“It’s Good Enough.” – Tough Lessons from an Easy Project
Recently I built a project for a customer. It was a simple, rudimentary patio bench. Nothing fancy for this project. This was going to be made out of 2×4’s and 1” by. The construction consisted of butt joints with screws to fasten it together. I was so convinced that my skill level was way above […]
Pagoda End Table
Three seasons I did the video series, “I Can Do That” with Popular Woodworking. During that time I designed over 60 projects that can easily be built with simple carpentry tools, such as a circular saw, miter saw, and jigsaw. I have decided to make plans for these pieces of furniture for people to build […]
Kreg Track Saw Accessories
As most of us know, Kreg Tools makes some great products. Recently I was able to use and work with the Kreg track saw. I have a Festool track saw and at first, wasn’t really eager to use another track saw. But by the suggestion of McFeely’s I decided to give it a try. (click […]
Keeping It Real
Recently, I have done a few videos about a particular tool and how it performs. I find these videos very difficult to do. For one thing, I don’t call them a “review” video. In my opinion, a review video should have a variety of different brands of the same tool to compare it against. Talking […]
Air Dried or Kiln Dried Lumber. Which is Better?
As a woodworker, this is a question you will encounter more that one time in your shop. It’s an important question because it deals with the moisture content of the wood. The moisture content of wood has to do with the amount the wood will move, shrink or expand. To not understand wood movement can […]
Making a Living as an Online Woodworker
Anyone who works has heard the expression, “It’s all about the numbers.” The number of sales, the number of orders, the number of customers, the number of growth. As a fulltime furniture maker, these are issues I have to concern myself with. Making furniture designs for my local.customers and staying in their budget is key […]
Never Stop Learning
In this day and age, we have access to almost everything. If we choose to, we can watch new shows online or find old ones from the past. We can do all our shopping without even leaving our house. If it’s a topic we are looking for, with just a couple off words typed in […]
Sawdust plugs the wood pores – Myth Debunked!
“Sanding at a very high grit will plug the pores of the wood, not allowing stain to be absorbed.” If you never have heard this statement before then surely you have experienced it. You finish building your project and you are doing the sanding. You want that extra smooth touch and feel to be as […]
Should You Own It? -Trend 7” Angle Gauge model U*DAR/200
I’ve been doing woodworking and trim for 21 years now. In that time I have accumulated most of the tools I’ll ever need in this field. When it comes to doing trim and finding the angles, for years I have been using an antique bevel and a 99 cent protector. But over a decade ago, […]
Cannon Barrel Legs- Period Furniture with Dennis Laney
In a previous article, I mentioned that Dennis Laney, a highly skilled craftsman of over 60 years, has decided to take me under his wing and pass on the knowledge of building high end furniture pieces. This article, and the ones to follow, will document my journey. Click here for previous article The first piece […]
Getting the BEST results from Sanding.
For woodworkers, creating something out of wood is more than a hobby, it’s a passion. The process begins as raw, rough lumber. The woodworker shapes it into a beautiful finished piece that is inviting to touch. The whole process is something between geometrical and magical. But the one step in the process that nearly every […]
Period Pieces with Dennis Laney
The thing I love most about woodworking is the fact there is always something to learn. There are many way to attain woodworking knowledge such as; books, videos, and newsletters. But also a great source of learning is being around someone in your field that knows more than you. For me, that person is my […]