All Questions
3,938
questions
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Any tips on reconditioning/using an old benchtop jointer?
I've got an old belt-driven bench-size (jobsite?) jointer -- 6" bed, infeed/outfeed tables each about 11" long -- that I've been storing for a friend. Never got around to getting it mounted with the ...
- 9,141
8
votes
1
answer
114
views
Can I steam-bend a piece of wood with a free-floating end?
I've been working on creating a wooden hockey stick. The blade of the hockey stick needs a slight curve and bend to it.
I have a small steam box set up and have created a vice with different-length ...
- 3,581
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Which woods work well with ammonia?
I love the traditional look of quarter sawn oak and the patina finish achieved by gassing the wood with ammonia. Are there other woods that react well by gassing with ammonia? If there are could you ...
- 388
19
votes
7
answers
20k
views
What can I do to eliminate drift when cutting with my bandsaw?
I recently purchased my first Band saw and am loving its versatility for making curved cuts even in thick wood. However, when it comes to situations where I need a precisely straight line, for example ...
- 709
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is green or steamed wood better for bending?
Ignoring time & space issues, focusing only on the strength & durability of the wood after the bend has set, what is going to give better results? We know from the answers at Other than speed ...
- 1,159
23
votes
5
answers
5k
views
When should I use a Jointer vs. a Planer?
I am fairly new to woodworking and just starting to outfit my shop with power tools. One area that I find confusing is the use case for a jointer vs. a planer.
Both tools seem to have very similar ...
- 709
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How can I joint a board that is longer than my jointer infeed table?
I have a bowed board that is longer than the infeed table on my jointer. When I pass it over the blades, the lay of the board changes as the board rides up the trailing edge of the jointer infeed ...
- 3,581
5
votes
2
answers
716
views
Should I locate a centralized dust collector in a roof crawlspace above a garage shop?
I live in a single story home with an integrated garage shop. I'm considering leveraging the crawlspace above the ceiling as a mounting point for a centralized DC. Running the lines within the ...
- 363
16
votes
7
answers
16k
views
How to effectively fix a crack in a turned bowl
I recently came into possession of a wonderful turned maple bowl however there is one downside. There is a small crack about halfway through the bowl. The crack goes fully from top to bottom but not ...
- 383
12
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to make a long shallow cut on a narrow piece of wood with a circular saw
I am using 5.5 inch wide cedar fence board as lapboard style siding on a chicken coop. The roof is a ~22 degrees shed style roof. I'm having trouble making the long cuts which touch the roof. The one ...
- 383
6
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How does one measure stock for miter cuts?
I have tried unsuccessfully to make picture frames on a few occasions. I find that when I am trying to make a miter joint, I err on the side of caution and start "long" and trim my way down to square....
- 4,015
14
votes
5
answers
22k
views
In what situations would I use a belt sander versus a random orbit sander?
I own both a belt sander and random orbit sander. I've found that as I've worked on improving my finishing technique, I will oftentimes go for the random orbit sander over any other sanding ...
- 4,015
6
votes
2
answers
11k
views
How do I completely disassemble a hand plane to clean it and then reassemble it?
I have a block plane that I picked up from Lowes a few months ago. I took it apart recently to clean the blade but when I tried to put it back together I was unable to get consistent results when ...
- 4,015
13
votes
4
answers
20k
views
What is a good way to prevent jointed tabletops from bowing when tightening fasteners or the glue sets?
I recently made a tabletop for a rolling tool cart using 2x4's jointed and pocket-screwed. When I set the table upon the cart I noticed a very serious bow, almost like I was starting to make a barrel!...
- 4,015
5
votes
2
answers
99
views
Is there a canonical source for retrieving Material Safety Data Sheets? [closed]
Is there a convenient, easy-to-access source for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSes) that does not require registration or payment?
A good website or reference book for wood-working MSDSes should ...
- 635
16
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What can I coat a wooden drawer slide with to reduce drag?
I have an old wooden desk with a middle draw that has a center support that the drawer slides back and forth on. The friction creates drag that prevents the opening and closing action from seeming ...
- 707
6
votes
1
answer
120
views
Closing mouth on coffin plane
I have a Scioto coffin plane whose mouth is a little on the wide side. I'd like to glue a piece of wood inside the front of the throat to close it up, but I don't know if rubbing end grain against the ...
- 1,927
11
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What woods are soft enough for glazier points?
I'm working on building square picture frames and holding in glass, image, and cardboard backing. I'm concerned that certain hard woods may not be appropriate for glazier points; in particular I am ...
user148
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What type of tree to use for branches as dinner table legs?
I want to make a dinner table with crossed table legs made of tree branches with the bark still on (raw, no stain/finish/veneer). What type of tree would be best to use to make it stable and won't ...
- 199
11
votes
2
answers
310
views
Making fake/pseudo plugs or caps
Gifted amateur working with variety of different woods like pine,oak and something from Indonesia that I haven't typed yet. If one needs to use caps or plugs for recessed screw/nails you would just go ...
- 20.1k
12
votes
2
answers
236
views
Eye protection for someone who does not wear glasses?
I can see well without glasses or contact lenses.
What form(s) of eye-protection are convenient, provide good protection, and do not cause fogged vision?
I assume that I need protection against both ...
- 635
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Noise ratings of equipment
Do any wood-working power-tool manufacturers provide noise ratings for their equipment in typical usage scenarios?
Wood-working tools can be very loud. Noise levels of 104 - 110 dB have been ...
- 635
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Other than speed does kiln drying have any advantage over natural aging?
Green wood has several drawbacks for use in most projects. For the most part all of the wood you purchase is kiln dried. One benefit of kiln drying is the time from forest to manufacture can be a ...
- 1,159
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Optimum amount of hearing protection?
Wood-working tools can be very loud. Noise levels of 104 - 110 dB have been measured in real-world use. (Theoretically, the noise levels are supposed to be measured one meter away from the source of ...
- 635
4
votes
0
answers
2k
views
What woods or wood materials are unsafe for use in animal cages? [closed]
I want to build wooden toys/houses/things for caged pets, such as Degus, Hamsters, etc.
I'm aware that there are chemicals and glues used to make some wood products, such as MDF which make the dust ...
- 141
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Using smooth dowel pegs
Commercially available dowel pegs come with a spiral groove around their outside surface. How important is this grooving?
This comes to bear in the case when using smooth dowel stock to make ones ...
- 843
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Evening reflectivity of a finish after "finishing the finish"
I recently installed butcher block countertops in my kitchen. Several weeks ago, I put four coats of varnish on them, but (as always) they ended up with dust nibs. So yesterday, I wet sanded with 400 ...
- 4,176
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Correct Method to Nail Casing Corners
When installing casing trim around windows and door frames the corners are normally cut in a miter. Finish nails are normally used to fasten the adjoining casing pieces to the window/door frame and ...
- 843
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
"Joint" or "Join": What is the name for the place where two pieces of wood are fastened together?
When speaking in my woodshop, I can't quite tell whether people are saying joint or join when referring to the place where two pieces of wood are glued (or nailed) together. I know the practice is ...
- 3,581
6
votes
1
answer
277
views
With a pneumatic nailer what is more important the quality of the nailer or the nails?
I needed/wanted a small pneumatic nailer for assembling small wood construction. I purchased an inexpensive nailer and nails at the local discount store, and found the nails often jammed. Within a ...
- 1,159
8
votes
3
answers
11k
views
How do I seal plywood joints effectively for outdoor use?
I have this castle built in my garden out of plywood. The problem is that it keeps leaking. I've tried silicone which doesn't last, and also a window sealant, but since the plywood expands and ...
- 417
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Treating pine for partial burial
I'm replacing my garden edging (the separator between lawn and flower beds), and I have some treated pine I would like to use.
Like this:
What's the best way to stop the pine from rotting?
- 173
12
votes
2
answers
19k
views
When is it best to use kiln-dried vs. air-dried vs. green wood in a project?
Kiln dried wood is usually recommended for woodworking projects since it's more stable than green and air dried lumber.
On the other hand, I've been told kiln dried wood is bad for lathe work, and in ...
rob♦
- 18.6k
8
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Rusting nails on purpose
If I am building a wine rack, for instance, using pallet wood. I don't want nice shiny screws to draw attention away from the piece.
What I currently do is sand off the top and leave it in water.
...
- 20.1k
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can some woods just never have a clean finish after sanding?
I am cleaning up pallet wood to be used for miscellaneous projects. Right now I prepare the wood with minor variations on this process. The wood I get varies depending on what pallets I end up with. ...
- 20.1k
3
votes
1
answer
148
views
Caulking small outdoor enclosures ( bat house/ birdhouse etc.)
I'm looking into build bat houses and water proofing the enclosure is a large part of most tutorials. Almost all suggest that you need to caulk all the seams.
None however are very specific on the ...
- 20.1k
10
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Is it safe (for the animals) to use pressure treated wood for animal feeders and houses?
I've been keen on taking pallets and other woods from supply stores so that I can up-cycle them into small woodworking projects like birdhouses, feeders and lately wine racks.
There were some fence ...
- 20.1k
18
votes
5
answers
61k
views
How can I determine the load capacity of a simple bench?
I'm new to woodworking and I'm in the planning phase of making a bench like the one pictured below. I'm planning on storing very heavy boxes on this and would also like to use it as a stool to reach ...
- 439
5
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What tools can I use to hollow out a bowl?
I'm interested in creating two types of bowls. The first is relatively straightforward - in design, at least - as it will just be a large salad bowl. The second is going to mimic a bowl I was gifted ...
- 707
8
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Safety when working Tasmanian Blackwood
I've heard that Tasmanian Blackwood has toxic sawdust. Just how toxic is this sawdust, and what precautions need to be taken when working with it?
- 183
20
votes
7
answers
24k
views
What are some safe finishes for indoor projects likely to be chewed on by a young child or infant?
I'm going to be putting together a crib for over the next few months for our first child. I found a blog that mentions shellac. Only, it doesn't exactly say that shellac is safe, only that it is ...
- 707
16
votes
6
answers
63k
views
What is "White Wood"?
It used to be when I went to the lumber store the inexpensive soft wood was Pine. Now they call it "White Wood", what exactly is "White Wood", I don't recall ever hearing of a tree species by that ...
- 1,159
11
votes
3
answers
848
views
How to hand-sharpen a badly worn gouge?
I picked up a couple of gouges at a local thrift shop. Some of them are in good order, but some of them are in bad shape and should've been sharpened long ago.
I've seen a couple of instruction ...
- 347
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What kind of woods can be riven with a froe?
I've never used a froe before but I'm enamored with the idea of making my own boards.
Right now, I use splitting wedges to make quarters small enough to feed through my bandsaw. This results in a lot ...
- 1,927
8
votes
1
answer
699
views
How do I calculate the amount of downward force a nail will support?
I have a project in mind that creates a removable panel ceiling, made of wood, in my finished basement. Part of the current design is fastening boards to the 1950's ceiling/floor joists that the ...
- 1,159
9
votes
5
answers
15k
views
How to finish a branch to keep the bark (partially) on?
My son found a nice thick branch that I want to turn into a walking stick for him. Unfortunately, I can't tell what kind of wood it is exactly. The bark is still partially on and doesn't seem loose.
...
- 347
8
votes
2
answers
796
views
Are the staples used to tag wood at the DIY store saw safe?
The current trend at my local DIY stores is to staple a tag to the butt of the wood for pricing. I usually pull these out by sliding the tip of a screw driver between the wood and the staple and ...
- 1,159
20
votes
3
answers
14k
views
How do I determine what type of wood a board/plank is made from?
I get wood from many places, including pallets. Often the wood will be of several varieties. By matching color and grain style, I can group similar types of recovered wood planks together. How do I ...
- 1,172
8
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Hand planing edge joined board without tearout
I'm considering building a kitchen table. This would be my second. I plan on edge joining planks. Last time, despite using dowels for alignment, there were often ridges between adjoining boards. To ...
- 4,176
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the proper place of nails in woodworking?
When is it appropriate to use nails to join wood?
Other than for rough framing, the only common accepted use I can think of is for tacking trim, but even there it doesn't quite feel right because ...
- 1,320