Woodworking

A mortise is the term used to describe the hole or slot cut into a piece of wood that accepts the end of another piece, called the tenon. Mortises are typically rectangular in shape and have...

Dowel peg holes are often found on the inside of cabinets to allow for adjustable shelves. By drilling holes directly into the wood that the cabinet is made of, the need for attached metal shelf...

Bowl and tray router bits allow you to use a router to make bowls and trays from a pattern. These bits have several other applications. They can be used for cutting boards, raised sign lettering,...

A woodworker requires a variety of tools for his shop. One of those tools is the drill press. Drill presses drill a variety of holes, but they also accommodate sand and router extensions. They...

When screw or nail heads are undesirable for a woodworking project, use dowel joinery instead. Although available as plastic and metal pieces, wooden dowels are the most common dowels used to...

When your compact disc collection outgrows the box you've carried around since high school, it's time to look for something bigger. You could run down to the local super store and buy a plastic...

Blowgun darts are easy to make from common household items using standard DIY tools. The darts made using this method will be sturdy enough to use either for target practice or hunting small game...

A drill press makes woodworking projects easier and makes a useful addition to any workshop area. If you're planning to add a drill press to your tool collection, you've probably noticed the wide...

Dowel joints are common in both antique and modern furniture. A dowel joint will attach two pieces of wood together without leaving behind screw marks, nails or holes that need to be filled. These...

Making a tobacco pipe can enhance the experience of smoking. Designing, building and using a pipe of your own is the cheapest way to avoid spending a large amount of money on a pipe. Making your...

Attaching parts with screws or bolts is an essential component in any place that parts need to be removable. In combination with double-headed bolts, threaded inserts are a great way to attach...

Your woodshop is not complete without good, solid, strong cabinets. Pine board is strong and durable. Cabinets made of pine board can easily hold the weight of all of your woodshop supplies. A...

A dowel joint uses a concealed dowel to connect and reinforce the corresponding sides of a mated joint. Combined with wood glue, it makes for a very strong joint. Used for frame joints and leg...

The Ripstik is a new skateboard-like toy that uses, instead of four stationary wheels, two caster wheels that allow the rider to stay upright and propel themselves forward without taking a foot...

Bosch variable speed drills can double as a power screw gun by using a screwdriver bit. This lets you buy one tool and use it for two purposes. Bosch impact drills now are supplied with...

Wood shelves can be made in a variety of styles and sizes to fit all tastes and budgets. There are exceptions, but most shelves consist of four pieces--a shelf piece, a back piece and two...

Countersinking is used to sink the head of a screw below the surface of the wood. The area can then be filled with putty, sanded and finished for a seamless look. Alternatively, the screw head can...

A drill press with a mortising attachment is the easiest and most efficient way of cutting mortises for mortise-and-tenon joints. The mortising attachment consists of a rotating bit inside a...

A pocket drill or pocket driver is a convenient tool to carry around. Because it runs at lower RPMs than a traditional drill, it still has a high amount of torque even with its small size. The...

A drill press is an essential tool when you need to drill precise holes to a specific depth. Installing a workbench-mounted drill press will keep it nearby when you need it and will hold the tool...

A drill chuck is used to secure the drill bit in place while the drill is in operation. A chuck uses rotational force to tighten internal gears that only open and close when the chuck is inserted....

When you add doors to custom shelves, they become custom cabinets. Building these storage spaces for yourself gives you the opportunity to get exactly what you want for less money.

Shelves are great for storing books, collectibles or whatever. The more shelves you have in your home, the more storage space you have. Stacking shelves are nice because they can be stacked as one...

Providing nesting boxes is a great way to attract colorful, insect-eating bluebirds to your backyard. While most any kind of untreated lumber will make a good bluebird house, 3/4 inch cypress or...

Bracing table legs improves the strength and stability of the work surface, allowing you to place more weight on the table or, with a workbench, to handle power tools safely. Metal braces...

Many homeowners have experienced the frustration of needing to do a home repair project but having trouble finding the right tools. An organized tool area can save you both time and money (if you...

Whether you are using a cane as a walking aid or simply as an aesthetic accessory, a home-made cane is a great craft that gives the satisfaction of creating it yourself as well as customizing its...

The oldest and simplest drill bits operated by friction rather than by cutting. Hard wooden rods bored through softer materials by heating and charring as they were spun. Reciprocal bits used...

Loose and lost batteries are an all too common occurrence in many households, leading to dead television remotes, unusable CD players, portable radios and other inconveniences. With a few basic...

Making clocks from slab wood allows you to be as creative as you want. You can use any shape of wood to make a clock. The clocks may be given as gifts or used in any room of the house. If you have...

In many cases, a chair, table or shelf can appear irreparable because of a dowel broken off in one of the other furniture parts. However, with care the dowel can be drilled out and replaced with a...

If you like country designs or fancy designs you are going to love this wooden wall letter holder with key hooks. I have been into crafts for a long time and this is one of my best sellers. If you...

Drill presses are easy to operate, but things can go wrong in an instant. Some safety precautions are obvious--keeping clothing and hair away from the bit is common sense. Other dangers are not so...

Unlike wet wood termites that require the wood to be wet and some part of the wood to be touching the ground, dry wood termites do not require any of these conditions. They normally infect homes...

With a pen lathe, some basic tools and materials, and a little practice, you can create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pens. Several pen kits are available that contain the hardware and ink cartridge....

Building a customized serving tray for parties is an easy task if you have the right materials. One way to create a serving tray is by using materials around you, such as old picture frames and...

It's a rite of passage for Cub Scouts. But it's also a popular hobby for adult enthusiasts. Pinewood Derby car races are everywhere and for everyone of all ages. The job is to build your own car,...

Installing a door knob in a solid wood door or plumbing through drywall requires creating a large hole. A hole saw is the best tool for creating round openings in a variety of materials. It is...

Brad point drill bits are specially designed to cut clean holes in hard and soft woods without wandering. Also called lip and spur drills, brad point bits made by different companies vary slightly...

A lazy Susan can be an innovative solution to inaccessible corner cupboards and shelves. They can also be used in the center of a dining table at meal time. Build a lazy Susan to create a...

Besides a sturdy work bench, the next most important thing in a workshop is a place to store your tools. We will deal with making a basic cabinet and then learn how to hang it on the wall. It...

Use a hand drill to make a hole on surfaces that cannot go under a drill press. It takes a steady hand and a keen eye to hand drill. Safety precautions must be followed, as with any power tool....

If you have an electric or cordless drill that doesn't seem to grip a drill bit well, it may be time to remove the chuck and replace it with a new one. Perhaps you want to upgrade the drill and...

The drill press is a key piece of equipment for any woodworking shop. Its power and control makes it possible to drill larger and deeper holes than you can make with a hand-held drill. A drill...

Cutting circles into wood is a simple woodworking project. There are many tools that you can use to get the task finished, but one of the best tools available is the scroll saw because of its...

When a tree falls in the forest, run in there with your chain saw and take it apart. Use the sturdiest branches for legs and the slabs for bar stool seats. Our pioneer forefathers made all of...

You can measure a drill press to determine the size of stock it is able to drill. A drill press is not measured for height, but capacity. A bench-top drill press may have the same capacity as a...

A drill press is a very handy and efficient tool found in many woodworking workshops. While its design is very simple, this machine presents several safety hazards. These hazards can lead to...

With use, your drill bits will grow dull and will cut less effectively, put more strain on your tools, require more force and be more likely to break. With a little know-how, however, you can...

Use a drill press vise to hold materials steady on the drilling table. As the drill bit rotates, it exerts pressure outward that can cause stock to spin or be thrown if it's not held firmly. The...