Did you every go to a lumber yard and stand wondering why 2 pieces of wood look the same but one is much cheaper. The reason is wood grading. Wood grades describe to you how good a board is, and in…
Woodworkers are drawn to finishes that will make wood look richer, glossier and more alive. That happens to be what Nitrocellulose lacquer has been doing for almost a century. It dries fast, goes on in smooth, thin layers, and buffs to…
When it comes to choosing lumber for a project—whether it be for your garden shed or your beautiful indoor furniture, you can’t beat hardwoods over softwoods. Spruce and pine are two of the most popular options, used interchangeably. That can be confusing.…
Wipe-on polyurethane—often called “wipe-on poly”—is the go-to finish when you want the toughness of polyurethane with the easy, streak-free application of an oil finish. It’s thinned so you can apply it with a cloth, which makes it ideal for carved…
Can you visualize a true blue among the regular pink, red and yellow hibiscus blossoms? Now, that is the appeal of the Blue Hibiscus plant, scientifically known as Alyogyne huegelii. As an Australian native, this eye-catching plant bears beautiful orchid-like lilac-blue to deep…
Have you ever seen a dark green bush or tree growing happily even in the deep shade of a garden? That is probably a yew tree. Yew trees belong to the Taxus family. People have been planting them and talking…
Have you ever wandered through a garden and spotted a tree that appears as though it’s from dinosaur times? That is the Araucaria tree. It’s like a “living fossil” because it has been on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs. These…
If you’ve been in the market for a new cutting board, chances are you’re familiar with your standard options: maple, walnut or bamboo. But there is another contender that’s quietly starting to earn the reverence of chefs, home cooks and woodworkers:…
As you begin to look up wood for outdoor projects, siding, decking and even furniture Larch wood will keep making its way back into your view. And there is good reason for that. Great for those projects where you are looking for…
If you’ve spent any time exploring exotic hardwoods, whether for woodworking, furniture-making, outside structures or even higher end firewood, you’ve likely heard of Mopane wood. Mopane is renowned for it’s incredible density, intense hardness and deep red-brown coloring; in terms of durability…
