43
votes
How do I make a drill hole the same depth every time?
Ashler's answer is the simplest and cheapest way to get holes the same depth. But as an extra there are bit collars that can be put on the bits which will enforce exact depth stops.
- 15.7k
39
votes
How do I make a drill hole the same depth every time?
A lot of people drill a hole through a suitable length of wood dowel (or small square cross section) and use that as a stop-collar on the drill.
Example
You can also just use an external chunk of ...
- 1,844
26
votes
Accepted
How do I make a drill hole the same depth every time?
The simplest means is to place a tab of masking tape on the drill bit at the desired depth. When the spinning tab lowers to the surface of the wood and sweeps away the wood chips, stop.
- 8,274
23
votes
Accepted
How can I cleanly cut a large circle out of plywood?
How can I cut a large circle out of a 4x8 sheet of plywood?
You sound like the perfect candidate for a router circle jig. The one linked is available at Rockler, but they are easy enough to make ...
- 12.1k
23
votes
How do I make a drill hole the same depth every time?
You can also adjust your drill press table to be at the desired depth when the drill reaches the end of it's stroke.
- 896
18
votes
How do I make a drill hole the same depth every time?
Tape is what I would have suggested and continue to use but if you wanted something a little more robust my suggestion would be depth stop collars /nuts
Image from AliExpress
Easily removed off the ...
- 20.2k
17
votes
Accepted
How do I drill a hole exactly in the center of a circle?
Finding the center
Using Geometry
There are a couple of ways to do this. Since your dowel is big enough you can do this by hand relatively easy.
First would be to make 3 lines on the outside of the ...
- 20.2k
16
votes
Accepted
Are there specific types of screws I should use for woodworking?
Just to get it out of the way, this is the conventional/traditional wood screw:
In the past it would always have been flat-head (now also called slot-head), and as a result when making a piece in a ...
- 64.6k
15
votes
How do I drill a hole exactly in the center of a circle?
My final solution was to just use a drill press to drill a 2" hole with a forstner bit partway through a block of wood, then a 5/16" hole the rest of the way, centered on the pilot hole from the ...
- 5,613
14
votes
Accepted
How do I temporarily attach two pieces of wood together for machining?
As sketchy as it sounds masking tape and superglue (cyano or CA) can work very well for this type of thing. Many people have relied on types of double-sided tape, carpet tape being particularly ...
- 64.6k
13
votes
Accepted
Type of wood for bending into an arch shape?
I am designing a home theater that will have a small "stage" which will need to have a long (~8ft) piece of wood that is bowed slightly. I want to know what types of wood (e.g. MDF, certain ...
- 12.1k
12
votes
Accepted
Making safe cuts: Sliding miter saw vs Radial-arm saw
You are, indeed, using your radial arm saw correctly, but it's important to note the critical differences between the two tools.
In both cases, you would be making a climb cut when pulling the blade ...
rob♦
- 18.7k
12
votes
Accepted
Creating a speaker stand using only joins
If you want to make joins using only wooden parts, and no metal hardware, and no glue, there are many types of joint you could use.
On larger pieces of furniture, such as tables, woodworkers ...
- 1,844
12
votes
Accepted
Make a table top using pocket holes?
For strength, a good glue bond is all you need. If you want to minimize clamping, you could use pocket screws, but I would recommend against it. When you tighten a pocket screw, it tends to pull the ...
- 8,046
11
votes
Accepted
Issue sanding between coats of polyurethane
Referencing steps from the directions on the can and the Minwax website
Let dry 4-6 hours. Then lightly sand entire surface with fine sandpaper (220 grit) to ensure an even finish and proper adhesion....
- 64.6k
11
votes
Accepted
Making removable marks on walls for e.g. cabinet installation
When I don't want to make messy marks, it's blue painter's tape all the way. (There are various options, in terms of how long you can leave it on. Just remember to peel it in time.)
- 3,841
11
votes
Accepted
Best way to hide counter sunk screws
Consider to remove the screws and perform a counterbore or use a forstner bit to the depth of the screw head. Select the diameter to match your selected wood plug diameter. Return the screw, glue in ...
- 2,879
10
votes
How can I cleanly cut a large circle out of plywood?
You can cut a perfect circle top using your table saw.
To do this, you will need a jig (a large sheet of plywood with a pin on which the board being cut spins).
Cut off corners (on the work piece) ...
- 1,192
10
votes
Accepted
How do I chisel against the grain without splintering?
You never would normally chisel something like that. It would be cut using a mortising saw.
If you did need to chisel it, like you were doing a Joseph the Carpenter, father of Jesus, re-enactment or ...
- 2,049
10
votes
Accepted
Can I speed up stain drying with a hair dryer?
Yes if you blow air (especially heated air) over various oil-based finishes they will dry faster.
Is there any reason not to?
Hairdryer first: you're unlikely to cause a problem unless you get ...
- 64.6k
10
votes
Accepted
How can I accurately cross-cut a board that is too wide for my table saw?
This is something that I would not want to cross cut on the table saw in this case. If you had a sliding panel saw, you could but not in this case. This is a perfect scenario for a track saw.
As I ...
- 1,828
10
votes
Accepted
How do I carve an inset circle?
I would do this with a router and straight bit. Of course you would need a router. You don't mention the overall diameter so I am assuming larger than a reasonable drill bit size. You could also dish ...
- 859
9
votes
Accepted
Table saw technique, cross-cut dados on multiple boards
I bought a table saw recently and it's the most terrifying tool I own.
As a beginner, that is the right attitude. I note that the most dangerous time will be when you are no longer a beginner but not ...
- 266
9
votes
Accepted
Cutting tight miter joints for a frame around an existing object
How can I create a tight mitered frame around a fixed size, pre-existing object?
OK I'll tackle this one first as it's actually most important: in this context you don't want to.
To pass on some ...
- 64.6k
9
votes
Accepted
How do you use a 2D template with a lathe?
I can think of at least two options:
use the template on a duplicator
use the template to set
calipers
.... basically what keshlam said. The first if you have a duplicator you can use the template ...
- 15.7k
9
votes
Why shouldn't I shake my can of polyurethane?
Apparently it's the bubbles
The concern is that the agitation of the can will create bubbles. Brushing poly will transfer those bubbles to the work and there will be a good chance they will dry/cure ...
- 20.2k
9
votes
How to prevent table saw blade vibration gouges?
The blade cuts fine most of the time, but every once in a while something goes wrong and I'll get a big gouge in the wood.
In my experience, this isn't really a big gouge. When you're running a ...
- 12.1k
9
votes
Accepted
How to make a recess in a board
The recess you're looking to make is in essence a shallow mortise, much like the type used to hold the stone in a traditional oilstone box.
The most basic way to do this is with a chisel and mallet, ...
- 64.6k
9
votes
Accepted
How do I cut a hole into a cutting board for a handle
Drill 2 holes (brace and bit if you're being serious about "hand" tools) with a forstner bit (or hole saw), then connect them with a cut using a coping (or jig) saw. Chisel/file/sand as needed.
To ...
- 3,841
9
votes
Accepted
Quick corner joints in practice
It's actually very difficult to keep the joint flush and straight while at the same time somehow positioning the block in the corner, putting two clamps on, and not getting glue everywhere. It's ...
- 64.6k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible