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TOOLS & WORKSHOP: WOODWORKING

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How To: Sand Wood
Sanding is the unsung hero of any project with wood. It can take a long time, and the results are subtle: Sanding doe...
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DIY Workbenches: 5 You Can Build in a Weekend
The workbench is a DIY project's hub. It's where supplies are kept and progress gets made.  Sure, you can buy a workb...
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How To: Make a Mitered Corner
A mitered corner is formed by joining two pieces of wood, each cut to a 45° angle. One of the easier joints to cut, a...
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How To: Use a Miter Box
A miter box is a wonderfully simple, affordable tool that allows any DIYer to make accurate crosscuts in wood. Since ...
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How To: Make a Deck Rail Planter
Last year, I was dying to have some deck rail planters to grow spinach and lettuce in, but I couldn’t find any that w...
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5 Easy Ways to Contain Sawdust and Drill Debris
In the spring, summer, and fall at our house, we're pretty active cyclists—for recreation, exercise, and transportati...
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Bit of Knowledge: Choosing the Right Drill Bit for the Job
Drill bits are designed to do one thing: make holes in stuff. That is, except when they are intended to drive hardwar...
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Bob Vila Radio: Woodworking Tips
Even experienced carpenters make mistakes, especially when they're cutting a lot of different pieces. Listen to BOB V...
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Bob Vila Radio: Tool Tip - Clamps
In carpentry, the first key to a good joint is proper clamping. The clamp is responsible for pulling together the pie...
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Bob Vila's 2012 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Woodworker
Shopping for the woodworker in your family? Browse our top picks for gifts beginners and experts alike are bound to enjoy.
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Bob Vila Radio: Dowel Joinery Tips
Here’s a technique professional carpenters use to conceal screws in fine woodworking projects: use wooden plugs. List...
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Bob Vila Radio: DIY Dolly
The next time you need to move something big and heavy in the workshop or around the house, save your back and build ...
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How To: Drill Straight 90° Holes (Without a Drill Press)
Except in special cases—when you intentionally choose a specific angle or bias—it's important to keep all drill holes...
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How To: Choose the Right Screw for the Right Job
Back in the day there were just two options, slotted or Phillips. You picked one, picked a length, and were good to g...
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7 Essential Measuring Tools for Any Job
Besides "righty tighty, lefty loosey," there's one DIY phrase that nearly anyone can recite: Measure twice, cut once....
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How To: Match End Grain with Side Grain
As you may recall from science class as a kid, wood is a collection of fibers that run in the same direction. Basical...
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How To: Clean Your Toolbox and Workshop
While spring is generally considered the month for cleaning windows, airing out the house, reorganizing the cupboards...
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How To: Get Clean, Chip-Free Cuts in Melamine and Veneer
Melamine-coated particleboard is a great material for storage, basement, garage, home office, and kid's room projects...
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How To: Use a Saw Properly
Results depend on more than technology.
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How To: Use a Hammer
Even professionals have improper hammering technique. Use this refresher course to improve your skills.
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How To: Choose the Right Saw for the Job
Different sawteeth have different strengths for particular projects. Learn which kind of blades are best for your needs.
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How To: Distress New Beams for an Century-Old Look
Creating distressed beams adds character to any space.
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5 Ways to Get Perfect, Clean Cuts in Plywood
Plywood sheet goods are an essential in any home improvement project involving wood. But due to their layered structu...
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Choosing Essential Tools for Woodworking
Having these 10 favorites on hand will make any future project a breeze.
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Planning Your Woodworking Shop
For practicality, comfort, and safety, follow these guidelines when planning your woodworking shop.
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7 Essential Woodworking Tools
Here are seven basic tools that are essential in the workshop.
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Finishing Wood
Let's talk about the surface of the object you are making. Now is the time to correct or camouflage flaws in your work.
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How To: Use a Portable Power Planer
Power planers do the work of jack planes but faster.
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Using Your Router
Follow these rules when using your router for safety and effectiveness.
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Filing Techniques
It takes a little technique and some practice before the file fits naturally in your hand, and your stroke is smooth and regular.
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Operating a Drill Press
Follow these guidelines to operate a drill press the right way.
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Wood Joints
Take a comprehensive look at the most common wood joints.
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How To: Make a Mortise-and-Tenon Joint
Making mortise-and-tenon joints is a straightforward process.
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Wood Templates
Wood templates are patterns or models used in the making of curved or irregularly designed workpieces.
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Woodworking Vise Guide
Get a grip on the different types of woodworking vises available for your workbench.
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How To: Use a Hand Plane
Wood planes are easy and immensely satisfying tools to use.
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How To: Build a Sawhorse
Follow these instructions to make this indispensable work-site furniture.
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How To: Use a Block Plane
These simple steps will help you operate the block plane to its best use.
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How To: Cut Straight Lines with a Circular Saw
These techniques will help you cut straigt lines with your circular saw.
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How To: Saw Safely
Prevent sawing accidents and injury by following these safety guidelines
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How To: Clamp a Glue Joint
Follow these steps to properly clamp a glue joint.
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Quick Tip: Table Saw Techniques
Learn the different ways you can use your table saw.
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Lumber Grades and Numbers
Get the basic facts about lumber numbers and grades.
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Proper Sanding Techniques
Follow these sanding techniques and get the smooth finishes you've always wanted.
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Quick Tip: Working with Wood Glues
Knowing which glue to use can be a sticky problem. Here's some helpful advice.
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Creating a Cornice Molding for the Dining Room
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley create an elaborate five-piece cornice molding in the dining room.
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Installing a Decorative Inlaid Vinyl Floor and Reviewing the Workshop Layout
The generously sized workshop has a functional layout and a unique vinyl floor designed by architect Gregory Rochlin.
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Making an Armoire into an Entertainment Center
Bob works with carpenter Bob Ryley to construct an insert for an antique cherry armoire to house his bedroom TV and video collection.
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Building Planter Boxes
Bob Ryley is in the garage workshop building a planter box for the sunroom.
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Building Cabinets
Bob visits Todd Allen's cabinet shop, where he helps to mill and assemble the cabinets for the loft conversion project.
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Porch Railing and Screen Door Installation
Carpenter Bob Ryley helps install a new porch railing and new screen doors. An underground sprinkler system is also installed.
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Building a Bookcase
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley meet in the workshop to build a set of bookcases for the home. Ryley demonstrates the various cuts and joining methods used to make th...
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Decorative Woodwork Restoration
Bob assists Patty Hettich in stripping paint from decorative woodwork, then making rubber molds to create new details in the Federal-style home.
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Discussing the Framing and Selecting a Garage Door
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley review the building plans and the progress made on the post-and-beam garage. Framing continues, and Bob discusses the various joints ...
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Cutting Joists Using 17th-Century Techniques
Bob heads to Plimouth Plantation in Plymouth, MA, where artisan-carpenter Pret Woodburn shows Bob how mortise-and-tenon joinery was cut back in the 17th- and 18th...
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Building a Medicine Cabinet
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley hand-craft a medicine cabinet using a radial arm saw, Dado blade, router, screws, and carpenter's glue.
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Creating the Built-in Cabinets
Bob meets with Ryley to discuss the site-built, built-in cabinets of birch plywood. Ryley demonstrates many of the cuts and jigs used in crafting the cabinets, an...
 
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