Category Archives: Woodworking

This Week in the Shop: Milk Paint Finish & Oil+Acrylic Craft Paint

This week, learn two different finishing techniques which incorporate safe, green finishes for fine woodworking. Check out what’s going on in the WoodshopCowboy Shop!

Home #Makerspace: DIY Street Hockey Sticks

It’s winter here in Northern Virginia and my sons have discovered a strange and wondrous sport of the North:
Hockey!
Learn to build your own hockey sticks – and a technique that can be applied to all sorts of shop and furniture projects.

This Week in the Shop: The Split-Top Bench with Plans

This week in my home shop I finished up a new bench project I developed for class at Nova Labs in Reston, VA. While simple in design and execution, it does involve a full suite of woodworking tools and a a custom jig to complete. This great intermediate project uses the Fab Five of a powered woodshop: table saw, band saw, miter saw, jointer and planer.

Home #Makerspace: How to Saw (for Young and Beginning #Woodworkers)

I use Japanese-style saws exclusively in my classroom and home shop because I have young makers.  I love the quick bite and accuracy of a pull stroke, the low cost and high quality, but mostly, enjoy handing my saw to young apprentices and watch them succeed, no matter what their size, shape or need mightContinue reading “Home #Makerspace: How to Saw (for Young and Beginning #Woodworkers)”

Home #Makerspace: A Young #Maker ‘s First Saw Kit

3 Saws and a Miter Box. A beginning woodworker needs enough equipment to make only two types of cuts; the cross cut and curve.   For cross cuts, I suggest a Japanese-style “pistol grip” carpenter’s saw for older makers, age 7 & up.  For very young makers, 4 to 7, I suggest the smaller flush-cut saw.   TheseContinue reading “Home #Makerspace: A Young #Maker ‘s First Saw Kit”

Home #Makerspace: A Small Bookshelf Using Only Hand Tools

This week we will build a small, simple shelf to practice our hand tool skills.  We will learn the rip cut and how to use the coping saw successfully.  We will assemble and hang our shelf using wood screws, the quickest fasteners around. This project can be completed in a 15 to 20-minute session byContinue reading “Home #Makerspace: A Small Bookshelf Using Only Hand Tools”

This Week in the Shop: Spalted Red Oak Nightstand

This week in the shop, my brother-in-law and I completed a simple nightstand featuring an oil & shellac finish, pocket hole construction, tapered legs and proportional design techniques. Check it out!

Tool Primer: Hand Saws for #Woodworking

Every #makerspace or #woodshop needs a hand saw or two, but which one do you need? Check out the different types of saws available in this week’s Tool Primer!

Every tool has a purpose. The Tool Primer Series explores common #makerspace and #woodworking tools. You can check out the entire series here.

Home #Makerspace: The Bench Hook is a Secret Weapon for #Woodworkers

Bench hooks are portable work surfaces used to make basic woodworking tasks, such as crosscutting boards and drilling holes, easier to perform.  As a bonus, they help protect the surface of your woodworking bench from bumps and dings. In the makerspace, bench hooks can be used for numerous tasks and roles (such as a surfaceContinue reading “Home #Makerspace: The Bench Hook is a Secret Weapon for #Woodworkers”