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In my work as a luthier, I sand a lot of curved surfaces. I’ve found that I can make perfect sandpaper backing pads from “kneeling cushions” sold for garden work. Available at home-supply stores [...]

When gluing miters for small mouldings, clear packing tape makes an ideal clamp. Begin by placing a strip of tape across the bottom of the joint; this will prevent glue squeeze-out from getting [...]

While sawing dovetails for a jewelry box, I found my back was hurting from hunching over my bench vise. In order to work more comfortably, I built this vise extension that works on the same [...]

Easily organize, store and transport all your small woodworking accessories with this clever cabinet and inexpensive plastic tackle boxes – instead of drawers. One of my favorite things to do [...]

If all you have is a hammer, well, you might need another hammer. One of my favorite quotes is Baruch’s Observation: If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. It seems like an [...]

I recently thought I’d outfit my portable “benchtop” table saw with a zero-clearance throat plate to reduce tear-out and to prevent narrow strips from falling down through the wide throat [...]

Tool: MP160 Jointer Planer Shop Now  Manufacturer: Wood-Mizer MSRP: $4995 Wood-Mizer has started developing standalone woodworking machinery. This combo jointer/planer caught our eye because [...]

A simple sharpening technique for unbelievably sharp edges that are tough and long-lasting. By David Weaver, Winston Chang, and William Tindal Nothing slices, chops or pares through wood like a [...]

Tool: 12V Max Brushless 2-Speed Screwdriver Shop Now Brushless 3/8″ Hammer Drill/Driver Shop Now  Manufacturer: Bosch MSRP: $100 (Screwdriver with battery) $120 (hammer drill/driver [...]

The gift of a handwritten letter shows appreciation for Canadian forces. Editor’s note: this article originally appeared in the February 2007 issue of Popular Woodworking. About two years [...]

I made a built-in bookcase for my daughter that required attaching the face frame after installing the case. I didn’t want to mar the face frame with nail holes, but I don’t have any [...]

When drilling mortises for chair arms, such as those in a ladderback chair, it can be difficult to accurately center your bit. But wrap a string around the rear post at the mortise location and [...]