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How many clamps do you REALLY need? Woodworking basics.
“You can never have enough clamps!” Is that really true? In fact, you can accomplish almost anything with just 9 key clamps. Plus, I’ll talk about 3 overrated clamps. I mean seriously, clamps can be super expensive and I’m a cheapskate. Just a reminder, if you are just starting out in your woodworking journey, feeling […]
Are CNC machines cheating? Is pocket hole joinery real woodworking?
Pocket screws. Dovetail jigs. Laser cutters. CNC machines. What do these things have in common? These are a few of the things considered “cheating” by a lot of woodworkers. Before I jump in, I want to remind you that anyone can get started in this hobby without a lot of money or space using […]
8 Miter Saw pro tips & tricks
If you are just getting into woodworking, a miter saw is one of the most useful tools you can own. I consider it so handy, that the first few projects in my Weekend Woodworker course are built without a table saw, using just the miter saw. In fact, if you’ve never built anything before, and […]
Can you make pocket holes without a jig?
Whenever I use a pocket hole jig I get a few comments asking why I need the jig at all. Can’t you just drive screws in at an angle? Yes, you most certainly can, but to get strong joints, the answer is a bit more involved. Why use pocket hole joinery? First, it’s helpful to […]
8 totally free ways to become an even happier woodworker
What gives you the most joy from woodworking? I want you to think about that for a second. I’ve conducted a number of surveys in the past couple years that thousands of people have responded to. When asked, “What gives you the most joy from woodworking?” a common response is, “The satisfaction of completing a […]
4 Sanders That Will Improve Your Woodworking
For all beginning woodworkers, I only recommend a single sander, the random orbit sander. It’s so useful that I consider it an essential woodworking tool. But there are some other fairly affordable sanders that can make your time in the shop even more enjoyable and efficient. Disc/Strip Sander This first sander is actually 2 […]
Why Do So Many People Remove their Table Saw Blade Guards?
I did a quick check on fifty of the biggest woodworking channels that I subscribe to. Out of fifty, I found three that seem to regularly use a blade guard. Two of those were in a high-end shop with industrial equipment, where the blade guard is used to assist in better dust extraction. So what’s […]
6 Things You Might Be Doing Wrong on Your Table Saw
I want to point out a few common mistakes I sometimes see people make when using a table saw. And frankly, I’ve been guilty of some of these myself, so I hope this video will be a refresher for all of us. Correcting these bad habits will help you get better, cleaner cuts and make […]
5 biggest sanding mistakes to avoid with a random orbit sander | Basic woodworking skills.
I have several sanders in my shop, but I definitely use the random orbit sander the most. Out of all things to screw up in woodworking, sanding errors can be the most infuriating, because we mostly sand near the end of a project, after we’ve spent hours being so careful building and assembling. It’s like […]
What is Woodworking? A Total Beginner’s Guide.
You might have found this video because you’ve been binge watching videos of people making things and you thought, “Hmm…that looks like fun.” Then you kept watching and thought, “But seriously, I wonder if I could do some of this?” And then you thought, “I really think I could do this. But everyone seems to […]
Biggest Wood Staining Mistakes and Misconceptions | Wood Staining Basics
A lot of new woodworkers get the urge to stain projects. There’s not anything wrong with wood staining, but there are some misconceptions about it and how to use it that I want to clear up. Choosing colors Before staining wood, ask yourself why you want to change its color. One of the decisions […]
Essential Power Tools for Beginning Woodworkers
Over time, every woodworker will develop their own sense of what tools they believe are essential, but when you are just starting out, knowing what you really need can seem overwhelming. My show, and this list, is focused on woodworking using affordable, modern power tools to get you up and building stuff right away with […]
How to Make a Basic Box – and why you need to know how.
Today’s project is a basic box. Knowing how to make a box is a very useful and even necessary woodworking skill. Honestly most projects, including all kinds of furniture, are just a variation on the basic box. So let’s get started . . . I’m using basic 3/4″ lumber for this box today. First, cut […]
18 Things Every Beginning Woodworker Should Know
I’ve been woodworking since I was a kid, but there are some things that took me years to figure out on my own. Before the internet, if you wanted advice from other woodworkers you needed to know another woodworker in real life! But those days are over and now we have Twitter and Facebook to […]