Hobbies

Shaping wood while it is being spun or turned at a high speed is called woodturning. This is usually accomplished by using a lathe. Woodturning is a craft that takes time and practice to master....

The wheelbarrow is an invention that originated in China around 100 B.C. The basic principle for the wheelbarrow consisted of a single wheel in the front of a wooden platform. An ancient Chinese...

Before the advent of television, internet and video games, go-karting was a tremendously popular sport during the summer months. While go-karting has died down in popularity in recent years, there...

Since the invention of the wood router during the First World War, its presence has changed every aspect of woodworking. The router can do rabbet cuts, trim laminate, bevel edges, shape molding...

Fishing lures can become expensive if you fish a lot and need an extensive collection. What most avid fisherman may not realize is that they can make their own fishing lures using just a few...

Humidors come in many sizes and designs to meet the specific needs of owners. Some are inexpensive or small enough to hold only several cigars, while others are costly or as large as a room.

As with any craft, woodturning demands a strong foundation in the basics, knowing the properties of wood, woodturning tools, woodturning techniques and, most of all, woodturning design...

Velocity is the rate of change of position in a traveling object. Scouts who want to know how fast their Pine Wood Derby cars are can do some simple math to find the velocity, or speed, of their...

Woodturning is more than just the process of turning wood stock into furniture, accessories or toys. It is a refuge from stress and the daily grind of life, an art form that yields beautiful and...

Practice, sharp tools and a reliable mini lathe are the fundamentals to designing beautiful wood-turned projects. However, there are several tips, tricks and helpful workshop techniques, which,...

It is becoming increasingly popular to salvage antique wood from barns and old houses. This wood can be a valuable material and add interest and character to new construction. It often consists of...

Although modern stoves are more efficient and easier to use, many people desire the style and uniqueness of antique stoves. Locating and restoring an antique stove requires patience and a large...

If you enjoy woodworking and would like to create your own finishes or stains rather than purchasing them, various methods of creating your own wood finishes are available. Homemade finishes may...

Restored around the world for their historic novelty, antique stoves have varied in technology and design over the last two centuries. From cast-iron, wood-burning stoves, to modern-day ceramic...

Balsa, a lightweight and pliable wood from South America, is ideal for a variety of hobby and model-building purposes. However, balsa wood is best known for its featherweight qualities, perfect...

For hundreds of centuries, longbows have proven to be among the most versatile and efficient weapons for both hunting and war. If you have ever wanted to make a longbow, you will find that it is a...

Building a chest of drawers may seem like a daunting task to the amateur or first-time woodworker; however, it is not as difficult as you may imagine. Chests of drawers are built in simple steps....

With all the different types of wood putties on the market, why would you ever need to make you own putty? Two reasons are possible: you are out of putty and the store is closed or you need an...

Sure, it sounds simple enough. But there’s an easy way to start a roaring campfire quickly, with minimal tending, and not everyone knows how to do it. So here it is, Fire Starting 101.

Wood-making projects have been a favorite pastime for boys for centuries, allowing them to express themselves creatively with their hands and a few simple tools. Not only does the child develop a...

Building a plane from balsa wood has its advantages over plastic. The nearly feather-weight quality of balsa wood means that an airplane constructed from it can actually fly, as opposed to acting...

As wood furniture begins to age, it can lose its luster. Trying to clean the surface with polishing agents only adds to the issue, because the polish traps dirt and dust particles, causing buildup...

Basic woodworking skills are necessary to the repertoire of any home handyman. Cutting wood into strips is a simple process that can be done easily with some basic power tools and the proper...

You can make intricate and eye-catching wooden signs with a scroll saw. You can create precise cuts of various shapes and figures with extreme ease and dexterity once you are able to master using...

Wooden clothespins may not seem a likely material for making beautiful crafts, but with little more than some wood glue, you can transform a few clothespins into a beautiful wall-hanging cross....

When remodeling your kitchen, you have several different choices of wood for your cabinets. Birch and maple are common choices. Base your final selection on your budget, how long you want the...

Sturdy fish tank stands are important because they provide support for gallons of water. The weight of water in a large fish tank is often heavier than most household televisions; therefore, the...

A plane is a device that is used to provide finishing work on wood products. A plane is designed so that it can remove small amounts of wood at a time to shave a board down to a slightly smaller...

A birdhouse can provide a nice outdoor decoration to your home while attracting the pleasant wildlife around you. Building one is simple and can be a fun project for any carpentry hobbyist.

Cuckoo clocks have been a favorite of Black Forest clockmakers since the 18th century. The traditional style clock is known as a Schilduhr, or shield clock. At the stroke of the hour, a cuckoo...

Boat making utilizing exotic wood utilizes fine craftsmanship and old-world design. The art of making full-size boats requires in-depth knowledge of both construction methodology, proper wood...

The use of feather boards adds stability and safety to the use of table saw. The purpose of a feather board is to hold wood in position for cutting on a table saw, while giving the operator...

The "fire writing" of the ancient Greeks has survived the test of time and remains a popular art form. Tables, clocks, plaques, and anything else made of wood can and, and has been, decorated...

Wooden spoons add personal style to your kitchen space can be carved on your own as long as you have patience and focus. It is not an overly complicated procedure and can be completed in a few hours.

Homemade wood projects can be fun and add character to many areas of your home. They can make unique gifts and can provide years of enjoyment for friends and family. Although there are many other...

Boating is a simple joy that can take over your soul and faculty of good sense in one single cruise. Nothing is more addictive than a boat. It is one of the oldest constructs of man, and...

If you're looking for materials for do-it-yourself signs, there are several easy-to-find and creative materials or platforms that you can use, including some that let you change the message. Even...

Wood burning has been a craft for generations. A number of modern tools, like the electric wood burning iron, sometimes called a pyrography pen, make modern crafting that uses wood burning...

Selecting the best wood burning tools is essential to producing a good product. Of course it does matter whether wood burning is just a hobby or if you are trying to produce a product to sell. To...

Woodworking is an aspect of carpentry. While carpentry includes things such as house-building, woodworking is generally more oriented toward finer work such as furniture- and cabinet-making. Many...

Wooden bats are one of the more traditional aspects of baseball. The use of wooden bats is slowly fading from college and semi-pro leagues, with most players turning to metal bats to save time and...

Choosing the correct balsa wood for the bridge that you've designed is just as important as the design itself. This technique will maximize the structural design while keeping the mass of the...

Purpleheart wood grows in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. When it is cut, purpleheart wood turns from its original beige to purple color. With age, it turns to a dark...

Miter boxes are used for making angled cuts in wood, plastic and metal. They range from simple hand boxes with angles pre-cut to adjustable power miter boxes. Simple, less expensive miter boxes...

A scroll saw is the perfect tool for cutting intricate curves and detail in woodworking projects. With its thin, fine-toothed blades, scroll saws are relatively safe, but you should take safety...

A skateboard deck is the platform you stand on when riding a skateboard. There are different types of skateboard decks varying in length, width, thickness and weight. You can select your...

If you want to refinish some wood in your home, you can save a lot of money by completing the project yourself. With a few tips and tricks, you can easily complete a do-it-yourself wood...

A box made out of wood makes a sturdy storage container for a number of items. You may choose to make a small box to store pens, pencils and doodads. Or, you can make a medium-sized box to store...

Of all of the hobby genres, working with aircraft models is one of the most popular. Model kits are usually molded in plastic or wood, but both require a degree of care and patience as the user...

Wood country crafts are a fun way to make both decorative and functional items for your home. Newcomers to making wood country crafts can find many free and fee-based patterns online and in books...