Sam Wood Worker
The Wood Carpenter – Woodworking Tips, Wood Types & Finishing Guides
Your Go-To Resource for Woodworking Tips, Wood Types & Finishing Guides
From choosing the right wood to applying the perfect finish — The Wood Carpenter has expert guides for every skill level.
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Cabot Deck Stain Review: Cabot vs Ready Seal vs Defy
Last Updated on August 18, 2026 by Sam Wood Worker Quick Answer: Cabot Australian Timber Oil is a solid oil-based penetrating stain that looks fantastic on hardwoods like teak, mahogany, and ipe, but it’s fussier to apply than Ready Seal and doesn’t hold UV protection as long as Defy Extreme. If you want the easiest…
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Fence Material Calculator: Estimate Wood, Posts & Concrete
Quick Answer: For a standard 6-foot wood privacy fence, plan on one post every 8 feet, two to three horizontal rails per section, roughly 1.1 pickets per linear foot (5.5″ boards with a small gap), and one to two 50 lb bags of concrete per post hole. A 150-foot fence usually needs about 20 posts,…
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Defy Deck Stain Review: Pros, Cons & Is It Worth It?
My Quick Verdict Defy is a water-based stain. That’s the first thing to know. It doesn’t sit on top of the wood like paint. It soaks in a bit. But it also doesn’t behave like an oil stain either. It’s its own thing. The big selling point is UV protection. Defy uses tiny zinc particles…
Meet Sam Wood Worker
Sam has spent years working with wood — from furniture building to fine finishing. The Wood Carpenter was built to share real, practical woodworking knowledge you can actually use in your workshop.