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How can I fabricate a wooden cone? I need to make a wooden cone that is slightly smaller than the smallest traffic cone available commercially. My guess is that it will definitely require a table router. Is that correct and are there any other tools that would be necessary in the process. I would use a roughly 12" p...	If you don't have access to a lathe, you can cut a series of wedges with a band saw and/or a table saw. Technically, you wouldn't even need a true lathe, just a couple of sharpened bolts in a frame to create points about which the stock can rotate.
How to improve a sliding miter saw dust collection? I have a sliding miter saw with a seriously undersized dust port (1¼"). It's originally built to throw the dust in a tiny bag. When ever I make cuts, about 25% (bag) or 50% (shopvac) of the dust is collected and the rest just spread in a conical way. How can I imp...	Some hoods can be connected to your dust collector, while others funnel the dust down into a bucket.
How can I attach a solid table top to perpendicular cross rails? I plan to build a coffee table following plans in Fine Woodworking. In the article, the author uses a plywood top, but I already have solid lumber that I'd like to use. Source: me, based on plans in Fine Woodworking #242 The author of the article simpl...	You can use screws, but in a slightly different manner.
Hollowing out a piece of timber Wood, well most wood, is heavy. Is there any such thing as people ever hollowing out the inside of the wood to make the finished product lighter? For example, let's say I have a 4in. x 4in. x 8' piece of timber to make 4 desk legs out of. Instead of having four square desk legs of soli...	The only time I can think of where you would actually need to hollow out a piece of wood, would be when you're making a spindle for a floor lamp.
How can I repair a split in a board? I am making a top for a small child's table. It is 30" square and I jointed 3 10" wide pine boards to make it. While I had it in a vise and was planing the end grain to clean up the marks left by the saw, the vise "let go" and it fell to my garage floor. The middle board suffered a...	Use a small screwdriver to open up the crack a bit, then use the injector to get glue in there, then pull the screwdriver and let the crack close. Weight it down for about a day and then clean up with the razorblade.
Using green cedar for planks on a boat I am building a Swampscott Dory as per "The Dory Book" by John Gardner.What I am doing is using local wood (Red Cedar) and mills. As such, I am starting from the log, milling it, and then making my boat. Question is, how long should I wait for my planks to dry before placing the...	In other words, there is no set drying time ...
Using Tung oil over Boiled Linseed Oil I have been seeing some contested information about which oil I should use between the two. I found several sites with verbage like this one from CanadianWoodworking So I started researching and found that the information available about tung oil was often incorrect, conflictin...	The biggest difference in aging between the two you'll find is that BLO will darken over time, whereas pure tung oil won't.
How do you reliably set all your jointer knives to the same, correct height? I have an older delta model jointer, and I always struggle to get all three knives consistently set at the same height. I've tried a large magnetic jig that purports to help, but.. it really doesn't- it gets in the way of tightening down the...	What I do is raise one blade up a few millimeters and loosen the bolts a bit, then place a flat hardwood board over outfeed table and push down.
What wood is best for engraving? I'm looking at getting into wood engraving for print, something like this: EDIT - I've just found out that the person that created this bird recommends birch plywood for beginners. Is this a good starting wood? And I wanted to buy some engraving tools. I know you can get electric eng...	I've had a bit of a search and a few different places seem to suggest that Boxwood is the best wood for engraving, however I'm sure that there are a number of viable choices, and certainly for beginners who aren't trying to achieve very fine detail then any wood which will hold a good edge (so most moderately dense har...
How to scorch to darken a part of a piece of wood and not the other? I intend draw a dark line 50mm / 2" large using a blowtorch on a piece of pine wood, but how to have a nice & clean line border ? I thought of using sacrificial wood pieces or aluminium sheets as flame barrier but honestly I've no idea where to start...	If you are careful, masking and other tapes may work as well - the heat goes towards burning the tape and not the wood, protecting the wood underneath.
How should I secure my treehouse to the tree? This summer I plan to start a small tree house for kids project on a old and big but living tree (Albizia julibrissin). My first idea is to build a frame around branches without using screw in tree. The frame kind of capture branches. Am I right to preserve the tree from ...	Screws would work too.
What are the techniques to seal or remove sap? For starters this is not green-wood. I have been cutting up some 2x4 into small blocks for painting and decoration. The block were cut and then sanded. About 3 days later I had the time to paint them. Today I noticed that some sap has seeped through. The wood was not fr...	If you have the means to kiln dry the wood then it would be the best course of action. It is said (by Bob Flexner in his book "Understanding Wood Finishes") that shellac is the best overall sealer.
Are there advantages to using pipe clamps over parallel bar clamps? Pipe clamps seem to be a low cost and versatile option for gluing up projects. However, they're prone to racking the work piece if not placed correctly. Parallel bar clamps aren't as susceptible to this problem, but they're much more expensive. Other ...	You can also use cauls with pipe clamps (or any type of clamp) to produce even pressure across a surface.
Why a zero clearance insert? I sometimes see woodworkers talking about a zero-clearance insert for their table- or band-saws. What is it? And why/when should I use one? <Q> To serve as a backing to minimize chipout on the back side of the cut. <S> I can't think of a time when you wouldn't be better off using one....	To prevent small pieces from falling into the gap.
Why does direction matter when using an electric router? I was watching an episode of the Wood Whisperer on YouTube, and he was making a frame for a mirror. At one point in the video he was going to put a round-over on the frame and was using an electric router for it. He said that the rule is "on the outside of the fr...	It has to do with the rotation direction of the bit. If you are routing around the perimeter of an irregular outside shape like a guitar body, both cut directions will need to be used to avoid tear out and the conventional cut being the direction with less potential for tear out in some of the areas.
What technique and tools can I use to create a straight canoe pole from a green tree I'm using black spruce, white spruce, and tamarack to make canoe setting poles 12' x 1 ½" diameter. I look for standing green trees as straight as possible, maybe 1 ¾" at 13' height, then debark them to dry out. What technique with an...	I would probably start by using a bandsaw with some sort of wedge to trim it into a mostly square or octagonal blank.
How can I make my own dowels? I am in the process of designing a baby crib and am considering using vertical dowels for the sides. I am not looking forward to purchasing dowels which are pricey, hard to find in quantity and quality, and don't show up in any but a few very common woods. I am thinking about making them...	Lastly, there are companies that make custom dowels out of a variety of woods.
How to remove dust after sanding before applying paint/oil/glue? Before one can paint a piece of wood, it should be clean from any dust on its surface. What is the recommended way to remove the dust? I tried using a hand brush, which only got rid of the rough bits and pieces a vacuum, which worked great for the ...	A lightly dampened microfibre cloth may be the best way to remove dust from sanded wood.
How does one make a perfect circle on a table saw? I have seen videos related to cutting circles on a table saw. I would love to try this but I am hesitant to make a jig that, to me, seems to be extremely dangerous. Here is a video of Matthias Wandel using his jig to cut a rabbet into the circle, which seems like i...	Instead if you have a motor and some shaft and bearings handy you can attach you can attach a pully to the wheel and work on it like a lathe.
Removal of hardware from drawer front I am refinishing a bedside table that my late husband made many years ago. I have just realized that when he assembled the drawer he attached the hardware to the front plate with screws and then he glued the front panel to the drawer box. I do not have access to the screws to remov...	There is one other option, that I suggest as a last resort, and should not be done by someone who has limited experience: use a bandsaw table to cut the drawer face off the drawer.
How to find out what kind of finish is on a piece of furniture I have several old pieces of furniture that have issues with the existing finish. I would like to do a gentle restoration of these pieces while maintaining the original look. I am not sure if the finish is shellac, or some kind of other varnish. How would ...	You could test what kind of solvent will remove it.
Can I use a plungable router bit on a drill press? I'm currently working on a cutting board. With a core box bit, I made rounded grooves close to the edges of the board. I would like to have bigger grooves on the corners. I'm thinking of using a bigger core box bit on my drill press to make the four corners. I'm tr...	I've heard of people using a router bit in a drill press, but I've never heard a reputable source recommend doing it.
How can I make a sliding interior 'barn' door? I want to make a door similar to this: What kind of wood would you recommend and what would be the best way to build it? I am guessing it would need to be reinforced from the back? <Q> Generally-speaking, you can use whatever type of wood and finish appeal to you. <...	Focusing more on the wood itself in that picture my first instinct for stability and ease of assembly was to use some hardwood flooring. If the door is simply closing off the kitchen from the hallway and you will need to frequently open and close it but preventing sound from passing through is not a major concern, you ...
Can I get some tips or criticisms of this couch plan? I drafted this myself in Blender. Dado joints are depicted, mortise/tenon joints and bolted joints are not. This is to-scale, planned with douglas fir 2x4s and jute webbing/coil spring/4 way tie construction/ and then tie on cushions. Dimensions are about 31" x 7...	Well constructed lap joints as well as mortise and tenons can be considered as rigid joints lessening or eliminating the need for triangular bracing (think Danish Modern furniture from the mid 20th century.) I would build the bottom grid where the cushions sit with mortise and tenon joints.
Is this a specific kind of hand drill? I have been collecting tools from my grandfather's old workshop. One of the items appears to be a hand drill. What is odd about this is that if you look up hand drill they either function similar to a manual egg beater or a brace-and-bit hand-drill. Closest I found was the icon fo...	That's a push drill, sometimes referred to as a "Yankee drill".
What to look for when buying a tap and die set (for wood) I have never used a tap and die set but I find myself in the market to purchase some for a couple project I would like to do. What features should I be looking for, ease of use, etc.? Anything I should avoid? I'm looking for 3/4" to 1 1/2" size die and taps <...	A coarser Square thread or Acme thread tap and die would be good for wood as they should be stronger and more durable than the common V threads, especially for soft materials.
Should I do many shallow quick cuts or a single deep slow one with my router? Most cutting tools have a certain removal rate of material at which they should operate. You don't want to go too slow because it takes forever.And if you go to fast the tool heats up too much. This question is concerned with the latter one...	If the router bit travels too slowly, it can burn and/or burnish your workpiece.
What is the name of the corner joint with grooves on this chair? I removed the seats from dining chairs I just bought but have never seen this type of construction. What is it called? <Q> I agree with the other answers that it's best called a finger joint or maybe a finger jointed corner brace . <S> You could also c...	"Interlocking corner brace", "finger jointed corner brace", "box jointed angle brace" and "grooved corner brace" all seem like reasonable names for the joint to me.
How do I look for a table saw blade with non-angled teeth? I'm thinking about building this box joint jig so I can make my joints with a single blade (rather than having to pull out my dado set). The problem is that I've got one of them fancy Freud blades that has angled teeth (adjacent teeth are pointed in a differe...	Any grind combination with at least one flat tooth should give you a flat-bottomed cut. Tri-Grind (general combination grind)
How can I make an inset cutting board handle? How is this cutting board handle possible? The only way I can think of is that it was done by hand with a gouge, but it looks too clean for that. Can an inset handle, such as the one pictured below, be done with power tools? <Q> Two ways spring to mind immediately. <S> On...	A second way would be to just have a plunge router and a core box bit.
How do I cut a large log into boards? An acquaintance was clearing some trees from his land, and I asked him to save a section of big leaf maple so I could mill it for an electric guitar. The piece ended up being roughly 9" x 9" x 36". I figured I'd let it dry then saw into boards. Now, about a year later (and after ...	It is possible to do quite a bit of milling with a bandsaw if you build the support tables and guides needed to handle a large hunk of wood.
Is it a good idea to apply lacquer over shellac? I have an antique coffee table that I am planning to restore. It is elaborately carved, and appears to be made out of solid mahogany. The existing finish is in pretty good shape, except for the top of the table. I believe that the finish is a colored shellac and someone...	Yes, shellac is a great barrier coat and wash coat, lacquer works well over it.
Does Pine have any advantages? I am referring to the broad category of SPF or "Spruce/Pine/Fir". Although easy to come by and cheap, these seem to have more disadvantages. Bleeding sap for one and a large tenancy to all kinds of warping. Does SPF, in general, have any redeeming qualities besides just being cheap wo...	Low cost is one of the main advantages of pine and other softwoods
What do I need to know for basic lathe safety? I am a complete beginner to turning, I have a set of tools arriving in a week or so, and want to make sure I'm not going to make a mistake and injure myself. What are basic safety precautions when using a lathe to turn bowls and spindles? <Q> Wear safely glasses or a ful...	Remember to remove chuck keys or any other tools used to tighten any parts before turning on I would also recommend a nice thick floor mat to stand on to save your lower back. Always wrap around scrap wood handles. Remove tool rest before sanding. The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) web site has an excellent ...
When do I need to use a router table instead of a handheld router? I was looking at the directions that came with my 1/2" shank 3/4" tongue and groove router bit, and noticed that it recommended it be mounted on a router table for improved safety. Which got me thinking, is there a general cutoff for when a router bit ...	Use the router table if the piece is too small to have the router base firm against the work piece.
What is this type of screw from a piece of flat-pack furniture called? Does anyone know what this type of screw is called in the UK? I ask because I have some flat pack furniture that has been sitting in the attic for ages, and now I try to assemble it I find some of the screws are missing. Unless I can buy some more...	To me it looks like a type of joint connector screw or connector bolt.
Can I make a dado blade set out of multiple regular blades? Lets say, for argument sake, that I have 2 or 3 10" blades for my table saw. That would give me just under 3/8 inches, when all mounted together, which I could use to make dadoes. With what I have available this would be easier than constantly stopping my sa...	Instead of making a dado blade you can instead use a sled and then move the workpiece side to side on that to enlarge the dado.
What kind/style of respirator is appropriate for someone with a beard? In this answer , it is noted that a woodworker with a beard should consider a positive airflow respirator due to the beard preventing a good seal. I have also seen (on metalworking forums) the suggestion of a full face respirator. How much does ha...	One additional advantage of powered full-face respirators over a typical full-face shield is that the continuously-circulating air prevents the face shield from fogging up.
How to protect worn wooden outdoor furniture? I inherited some wooden patio furniture from a previous owner that looks like it's been through a lot: I love the raw, unfinished look of this stuff, but I'd also like it to last another dozen years without being annihilated by the West Coast rain and damp. What should I ...	You could try a semi-transparent oil-based stain of the type that is frequently used for fences and decks.
What type(s) of glue can I use on wooden kitchen utensils and devices? If I want to repair a kitchen utensil and want to be (totally) sure there is nothing poisonous, cancerous, allergenic, [fill in your adjective] in the glue. What should I choose? Fish glue, rabbit glue, horse glue, [favourite animal] glue springs t...	PVA glues such as Titebond are generally non-toxic and are considered safe enough to use in cutting boards, butcher blocks, and other food-safe applications.
Best method for drilling a larger diameter hole at an angle I spent the weekend making a simple wine rack out of cedar for my mother as a gift. I drilled 1.5" holes in a cedar 2x6 to make something like this: So to keep the bottles inverted (keep the cork wet) you have to drill down at a 45 degree angle or so. I use...	For drilling such large holes at an angle, a sawtooth Forstner bit is the right tool for the job.
Is it OK to re-use an old iron wedge when handling an axe? I've got an old axe that has a handle slipping down the head. This danger sign means the axe needs a new handle right away. Looking on Ebay the iron wedges that I'll need are about £4 for 4. This seems like a bit much for four tiny pieces of iron, and there's a...	I always reuse my wedges when I haven't lost them.
Is there a reason not to glue a wooden bolt into its threads? I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new tapping set from Beall and one of the uses I was thinking about was creating a mallet--turn a head and then tap a hole and screw in a wooden handle (I have a couple other similar projects on the docket as well). N...	It'd be hard to thread the handle so that it bottoms out with the handle in exactly the right position, so you'd need glue or some other means of keeping the handle oriented correctly.
At what stage of basic furniture making should I "finish" the wood? I have purchased wood in order to make some basic furniture: One of these will be placed outside (simple table), One inside the bathroom, (basic chest of drawers) And another in the hall way (shoe rack). I've already done some work, ie, cuttin...	I recommend you apply any finishing products before final assembly, but after any gluing or other permanent assembly. The answer is usually "it depends."
What might be stronger than a miter but still look like a miter joint? In this bench, the joints appear to be simple miters; however, I can't believe that this piece would be stable with a simple miter. How might this joint be constructed so that it is strong enough to prevent racking but still appear to be a miter? <Q...	Besides mitered versions of various types of other sufficiently strong joinery methods, you could use non-mitered versions of any of those, and more (dovetail, dowels, Domino, mortise and tenon, box joints, dadoed/housed joints, knock-down hardware, etc.--perhaps even butt joints with countersunk lag screws), using any...
Size of a Joiner's Mallet I built my joiner's mallet when I was just getting started in woodworking. I hadn't seen too many mallets before then so I went with my gut instincts on size and dimensions. The result is a very hefty mallet made of hard maple and ash. This mallet works well for me and I barely have to mov...	If you need fine control over the energy you deliver to a chisel or gouge, a smaller mallet gives you more control within a given range by letting you use a wider range of velocities.
Is PVC pipe safe to use for a dust collection system? I'm in the early stages of designing a dust collection system for my home shop. My existing system, a dustpan and broom, is vastly inefficient for my setup, which includes a tablesaw, router table, planer, and various small power tools. Long-term, my goal is to plu...	Even if you want to ground your PVC anyway, simply running a ground wire through the PVC will not be very effective because--as I mentioned before--PVC is an insulator and charge does not travel across it very easily. Remember that wood dust is highly flammable and at the right concentration in the air can even be expl...
Are systainer tool cases of different companies compatible with each other? My router came in a plastic tool box called a systainer . It is made in a way that the bottom could interlock with the top. this means I could stack multiple of these boxes and lock them together for transport. I thought that this is a way to...	Stanley also sells its own interlocking tool cases, but their line is not as consistent--for example, the smaller-size Stanley cases are not compatible with the larger sizes, even though they use similar interlocking systems. Systainers included with Festool and Fein tools are compatible with each other, as well as wit...
What is the best way to cut pergola ends? I want to cut some of those decorative ends in a pergola that I'm making. I know that I can trace a pattern onto wood, cut with a jigsaw, rinse and repeat. I'm looking for a way to speed it up, and make the cuts more uniform. I was thinking perhaps I would make a template, use ...	Most of the suggestions on the web refer to using the jigsaw for cutting patterns.
How to cut Plexiglas on a table saw? I'm building a router bit box to store all my router bits of various sizes (¼ and ½). I want to have a see-through closing lid. In order to do so, I will frame a sheet of Plexiglas (1/8" thick) in wood. I couldn't find a sheet with dimensions close to what I need, so I bought a bi...	If you bought the Plexiglas at a brick-and-mortar home improvement store, most will cut the material for you for free, or for at most a nominal fee.
Best sander for rustic wood I want to build a rustic wood chair. My first rustic wood furniture ever. Doing rustic wood is really complicated for me because the wood is very uneven like this: What sander should I use for something like this? At the moment I do the sanding manually but thats a LOT of time. I'm thinking...	There are lots of buffing wheels , mops, and other polishing tools available for use with a lathe or bench grinder, and many will work well for contoured work.
How to shape a toy boat's hull accurately? I would like to make a series of boat's hulls from a single block of wood. My first consideration is how to semi-accurately model the complex geometry of the stern and bow of a ship. The models only have to be optically accurate and will not be used for wave modeling or scient...	One method for reproducing complex curves is to mill the surfaces of the block flat and parallel, and then use a drill press to drill a series of holes to measured depths.
How can I prevent homemade pipe clamps from twisting? I would like to make some of these parallel clamps that use a pipe for the bar. Source The one advantage that commercial parallel clamps have over these is that the clamp faces will always line up; with the Bellevue Woodshop design it is possible to rotate the...	Generally once you start tightening things down they don't twist and are not a problem. You can turn the face 180 degrees and use it like an expanding clamp, or a jack.
Easiest way for a beginner to reduce a pine board's width by 1/2"? I have a small 20" x 24" x 1" pine board that happens to be 1/4" to 1/2" too wide for my needs -- the 20" side needs to be more like 19.7". What's the easiest/cleanest way for a beginner like me to shave this off? Would running a planer across the side...	Just adjust the depth of your blade to barely come out of your piece, move your saw over on the piece of wood till the 1/2" notch is lined up with the edge, clamp down on the base with your thumb and forefinger, and rip away.
What can I do if I lose the chuck key for my drill? The string holding my key to the drill broke and I didn't notice at first. I have a couple of drills so I don't have to change the bits often. I am aware that I can buy a new key for my drill but that does not help me at this moment. What can I do to change bits in ...	If you only have one pipe wrench, you can make your own hardwood wrench with bolts that fit into the key holes on the smaller part of the chuck.
How can I make this cribbage board peg compartment? I'm making a peg cribbage board and want to make a peg compartment with a sliding door. It looks almost like it would require a Dremel tool, but was wondering if anyone has any techniques for accomplishing the task. <Q> I would use a 1" diameter straight cutting bi...	Another way to approach the problem is to remove the back of the board, form the slot, and then replace the back:
Drilling a hole parallel to the face in a tight area, right angle drilling? I need to drill a precise hole into a small cavity which happens to the parallel to the face of the piece of wood. To better illustrate this I made a simple diagram to be absolutely clear on what I'm working with here. The space is too small fo...	You could easily make a fixture that aligns the end of your Dremel's flex shaft to drill the precise holes. You might experiment with a grinding type of blade used for ceramics.
What steps should I follow to properly paint MDF? I am building a laundry basket out of MDF. I need to paint it. How should I proceed once the basket is glued together? (Sanding?, priming?, painting?, other?) <Q> Sanding?, priming?, painting? <S> , other? <S> break sharp corners: <S> Sharp outside corners are...	prime before painting: The smooth faces of MDF can be painted without a lot of preparation, but a coat of primer will seal the surface and give the final coat a smoother finish.
What kind of wax will keep a crosscut sled sliding well? I'm making a crosscut sled for my table saw, and I want it to slide freely. I've read various places that waxing the under side of the sled helps a lot. My question is, what kind of wax should I be looking for? I am not looking for an exact brand recommendation; ...	Avoid buying a wax that contains silicone, because the silicone can directly or indirectly get transferred onto your wood and cause problems when you go to apply finish.
Why would a plane have a grooved sole? One of the planes I rescued from a yard sale has grooves in its sole, running front to back across the surface that contacts the wood. I'm having trouble imagining what their purpose could be, especially since planes are often used at a skew (turned slightly from the direction the...	Grooved or corrugated soles were intended to reduce friction by reducing the surface area of the metal plane in contact with the workpiece.
What should I look for when aquiring a plane second hand? I was in a pawn shop recently and I saw a Stanley no. 4 plane. I do not have one of those and I probably could have talked him down to 15$. That being said I am not sure how to know if a hand plane is still in good function. Would hate to buy it to only find ou...	I would also look at the blade, generally one with a bit of life left has material left to grind, not too much pitting and is relatively thick. I personally would consider cracks or heavy wear around the mouth a deal-breaker if you want to use the #4 plane as-is, as a #4 plane. it should not be missing any parts--e.g.,...
What can cause a table saw to make this rattling/clacking noise? I've just put my used Powermatic 64 Artisan's Saw together. When the belt is attached to the motor, it makes a sound that seems like something is unbalanced. When the motor spins freely without the belt attached, the sound goes away. I have uploaded a vi...	If it's not the arbor bearings, it may actually be a motor bearing.
What is the normal end-of-life for a bandsaw blade? I suppose there are two alternatives for the death of a bandsaw blade: The blade breaks. The teeth get noticeably dull and the blade is discarded. I have never experienced scenario #2 but I've broken a few blades on my bandsaw. Is this the normal way for them to ...	If used absolutely correctly, the blade should wear out (dull) and not break.
What's the best way to remove varnish from recycled wood flooring? I've got a bunch of recycled hardwood flooring that I plan to use for shop projects and possibly nicer furniture. How should I remove the varnish? Would it be preferable to use the thickness planer or rip it with the table saw? Or is it worth waiting t...	You can also often chemically strip old varnish by using an appropriate solvent, as discussed in How to find out what kind of finish is on a piece of furniture , or by using a chemical stripper as discussed in an article on Bob Vila's website . Depending how much you have might be worth it to get a cheap hand planer to...
How should I orient a spline along a long edge join? I glued up a 4' long dresser top last night, and ended up using a 1/4" spline to line up the two 12" wide sub-panels into one 24" wide one. I was using pine quarter-sawn boards, and for the spline I just ripped a 1/4" wide strip from the end of one of the panels, si...	Normally, in a panel glue up like you describe, the spline is only used for alignment, not strength.
What's the difference between a sheet sander and random orbit sander? I'm looking for a sander and as I browse through the various offerings I can see that most manufactures offer both a sheet sander and a random orbit sander. Aside from the shape of the sanding surface, are there any functional differences between th...	As to the difference in application.. sheet sanders excel at getting into corners and edges, but can cause grooves because the sheet only moves in one direction.
Can it be predicted when a board will bind? I was recently ripping about an inch off of a 6/4 thick, 5" wide board, and had the kerf close up on the riving knife. Thankfully the knife saved me from kickback, but I'd still like to avoid this situation in the future. Is there a way to tell how a board will move when rip...	I've never noticed any predictable pattern when ripping timbers.
Is an oscillating multi-tool a good option for detailed sanding? I am just wondering if these tools would be we suited for small spaces and sanding in corners. <Q> I've got a corded and a cordless oscillating multi tool, and they're amazing for corners, since the sanding pads for them are triangular with 60° corners. ...	Just to have another suggestion for these types of scenarios there are such things as contour sanding blocks/grips that are designed to hold paper to a shape.
What would be considered the strongest finish? I am looking for the strongest finish for a project with the following specifications. I prioritize scratch and wear resistance, but also want sun and water resistance along with adjustments to temperature changes. It is okay if the color changes a little, but it can't b...	I want the most durable overall. The most abrasive resistant products would be Concrete or slate sealers.
What alternatives are there for pocket screws? So I borrowed a Kreg jig from a friend and was using some scrap 2x4's to work on the Community Project: Lets build a workbench! . Unfortunately I came to an impasse. I went to 3 local hardware stores on none of them carried "pocket screws" when I asked for them by that na...	You can also get screws with washer heads.
Do wood cuts matter for wands? I am having a wand made, and I wondered if wood cuts mattered. I heard rift sawn wood is the best for strength in boards, but they only receive pressure from the surface. A wand would only receive pressure on the long part and not the ends, but it would receive pressure from all around....	If the wand is straight (somewhat like a drumstick or a conductor's baton) then straight grain that runs the full length will give the strongest result, but if there is what is called grain run-out (second image below) it will be more prone to failure if subjected to sideways forces:
How can I create a wooden torus/doughnut? I was thinking about make a replica Wii wheel for my kids out of wood. That would be about 6" in diameter. It seems a tall order to me as I do not know how to make a concoction like that with any amount of accuracy. Let alone how to get the wood together to even start something...	Surprise, surprise, my recommendation is of course the lathe. Instead of forming out a bowl shape, you could begin to form a cylinder, and then easily carve out the rounded shape of a torus at the end of the cylinder as the piece is spinning.
How challenging is it to sand a stained oak floor? I am about to do a little touching up of a stained oak floor. I am concerned that sanding the floor with a machine would be infeasible because it means that the stain would be gone from some parts more than others, and then it will be necessary to do a heavy sanding,...	For a small enough area, anything roughly the size of a table, you could comfortably use a card scraper (see bottom of previous Answer ).
Drilling a straight, centered hole down square-cross-section bar stock? I'm trying to drill a centered, straight hole in a piece without a big drill press and a bunch of clamps and brackets, which seems to be the usual way to do it. I can manage straight, but centered is eluding me . I'm very new to working wood and ...	If you had a drill press then a Forstner bit may be the ticket for a clean hole.
Crosscutting 18" diameter logs by hand I tried my hand at crosscutting a beefy 18" log with a relatively low tooth-per-inch bowsaw today. I eventually made it all the way through, but not without cutting V-slices into the wood to give the blade breathing room and prevent it from constantly jamming, especially as I got ...	If the teeth have set it may just not be enough for the type of cut you were doing, the depth of cut specifically.
What's an appropriate wood type for making toy blocks? The wife wants to create custom painted toy blocks as a gift for a friend. The block will be approximately 3 inches per side, or whatever dimension is convenient based on the wood I purchase. I plan on cutting them using table saw. What type of wood is appropriate...	I would recommend hard maple for its properties:
What is the simplest joint for a non-experienced woodworker to start with? I would like to start designing some boxes based on an idea that I have. But I've never worked with wood before and I have no woodworking tools so I would need to purchase whatever tools are required. I'm trying to get a direction to aim for th...	The corner butt joint would be the very simplest joint to use for joining the sides of a box:
How to bend chipboard into a cylinder without tearing it apart? I am currently trying to make a cylinder out of chipboard(the cardboard that notebooks are typically made out of). However, whenever I try to bend it, parts of the chipboard start to tear. How do I bend chipboard without tearing it apart? <Q> I'm going to ...	For paperboard running the material over a hard edge with a little tension will put some curvature in the board. Aside from wetting it, you will have better success (probably) by treating it like wood-bending - provide a tension support on the outside when bending, rather than bending it around a form on the inside. Ad...
Is Frank Howarth's homemade table saw splitter safe? Frank Howarth made a splitter by creating a zero clearance insert, and then extending the kerf all the way through the back of the insert, towards the back of the table saw. He then glued thin strips of wood inside the kerf behind the blade. I plan to create a zer...	You should - it will prevent the wood from bumping into the splitter in case the wood gets even a little twisted after the saw blade.
Dealing with knots "bleeding" through paint I'm sure that people have seen this where you would be painting something white or lightish colour only to have the resin from the knots bleed through paint sometime later. Similar to what you see in the following picture. For my latest project I knew this was a possibilit...	Correcting after it has occurred: only solution I can think of is to re-seal (shellac's single nicest feature may be that it sticks to both water- and oil-based finishes) and repaint (might be able to get away with just painting that area, feathering out the edges of the new paint to blend it with the surroundings). Th...
Turning a railroad tie into a bench, how to make a cut? I have a couple leftover railroad ties from a retaining wall I built and I would like to turn them into benches. Rather than sit on the old tar covered exterior though I would like to cut a bit of it off as in this fantastically drawn image: That is a profile v...	I don't know how "pretty" it needs to be when its done but rough cuts can easily be done with a chainsaw or a reciprocating saw with a long enough blade.
How can you safely operate a router table without a fence? I am now the proud owner of a used router and table. I am just getting ready to use it for the first time and was reading some emails and saw the following ad. Image from WoodPeck So almost all pictures I see of router tables have a fence or guard in play...	Bits without bearings generally require a fence to use.
Do auger bits have advantages? While not the focus of the question I wanted to point out that when it comes to drill presses I almost always see forstner bits suggested here at WW (for good reason of course). Much to my surprise in this answer from Graphus he suggested using auger bits instead. He mentions that de...	Because the design clears chips better than a twist bit and you can buy auger bits up to 2 feet long, you can often drill very deep holes all the way through without having to take an extra step for chip removal as you would with a long twist or Forstner bit. Forstner bits usually have short shafts (though there are sh...
How do I know when my lathe speed is wrong or could be better? I'm about a year into learning to turn on an inexpensive mini- lathe . I mostly turn small lidded boxes or bowls. With both boxes and bowls, I like them big, so I'm often within an inch or two of the width capacity of the lathe. I turn mostly walnut or spa...	You need to try working at different speeds so that you know which speeds give you the best results in which situations. Generally, the lathe needs to be slowest when you first start a bowl blank as it will usually be a bit unbalanced. I've found that it is best to start out with a slow speed at first while the piece y...
What are some suitable woods to use for tool handles? We all occasionally have to replace a tool handle, be it an axe, a shovel, a sledge, whatever. The standard handle materials seem to be hickory and ash. I've bought my share of hickory handles from hardware stores and have no issues with them. I use ash for lathe...	I have really enjoyed the few handles I've made from local maples.
Is all fine grit count sandpaper called wet/dry? I need to start getting into sharpening and honing so naturally one of the ways I could go would be to get some sandpaper in the 500 + grit count range. (That decision is based off a great video I saw from Paul Sellers that suggest this being a more economical method w...	Wet/Dry sandpaper is not an oxymoron, it literally means one can use the paper as-is (i.e. 'dry') or with some abrasive/'polishing' liquid such as Brasso (i.e. 'wet').
How can I chamfer thick (1.5") material? I'd like to add a 22.5 degree chamfer to thick (1.5"+) material. In the past I've done small chamfers on a router table with a chamfer bit. Unfortunately I can't seem to find any chamfer bits that are big enough to cut 1.5". What's a good way to go about this. I suppose it d...	Another option would be to use a trim router with an angled base, spiral bit, and template and/or jig.
Body positioning while using a jointer I just got a old Beaver 4" jointer that looks very similar to this one. I used it for the first time this weekend and it was awesome. I am wondering though if I was doing something inherently wrong while operating. I was processing some pallet boards which were 4' to 8' long ...	Because you're usually working with longer pieces, push sticks and push shoes might not work as well on a jointer as they might on a table saw, though I suspect Matthias Wandel might still use push sticks on a jointer. In terms of safety, you should try to keep your hands at least 6" away from the cutterhead at all tim...
How do I clamp box joints? When making box joints, per a number of articles I've read, I've left the fingers a touch longer than the thickness of the board. So if I'm making joints on 1/4" plywood, my fingers might be 5/16" long, and then I just sand them down at the end. Some authors (Matthias Wandel as an example) ...	For clamping box joints, I've found that offsetting the clamps just to the inside of the fingers ensures you will be able to pull the corners tight.
Wood to Use for 3ft Sorority Letters I am currently trying to build 3ft wooden letters for my sorority's recruitment booth. I want them to be sturdy and weather resistant but also lightweight and portable. The letters will be in storage for most of the year only coming out when we have recruitment activities at the beg...	Plywood is designed specifically to resist warping and to be stronger than solid wood of the same dimensions due to the properties of lamination. If painted then most signmakers these days seem to use moisture resistant MDF (medium density fibreboard).
What is wood stabilization? Not much meat to this question. What is wood stabilization and why would I want to do it? It think it has to do with turning but are there other reasons that I would want to do it. This question is based on a comment from this answer : It's worth noting that you can stabilize punky spa...	Wood stabilization typically refers to reinforcing wood against inherent defects or weaknesses.
Improve Grip on Shavehorse This weekend I was using my shavehorse to make some wooden spatulas. After a while, the head started losing grip on the pieces I was working. To help improve the grip, I wrapped a piece of leather around the top crossbar and tacked it into place. While I don't have a picture of this, you...	You should either use a taller platform or, better yet, you should move the grip further down on the swinging arm (with your shave horse, this will mean adding more holes). A different approach might be to glue a rubber mat on it. Of course my first suggestion would be to use a little sand paper, that is a quick and ea...
Cleaning tools after working green wood Still at the cottage and trying to make a bow saw out of some green poplar. There was a comment on my last question about being sure that I cleaned my tools after working green wood. Specifically there was a comment about being sure to use oil on the tools. I don't know if it mat...	Simply, wipe any dirt, grime, and possibly pitch off the tool surfaces (you can use water or another solvent if it's really stubborn) and dry thoroughly.
Does the speed of sanding a piece of wood affect the end result? Does the speed of sanding a piece of wood affect the end result? In particular, what is the point of having a dual speed random orbital sander? <Q> But many of the lower-end or homeowner-grade random orbit sanders aren't aggressive enough for it to matte...	A lower speed can be desirable if you're sanding between thin coats of finish or thin veneers, and you don't want to sand through the current coat or the veneer.
How can I turn a couple of logs into stubby legs for a outdoor tree round table? I want to create legs for an outdoor cedar tree round table. I'd like the table top to be 18" to maybe 20" high. How might I securely attach these legs to the tree round? The tree round is 4' in diameter, and roughly 14" thick. So ...	Another option would be to bolt L-brackets onto the bottom of the table and once again have holes in the legs and just 'set' the down bracket into the holes.
How to oil/treat a solid beech table top that will be used as a computer desk? I just got a GERTON table top which is made of solid beech. In the instruction they says: Apply a thin coat of BEHANDLA wood treatment oil . Leave the oil to penetrate the wood for about 2 hours. Wipe off surplus oil with a cloth or ...	I would use so-called Danish oil (I have used Watco for decades).
How might I make a template to fit the top of my desk? My desk is nearly finished; all that's left is to have the glass top cut. To do this, I need a template to give the glass shop. I can't just give them dimensions since it's not perfectly square. More importantly there are pegs on the frame. The glass is to be "keye...	Originally I was thinking you needed to cut square holes in the glass, but after rereading your question it sounds like you just want to notch out the corners of a rectangular sheet of glass. As an alternative , you could get large sheets of poster board, place them to the edges and glue or package tape them together.
Joints for a 3/4in-thick pentagon I'm attempting to create a pentagon from 3/4in-thick pine boards, which will become part of a slightly odd shelving unit. Of the five angles, two are 90 degrees and I'm planning to use dowels and glue to connect them. The remaining angles are between 110 and 140 degrees, and I'm lookin...	The simplest means would be to to a regular blued butt joint at your angles.
How to clean glue brushes I see people using brushes (hair or foam) to spread glue. This is not something I have seen in real life. Without experimenting I have a feeling that spreading glue with a brush might be a good idea, but when the gluing setup is finished and one has time to clean the brush it is already set. ...	If your using pva glue when you soak your brush in acetone it dissolves the glue and make you brush fine again
Using softwoods for bench tops As most of the regulars know I work with a lot of whitewoods. Pines mostly that come from pallets and what not. I recently made a workbench from an old door but it was hollow inside so I plan on moving it to a lower level and replacing the top with something more solid. Given my availabi...	Obviously softwoods are generally fairly soft and a bench made from softwood is going to be more prone to denting than one made of e.g. hard maple (a very popular choice in the US)

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