Keep Those Tools Sharp
There are several ways to keep your woodworking tool sharp. Most are kept sharp by using an abrasive whetstone to wear the metal to a narrow cutting edge. The better-quality natural stones are more expensive, but you can get satisfactory results from cheaper, synthetic stones. As part of the sharpening, whetstones are lubricated with water […]
The Glue That Binds – Adhesives
Although there are approximately 1,500 adhesive products manufactured in the United States, less than a dozen are suitable for woodworking. Before getting into the individual types of adhesives, it might be helpful to know how glue bonds wooden parts together. It is helpful to understand a little about the chemical makeup of wood and how […]
Choosing Hand Tools
There are many woodworkers who believe that using hand tools and only hand tools is the way to make anything. From furniture to birdhouses, only hand tools will do for them. Others will use a combination of hand tools and portable power tools and perhaps sedentary equipment like a table saw or other large machinery […]
Chisel Basics
There are only a few truly indispensable hand tools for woodworking today. Near the top of the list would be the basic chisel. This is a tool that does it all, from carefully paring away thin shavings in intricately detailed work to quickly scooping out large chunks of waste wood. You will find chisels in […]
The Golden Rule – Measure Twice-Cut Once
Most woodworkers don’t give much thought to most basic tools in their shop, they are too busy picking out the best chisels, scrapers, clamps, special jigs, tools, woodworking machinery, hand planes, and all manner of accessories to make their work go smoothly and more accurate. What they are missing is the measuring and marking tools. […]
Saw Blade Considerations
There are many things to consider when choosing a saw blade – making safe, smooth cuts with your radial arm saw, table saw, compound slider miter saw or chop saw depends on having the correct blade for the tool, and for the kind of cut you would like to make. Performance varies from blade to […]
Considerations When Selecting Wood
Indoor Versus Outdoor Projects Most wood will degrade over time in the presence of water or ultraviolet sunlight. Moisture is a major threat to wood as it invites mold and wood-boring insects. Some of the most durable outdoor woods include western red cedar, cypress, white oak, and redwood. This lumber contains natural oils or profiling […]
Choosing Your Wood
Lumber can be grouped into two broad categories – softwoods and hardwoods. Technically speaking, the hardness of wood is based on botanical distinction. Hardwoods are those species that come from leaf-bearing trees that produce flowers, fruits, or nuts. Common North American hardwood lumber includes maple, oak, ash, walnut, cherry, beech, birch, and poplar. There are […]
Be Conscious Of What You Breath
Breathing sawdust is not healthy as it can be allergenic, toxic and carcinogenic. Sawdust derived from some imported woods, such as teak, is particularly harmful and is known to cause skin rashes and respiratory problems. Some studies have shown that woodworkers have a high rate of nasal cancers. Because even a small amount of sawdust […]
Safety In The Workshop
Any discussion of woodworking machinery should begin with shop safety. And of course, hand tools require safety precautions as well. Woodworking machines are made to cut, chop, abrade, slice, drill and shave materials that are considerably harder then human skin. When used carelessly, machines are dangerous and when used properly, machines can be a tremendous […]