Home Woodshop

Mixing custom stain colors sounds intimidating, but it’s simpler than most woodworkers expect. Here’s a quick primer on getting exactly the color you want. Start...

A reader asked last week why their freshly applied finish felt rough instead of smooth. The answer is almost always the same: dust nibs. What...

The Damage Everyone Dreads You set a cold glass on your grandmother’s mahogany table for thirty seconds. When you pick it up, a perfect white...

The Refinisher’s Nightmare Scenario A client brings you an antique dresser. One drawer front has water damage—finish completely destroyed in a six-inch circle. The rest...

After months of planning and preparation, the shop is finally taking shape. There’s something deeply satisfying about organizing a workspace where every tool has its...

The Complete Guide to Hand Tool Woodworking: Traditional Techniques for Modern Craftsmen Hand tool woodworking connects us to centuries of craftsmanship tradition while producing results...

The Client’s Impossible Request The call came on a Tuesday. A homeowner needed three new dining chairs to match a set her grandmother had purchased...

The Maple Problem Every Finisher Knows Maple looks beautiful in the lumber rack. Clean, tight grain. Creamy white color with those subtle figure patterns catching...

What Is Tung Oil? Tung oil is a drying oil extracted from the seeds of the tung tree, native to China and South America. It...

What Makes Danish Oil Different Danish oil is a blend of oil, varnish, and thinner designed to combine the easy application of oil finishes with...