Is grain orientation during planing important? When planing, orienting the grain correctly is critical to achieving a smooth finish. Improper grain orientation can cause chips, tear-outs, and/or additional damage. In this article, we’ll discuss how to plane with the grain to avoid damage and how to identify the direction of grain in various common wood types. Each piece of wood …
How to Restore a $5 Wooden Piece to a $500 Masterpiece
How can I restore a cheap wooden furniture item and sell it for profit? Restoring wooden furniture can be a lucrative business venture. The basic restoration processes include obtaining a piece, cleaning it, refinishing and refurbishing individual components, and then marketing the final product. In this article, we’ll discuss the supplies, techniques, processes, costs, project ideas, and common sources for …
Ancient Tools for Modern Times
The Adze, The Drawknife, and The Mocotaugan By Camille Coy It’s always exciting to see the similarities in woodworking tools across cultures and millennia. Working wood is truly a uniting human quality. I’ve always thought woodworkers (particularly hand tool users) would make good time travelers—they’d be able to seamlessly slip into a profession almost anywhere they ended up. Adze The …
The Wood on the Lathe Goes Round and Round: A Beginner’s Guide to Wood Turning
What is wood turning? Wood turning is the process of carving work from wood via a lathe. Spindle and faceplate work are the two main types of wood turning. Wood turners can make a variety of objects, from chair legs to wooden bowls. There’s no end to the possibilities with a wood turning lathe and a bit of creativity. If …
Harness the Flow: A Beginner’s Guide to Epoxy Resin
What is epoxy resin and how is it used in woodworking? Epoxy resin is a clear, hard-setting substance used to bond various materials together and/or create a polished final look. Woodworkers use epoxy resin to accentuate and encase their works to preserve the wood’s natural features. You can use epoxy resin in various amounts, from small drops for jewelry-making to …
How to Prevent Rust on Tools in a Marine Environment
How to Prevent Rust on Tools in Marine Environments Whether you’re a casual hobbyist or a career carpenter, you’ve figured out that a worker is only as good as their tools. You may have dozens of tools of a variety of qualities and brands, or maybe you’ve got a trust few from a brand you personally trust. Whatever the case, …
Problems With Biscuit Joinery
Biscuit joinery has been a topic of debate for years. Some craftsmen look down on it as if using them is almost cheating. It doesn’t have the look of a dovetail joint and is very simple compared to them. On the other hand there are individuals who wholeheartedly support using them when the project calls for it. Some joints need …
How Do You Prevent Rust On Hand Tools?
Tools are a large investment and with the right care many of them can last a lifetime. However, rust can shorten a tools life quickly and taking rust prevention measures is extremely important. While most tool manuals do not explain how to prevent rust, it is relatively simple. The best way to prevent rust from forming on tools is to …
How to Build Pecky Cypress Shelves
Let me tell you a story. A couple months ago my girlfriend and I decided that we wanted to have the family over for Christmas. While I’m not a drinker, her family is. And with the new place we wanted to make sure to include a small bar area. Now of course, I didn’t want it to just be any …
The Future of Woodworking
In the age of artificial intelligence, where does traditional woodworking fit in? Traditional woodworking will soon become a niche market. The future of this craft undeniably includes competition with technological advances. However, the desire and demand for hand-crafted products will sustain those craftsmen who embrace such a unique positioning and implement savvy marketing techniques. For that reason, successful woodworkers must …