Use handscrews to hold small pieces

Posted in Jigs

If you do enough woodworking, sooner or later you are going to come across a small piece you have to hold steady in order to drill, or cut, or router. Holding these small pieces by hand can be tricky,... Read More

Never lose your drill press chuck key

Posted in Wood Working Tips

If you’re anything like me, after using your drill press chuck key you place it down on whatever flat (or semi-flat) surface is nearby. I can’t tell you how many hours of my life I’v... Read More

Gang cut pieces for greater consistency and time savings

Posted in Wood Working Tips

If you have to cut multiple pieces at the same dimensions, it saves time and helps to ensure the pieces are more consistent if you gang cut them. What is gang cutting? Gang cutting is when you cut mul... Read More

Re-use silica packs to prevent rust

Posted in Tools & Workshop

Whenever I buy something new and it comes with silica packs, I make certain to keep those packs and put them in one of my tool drawers. The packs help absorb moisture in the air, thereby helping to pr... Read More

Sharpening wood chisels

Posted in Uncategorized

Standard wood working bench and butt chisels are traditionally factory ground at an angle of 25°, and this works well fine for most wood work. However your chisel will cut better and the edge will la... Read More

Clamp small pieces with hot glue

Posted in Wood Working Tips

Have you ever needed to hold a small piece in place, but either didn’t have a clamp small enough to hold it or it was just too awkward of a position to clamp at all? Next time you have to hold s... Read More

What is a Kreg pocket hole jig?

Posted in Wood Working Tips

If you read read a lot of our DIY plans (or probably most any DIY plan these days), you’re going to see a lot of references to a Kreg pocket hole jig, or more commonly a “pocket hole jig&#... Read More

Easily find the center of any board

Posted in Wood Working Tips

Finding the exact center of any board is easy. Lay a straight edge (ruler) across the board with an integer value lined up on one edge. Now, holding that edge in place, angle the straight edge until a... Read More

It’s the glue, not the nails…

Posted in Wood Working Tips

Brad nails from a nail gun don’t provide any structural support – they are only there to hold the pieces in place until the glue dries. So always make certain to use the proper wood glue f... Read More

DIY easy foam brushes

Posted in Crafting quick tips

Cut leftover packing foam into 1/4″ pieces, and use clothespins for handles. When you’re done your project, just throw away the foam (but save the clothespin).... Read More

DIY thumbnut from a screw and a washer

Posted in Wood Working Tips

No need to go out and buy a bunch of thumbnuts to have laying around waiting to be used in your workshop jigs.  Instead, make them on demand as needed.  Simply grind a flat edge on an appropriate wi... Read More

Don’t buy long pipes for your pipe clamps

Posted in Wood Working Tips

Long pipes are expensive, inconvenient to store, and let’s be honest – you don’t use them that often.  So instead of buying long pipes for those few times a year you need a longer p... Read More

Homemade milk paint

Posted in Crafting quick tips

Making your own milk paint is easy. Make one gallon of traditional milk paint by combining these ingredients: 8 lbs of skim milk 8 oz of linseed oil 12 oz of slaked (garden) lime 6 lbs of calcium carb... Read More

Drill pilot holes through dadoes before assembly

Posted in Wood Working Tips

If you are having trouble getting your screws centered in the dado after assembly, try pre-drilling the pilot holes from inside before assembly. This will give you perfectly centered holes every time.... Read More

Use water and heat to erase dents in wood

Posted in Wood Working Tips

If your project has a dent or two in the unfinished wood, apply a few drops of water to the indent, then heat it using a standard household iron. Sand it smooth and the dent is gone!... Read More

Know your growth rings for tight joints

Posted in Wood Working Tips

Wood tends to cup in the direction opposite the growth rings curve. Arrange your boards so all of the growth rings curve out at the ends of the boards and your joints will stay tighter.... Read More