, cup, bow, twist, kink, crook and check. Understanding what may happen to your stock when it swells or shrinks is essential to building a quality woodworking project.
Methods for Squaring-up Stock
When you need a piece of stock to have four square edges, what is the best woodworking tool and method for squaring-up the stock? Should you choose to use a jointer or your table saw? Well, maybe both. Learn methods for squaring up stock and when to use each method on your woodworking projects.
When you need a piece of stock to have four square edges, what is the best woodworking tool and method for squaring-up the stock? Should you choose to use a jointer or your table saw? Well, maybe both. Learn methods for squaring up stock and when to use each method on your woodworking projects.
How to Remove Table Saw Rust
Many woodworkers live in high-humidity areas, and cast-iron table saws don't mix well with humidity. Often, the saw's table will rust easily. How should one go about removing the rust and then preventing its return? Learn some steps to removing the rust and keeping your table saw rust-free.
Many woodworkers live in high-humidity areas, and cast-iron table saws don't mix well with humidity. Often, the saw's table will rust easily. How should one go about removing the rust and then preventing its return? Learn some steps to removing the rust and keeping your table saw rust-free.
Allowing for Expansion & Shrinking
Preparing for expansion and shrinking in woodworking projects will help eliminate problems later. Learn tips for understanding how wood expands and shrinks, and how to plan for it.
Preparing for expansion and shrinking in woodworking projects will help eliminate problems later. Learn tips for understanding how wood expands and shrinks, and how to plan for it.
Table Saw Tune-Up Tips
The table saw is, without a doubt, the workhorse of the wood shop. However, a table saw occasionally needs to be tuned-up in order to keep it working in optimum condition. Learn how to determine whether your table saw needs to be aligned, what adjustments to make and how to make them. Once your saw is tuned, you'll see better results on your woodworking plans.
The table saw is, without a doubt, the workhorse of the wood shop. However, a table saw occasionally needs to be tuned-up in order to keep it working in optimum condition. Learn how to determine whether your table saw needs to be aligned, what adjustments to make and how to make them. Once your saw is tuned, you'll see better results on your woodworking plans.
How to Keep Your Saw Table Clean and Rust-Free
Most table saws and band saws come equipped with a cast-iron table. This table is prone to rusting, which will definitely diminish the saw's performance. Learn how to protect your saw's table and keep it functioning perfectly.
Most table saws and band saws come equipped with a cast-iron table. This table is prone to rusting, which will definitely diminish the saw's performance. Learn how to protect your saw's table and keep it functioning perfectly.
How to Eliminate Saw Blade Burns
If you've ever noticed burns on your wood stock after completing a cut on your table saw, you know how difficult it can be to get rid of these burns. However, instead of trying to sand or scrape them off, check the setup of your saw and try to prevent them in the first place. Learn the steps necessary to set up your saw to prevent saw blade burns, and how to get rid of the marks if you have them.
If you've ever noticed burns on your wood stock after completing a cut on your table saw, you know how difficult it can be to get rid of these burns. However, instead of trying to sand or scrape them off, check the setup of your saw and try to prevent them in the first place. Learn the steps necessary to set up your saw to prevent saw blade burns, and how to get rid of the marks if you have them.
Ideas for Removing Odors from Wood
Wood used in woodworking projects sometimes takes on certain odors from the environment around the piece. Often, these odors can become so strong that the piece is no longer usable in its current state. In this article, learn ideas and methods for removing odors from wood.
Wood used in woodworking projects sometimes takes on certain odors from the environment around the piece. Often, these odors can become so strong that the piece is no longer usable in its current state. In this article, learn ideas and methods for removing odors from wood.
How to Repair a Stripped Screw Hole
One of the most frustrating experiences when dealing with wood furniture is when a screw hole becomes stripped out and will no longer hold the fixture or accessory it was designed to hold. Learn a few different simple methods for tackling this aggravating woodworking problem.
One of the most frustrating experiences when dealing with wood furniture is when a screw hole becomes stripped out and will no longer hold the fixture or accessory it was designed to hold. Learn a few different simple methods for tackling this aggravating woodworking problem.
How to Close an Open Mitered Corner
When working with mitered corners, the two mitered pieces don't always match up perfectly, even when the angles are cut correctly. This defect can be caused by numerous issues, such as twisted or slightly warped stock. In this woodworking tip, learn an easy method for closing open mitered corners.
When working with mitered corners, the two mitered pieces don't always match up perfectly, even when the angles are cut correctly. This defect can be caused by numerous issues, such as twisted or slightly warped stock. In this woodworking tip, learn an easy method for closing open mitered corners.
How to Drill Clean Holes
When drilling with a large hole saw or spade bit, the back side of the stock tends to tear when completing the hole. Learn two simple ways to solve this common problem, so you can avoid tear out in the large-diameter holes in your woodworking projects.
When drilling with a large hole saw or spade bit, the back side of the stock tends to tear when completing the hole. Learn two simple ways to solve this common problem, so you can avoid tear out in the large-diameter holes in your woodworking projects.
How to Fix a Sticky Drawer
When working with drawers where wood slides on wood without use of mechanical slides, the drawers can stick with the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. Learn a simple trick for keeping your drawers sliding smoothly when expansion becomes a problem.
When working with drawers where wood slides on wood without use of mechanical slides, the drawers can stick with the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. Learn a simple trick for keeping your drawers sliding smoothly when expansion becomes a problem.
How to Cut Curves in Thick Stock
When needing to make curved cuts in thick stock, most woodworkers turn to their band saw. However, what should one do when a band saw isn't available? Learn which woodworking tools are the next best choices for making the curved cuts necessary to complete these woodworking projects.
When needing to make curved cuts in thick stock, most woodworkers turn to their band saw. However, what should one do when a band saw isn't available? Learn which woodworking tools are the next best choices for making the curved cuts necessary to complete these woodworking projects.
Remove Nails With Ease
When working with recycled stock, often there are a number of nails left behind in the stock that must be removed. In this quick woodworking tip, we show you simple and easy way to remove a number of nails that are protruding from the wood.
When working with recycled stock, often there are a number of nails left behind in the stock that must be removed. In this quick woodworking tip, we show you simple and easy way to remove a number of nails that are protruding from the wood.
Woodworking with Recycled Materials
Woodworking can be an expensive hobby. One way to combat the rising cost of materials is to recycle wood stock. Some of the most beautiful furniture I've ever seen came from timbers that were salvaged from an old barn. Learn some ideas for finding and recycling salvage wood stock to use for your woodworking projects.
Woodworking can be an expensive hobby. One way to combat the rising cost of materials is to recycle wood stock. Some of the most beautiful furniture I've ever seen came from timbers that were salvaged from an old barn. Learn some ideas for finding and recycling salvage wood stock to use for your woodworking projects.
Does ACQ Pressure Treating Affect Moisture Readings?
Most wood moisture meters detect moisture content in wood using electric current, and the level of conductance determines the amount of moisture in the stock. However, when testing ACQ-style pressure treated wood, the level of conductance will be much higher than with untreated stock, because of the amount of copper in the treating solution. How should one work around this problem?
Most wood moisture meters detect moisture content in wood using electric current, and the level of conductance determines the amount of moisture in the stock. However, when testing ACQ-style pressure treated wood, the level of conductance will be much higher than with untreated stock, because of the amount of copper in the treating solution. How should one work around this problem?
Do You have a Disaster Plan for Your Woodworking Shop?
We all have a disaster plan for our home, in the event of a weather-related emergency or other such natural disaster. Have you considered how to prepare your wood shop for such a natural disaster? In this woodworking tip, we discuss a few steps to help protect the tools in your shop from damage in the event of a weather-related emergency or other natural disaster.
We all have a disaster plan for our home, in the event of a weather-related emergency or other such natural disaster. Have you considered how to prepare your wood shop for such a natural disaster? In this woodworking tip, we discuss a few steps to help protect the tools in your shop from damage in the event of a weather-related emergency or other natural disaster.
Hanging Cabinets with Wedge Brackets
One sturdy method for hanging a cabinet on a wall is to use a wedge bracket. This type of bracket can be easily made using a table saw and a long piece of dimensional lumber. When properly installed, a wedge bracket will support a considerable amount of weight and hold your cabinet tight to the wall. Learn how to build and incorporate a wedge bracket in your cabinet designs.
One sturdy method for hanging a cabinet on a wall is to use a wedge bracket. This type of bracket can be easily made using a table saw and a long piece of dimensional lumber. When properly installed, a wedge bracket will support a considerable amount of weight and hold your cabinet tight to the wall. Learn how to build and incorporate a wedge bracket in your cabinet designs.
Handy Fraction/Decimal/Metric Conversion Chart
In general, woodworkers hate math. Because we hate math, I've posted a handy fraction to decimal to metric conversion chart. This chart shows common fractional dimensions in 1/64th increments along side the decimal (in inches) and metric (in millimeters) equivalents. Print up this handy conversion chart for use in your wood shop.
In general, woodworkers hate math. Because we hate math, I've posted a handy fraction to decimal to metric conversion chart. This chart shows common fractional dimensions in 1/64th increments along side the decimal (in inches) and metric (in millimeters) equivalents. Print up this handy conversion chart for use in your wood shop.
Replacing the Surface on a Radial Arm Saw
Radial-arm saws are designed so that the surface of the table top over which the saw travels can be replaced. What materials work best for a radial arm saw table, and how (and when) should the surface be replaced? Learn tips for replacing your radial arm saw's working surface and more in this quick woodworking tip.
Radial-arm saws are designed so that the surface of the table top over which the saw travels can be replaced. What materials work best for a radial arm saw table, and how (and when) should the surface be replaced? Learn tips for replacing your radial arm saw's working surface and more in this quick woodworking tip.
Tips for Dealing With Glue Spots
If you've ever stained a piece and discovered some white or discolored areas near the joints, chances are you have glue spots. Learn how to deal with these annoying discolorations.
If you've ever stained a piece and discovered some white or discolored areas near the joints, chances are you have glue spots. Learn how to deal with these annoying discolorations.