MDF vs. Particleboard

How two versatile woods can be both a blessing and a curse. by Karen Nakamura Cheap, plain and definitely not wood. That’s how many woodworkers describe particleboard and MDF (medium-density...

Economical Inserts

Commercially made zero-clearance inserts cost about $20. I make my own for less than $3 from 3/8-in.-thick polyethylene cutting boards, which are flat and rigid. A 14-in. x 17-in. cutting...

Hide-Away Bin for Short Stock

I don't like to throw wood away; offcuts and other short boards work great for small projects, jigs and shop fixtures. But until I built this mobile cart, my shop...

Tablesawn Circles

It's easy to cut perfectly round tabletops of almost any size on your tablesaw. All it takes is a simple jig (Fig A) and careful setup. With this method, you...

Simple Lumber Maker

Simple Lumber Maker By Jay McClellan I’ve turned my bandsaw into a mini sawmill with the help of one dirt-simple jig and a pair of extension tables. The jig is...

Surefire Marking Gauge

Screwing plywood pieces with drywall-type screws is quick and easy, but drilling holes in a straight line can be tricky. That’s why I made this handy little marking gauge that...

Instant Wheel Dressing

I use my grinder almost exclusively for beveling my chisels, so I like to keep the tool rest set to produce the 25-degree bevel I prefer. Having to reset the...

Versatile Router-Bit Storage

When it comes to router-bit storage, I could write a book. I've tried everything, but I think my latest design is a keeper. I prefer to keep my bits protected...

Clothespin Holder

I love having a cutting list close at hand. But hanging on to it when both hands are busy was a problem – until I bought 24 clothespins for $2...

Replaceable Fence Faces

It's hard to improve on the performance of a T-square fence, but I think I've done it. I got frustrated with clamping on an additional subfence every time I wanted...

Rock-Solid Bench Support

The face vise on my workbench didn't hold long boards rigidly enough until I added this adjustable "bench slave." And it only cost about $30. First I milled a board...