Truing and milling twisted or cupped boards whose width is broader than your jointer is always a challenge. And this becomes a true headache if you need to do this fast and efficiently.  If you own the common duo of a 6” jointer and a 12” planner you know what I mean. While it is…

Tool: 5-in-1 Combination Protractor Shop Now  Manufacturer: Starrett MSRP: $142 If walls were all exactly 90 degrees, installing cabinets and trim would be a lot easier. When it comes to installing trimwork–especially crown molding–it sure would be nice to have a device that directly reads a corner’s angle and instantly gives the exact setting for…

In our latest video, we’re comparing water stones, oil stones, and diamond stones. Get a basic overview, then learn the pros and cons of each sharpening method. Click here for more articles about sharpening.

Bottle Cap Jig Knobs I’m always trying to use up scraps and stuff that would otherwise end up in the trash. My latest devices are jig knobs made with plastic bottle caps, which have a grippy surface on their edges.  To make these knobs, all you need are plastic caps, 1/2” thick plywood, carriage bolts…

Tradition meets technology when we marry an 18th-century workbench design with modern laminated veneer lumber. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of Popular Woodworking. A follow-up post from 2014 should address any questions on how the workbench wore with age. When it comes to workbench designs, I think it is…

“You can’t have too many clamps,” a wise cabinetmaker once said. That is certainly true, but in a small shop, you can easily run out of room to store them. On clamp is so different from another that no single rack can accommodate them all in a compact space. Most woodworkers benefit from a variety…

Two classic joints build a beautiful utility piece PROJECT #2103 • Skill Level: Advanced • Time: 1 week • Cost: $200 As we’ve settled into our fully working from home routine, one thing has become clear: sitting all day, without the prompts to head to a different office for a meeting, run out to lunch…

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.

A well-tuned spray gun doesn’t guarantee a perfect finish. Here are five of the most common spraying problems and how to fix them.

These beautiful Shoji-style sliding doors will make any large living space more versatile, or close off a closet in style.

I use hand planes quite a lot and give each one a special role to play. My ensemble of metal planes includes long and short, wide and narrow, expensive, but also dirt cheap eBay bought and later restored by me. As a rule of thumb, the broader the surface you need to plane is, the…

A unique router table, with two machines, does the trick. Making drawers can chew up a lot of time-unless you’ve got an efficient system.  I’ve worked in several cabinetmaking shops where drawers are made fast. I’ve adopted their methods for my home shop, where I often make cabinets that require lots of drawers. But even…

When it comes to the history of woodworking, period furniture styles, and woodworking techniques, most woodworkers think about William and Mary, Queen Anne, Federal, Chippendale, and so on. It is arguable, however, that furniture as we know it would not be the same without Chinese furniture, and that studying Chinese furniture leads to lessons about…

Most woodworkers are homeowners, but not all homeowners are woodworkers. This article is more for the latter group; an introduction of sorts to the essential tools every homeowner should have access to. If you’re looking for woodworking tools specifically, this is the list for you. Each tool below features both an essential and advanced recommendation,…

Working wood with a sense of humor. Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in American Woodworker #154 Most woodworkers have gotten a chuckle or two out of a piece of furniture they or somebody else has built—maybe an armoire that’s too big to fit through the workshop door or a bookcase with two left sides….