I think what you are asking is: How do I ensure all my vertical boards are the same length. Often, this is more important than being a particular length. Another way to say it is: You desire ...

In addition to the good comments already made, I'll add that in order to remove cured drying oil, you will have to mechanically, not chemically, remove them. I am thinking a fine steel or brass wool, ...

My tip will have to do with the boards. I did the same thing about 10 years ago and congratulated myself for making a really thick and sturdy bench top 3.5" thick, by laminating 2x4's from the big ...

How about making it in a frame-and-panel style? So that the chess board has room to move in the frame's grooves? You do not want to reduce the playing surface any, so you could cut the tongue on the ...

One trick I've used with success, because yes, water based polys can be foamy, is this: Once you lay down your coat, and tip out as many bubbles as you can, take a hand held propane torch and wave ...

In general, you need to protect against movement a) when it occurs against something that does not move similarly, and b) where there are distances perpendicular to the grain (wood won't expand much ...

If you feel like your saw worked better before you replaced the blade, then I would suspect the blade. You say it's new, but is it a good quality blade? I suggest picking up a new, quality, blade ...