My first encounter with chestnut wood came when I was assisting in the restoration of an old barn. The boards were a warm, golden brown with straight, bold grain that caught our eye immediately. I didn’t know what it was then. That’s chestnut,” said…
If you ask the common folk about “wood decay,” most will assume that it’s a bad thing. Something weak. Something useless. But in the world of woodworking there is one gorgeous exception: spalted maple. Spalted maple is evidence that nature can turn…
Hearing the name Indian Laurel, people often think of one thing. In fact, however, this name refers to two very different plants. One is a big shade tree that you will find in the cities. The other is a sturdy, lovely…
A walking cane is more than just a tool for support. For a lot of folks, it is something you have on you every single day — something that you depend and count on. People have been using wood to make walking…
Last year, I found myself in a hardware store gripping two bottles. One said Hardwax Oil. The other said Danish Oil. Both promised beauty, natural protection and durability. One was nearly three times as costly as the other. Like most people, I…
Step into a woodworking shop, and typically two machines dominate the space from their location in opposite corners: the band saw and the table saw. Both are robust, both are reliable and both can revolutionize the way you work with wood. But…
You’d think that picking out cabinet doors would be the quick and easy part of a kitchen remodel but it is one choice you’ll have to live with for years. When you enter a warm, traditional kitchen that feels like homey and…
When I first started learning woodworking, an older craftsman once showed me a workbench that was older than both of us. He tapped one corner and said, “That joint has lasted generations because it was the proper way to do it.”…
When most people need glue, they quickly grab super glue or epoxy. Acrylic adhesive is often ignored, even though it can solve many problems those glues cannot. In fact, acrylic adhesive is one of the strongest and most reliable bonding…
A special wood finish called ebonized oak actually completely changes the look of oak. Typical oak is light brown, strong and common. It ends up deep black, rich and elegant very similar to the expensive ebony wood – after it’s made ebonized.…
