Since its introduction in the mid-1800s, plywood has grown in popularity and use. Today, over 700 million cubic feet of plywood is manufactured and used every year. The number of plywood products has grown significantly, now including a large number of engineered wood products, such as OSB, MDF and particleboard. Likewise, the number of uses … Read more
Laser engraving has increased in popularity in recent years. What once started out as a professional option has only entered the realm of the hobbyist as lower cost machines have entered into the market. It is possible to make a hobby out of laser engraving alone or to combine it with other woodworking skills, making … Read more
Many products used in the construction of home have a potential of being dangerous to our health. This is unintentional on the part of the manufacturers, but the risk exists even so. While the wood and other major components themselves aren’t dangerous, some of the chemicals they are treated with can be toxic. One striking … Read more
Painting is one of the most, if not the most, common ways of finishing wood. While it can be argued that painting hides the natural beauty of wood, which some people would call less attractive, there are many cases in which paint is the best finish to use. The only question is which paint is … Read more
Calipers are perhaps the most common instrument in existence for accurate measurement. By “accurate” I’m referring to something more accurate than you can accomplish with a ruler. While we may not think about it, woodworking regularly requires this degree of accuracy. Fitting a mortise and tenon, making a segmented shape like an octagon or a … Read more