WHY YOU NEED A VERNIER SCALE
A vernier caliper may look intimidating, but once you shift from fractions to decimals, it becomes one of the most precise measuring tools in the shop. With a little practice, you’ll be able to read measurements down to thousandths of an inch or hundredths of a millimeter with total confidence.
RED VS WHITE OAK - IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES
Red oak and white oak may look similar, but their differences can make or break your project. This guide cuts through the confusion with simple, woodworker-focused advice on how to tell them apart and when to use each.
THE COMMON MISUNDERSTANDING OF SAFE ROUTER FEED DIRECTION
Feeding a router the wrong way can ruin your cut—or worse, be dangerous. This guide explains push cuts vs. climb cuts, when to use each, and how feed direction changes between handheld routers and router tables.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR CHOOSING AND USING WOODWORKING DRILL BITS
In its simplest form, woodworking is a lot of cutting shapes and boring holes. To work at an acceptable level, you must cut and bore accurately. We've made plenty of cutting videos—but very few about boring. That changes today!
HOW PROS MAKE PINE LOOK GOOD WITH STAIN AND DYE
Learn how to prevent blotchy stains on pine and achieve a smooth, professional-looking finish. Discover expert tips using pre-stain conditioners, gel stains, and colored wax for flawless results.
BUTT JOINT VS MITER JOINT: WHICH SHOULD YOU USE?
Learn how to choose and execute miter and butt joints for large wood panels like countertops and desktops. Discover tips for handling wood movement, alignment, and fastening to create seamless, durable corner joints.
IS IT BETTER TO SAND, SCRAPE, OR PLANE WOOD?
Sanding, scraping, and planing each have strengths and trade-offs when preparing wood: sanding is the most forgiving and convenient, scraping is slightly faster but physically demanding, and planing is fast and effortless—if the wood cooperates. Choosing the right method depends on your skill level, project needs, and how much you prioritize speed, effort, and control.
HOW TO STOP WOOD PANELS FROM WARPING
If there’s one thing that’s popular in the woodworking world these days, it’s a good old-fashioned myth-busting video. Some of them are complete nonsense, of course. But this myth? It’s real: flat panels—such as table tops and cabinet tops—will warp uncontrollably if you don’t cut them into narrow pieces, flip every other board to alternate the grain direction, and then glue them back together.
HOW TO GROUND YOUR DUST COLLECTION
So in this article, I will teach you how to ground a PVC dust collection system properly, including answering some of the most common questions people have—such as how to address your flex hose, whether to run wire inside or outside the ductwork, and how to get that charge from the pipes and hoses into the physical ground.
WHY A LOT OF TOOL STEEL IS BAD
At some point, every woodworker is confronted with the argument that old tools—particularly chisels—are superior to new ones. It's not uncommon for some to pay more for an antique chisel than for a new, high-quality one. But is it true? Are these old tools, made in an era when quality was prioritized over cost, truly better than most modern chisels?
HOW TO READ A TAPE MEASURE WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE AN IDIOT
Believe it or not, the first question on some job interviews in industrial trades is, “Can you read a measuring tape?” That may sound silly to a lot of you old-timers, but you'd be surprised how many younger folks never make it past that first question because they have no idea what they're doing with this simple tool. So, in this post, I’m going to share with you how to teach a poor, ignorant kid in your life.
THE FORGOTTEN HISTORY BEHIND JAPANESE CHISELS
While Japanese chisels as woodworking implements have existed for centuries, it was the makers of the famed samurai swords that may have given us the chisels OF today. In this post, I'll share that forgotten story and help decode the fascinating technology that makes Japanese woodworking chisels so different from modern Western-style chisels. By the end, you'll have a whole new respect for this strange little tool with the dented backside.
THE HISTORY OF SANDPAPER
Every time I talk about sandpaper, someone tries to shame me for not using hand planes and scrapers to smooth every surface like a “real” woodworker. They are under the false impression that sandpaper is a modern invention, which the great masters of the past would never have touched.
HOW SIMPLE WOOD SCREWS ARE NO LONGER THE SAME
Are the higher-priced construction screws such as GRK and Spax worth the cost if you aren’t building something structural, such as framing a house or a deck? Do the fancy features of these screws—such as fluted points, serrated teeth, and complex head geometry—make any difference at all for most day-to-day projects?
JOINTER VS PLANER VS SANDER - WHERE SHOULD YOU START?
Not sure whether to buy a jointer, planer, or drum sander first? This guide explains their roles, differences, and which tool to prioritize so you can flatten, thickness, and smooth boards effectively without wasting money or effort.
THE TRUTH ABOUT MDF WILL MAKE YOU THINK TWICE!
Discover the benefits and proper uses of MDF in woodworking. Learn why this stable, paintable material is ideal for panels, built-ins, and veneered furniture when handled correctly.
DUST COLLECTION DUCT WORK: WHY SIZE MATTERS
Learn how to size dust collection ducts and hoses for your workshop by balancing airflow volume, velocity, resistance, and pressure. Maximize efficiency and minimize clogs with the right setup for your dust collector or shop vacuum.
THE THIN KERF DEBATE: A WOODWORKER’S PERSPECTIVE
Nowadays, like anything else, people love to argue about the pros and cons of blade thicknesses. And there’s a lot of misinformation out there—whether you should even be using thin kerf blades, and whether the wrong blade choice can make your table saw more dangerous.
CASE HARDENING: THE SCOURGE OF WOODWORKING
Case hardening happens when lumber is dried too quickly, creating internal stress that causes boards to warp, pinch, or even crack once cut. Learn how to spot this hidden defect before it ruins your wood — and how to handle it if you find it.
A FORGOTTEN TECHNOLOGY FROM THE OLD DAYS OF WOODWORKING!
Many people believe the absence of nails is a sign of good craftsmanship. And I can't say I blame them because they don't make nails like the used to. The modern nail isn’t designed for performance, it's designed for price. They are cheap to make. In this article I'll remind you of the little known, and I think very interesting features that make cut nails superior to wire nails, and perhaps a better choice for your next project.