Christian Becksvoort

Make one in any size while honing your skills

Discover the difference between the masterful and the near-miss

Arched aprons and splayed legs add balance and grade

Used sanding pads and a neat trick using graphite make for one terrific taper

Rings of veneer create style and ambience

A pro's tips for building, fitting, and hanging a traditional door

Build it in place, and the work goes surprisingly quickly

Handsome storage cabinet is comfortable in any room

Stretch your tool budget by using different blades in one low-angle jack plane

In this three-part series, learn how to build a beautiful Shaker lap desk tailor-made for today's laptop computers.

Learn how to construct a delicate inkwell drawer in part II of the modern Shaker Lap Desk.

In the final installment of the Shaker Lap Desk series, learn how to build delicate breadboard ends.

Turn it around to change the picture

Change the legs to change the look

Breeze through this elegant turning with guidance from a Shaker expert

Christian Becksvoort reflects on his 20 years as a contributing editor

Traditional oil-and-varnish finish is repairable and easy

A pro's jigs and tips simplify joinery on chests of any size

Drill out the waste, then use a unique chiseling technique to handle the rest

Every shop has specific needs, but the strategies for storing hand tools are universal

Turn and attach a classic knob in minutes

Form meets function in this classic design

Figure out exactly how much of a gap to leave in doors and drawers, no matter the wood or season

A simple jig helps locate and drill holes for pinned joinery

For accuracy and efficiency, you'll need both

A tip from a tails-first guy

Three ways to keep a top from cupping while letting it move with the seasons

A spacer and proper layout ensure a perfect fit when constructing a dovetailed drawer

Nontoxic and easily repaired, this traditional finish is still worth considering

Choose your own lumber and diameter to produce custom dowels for pinning small joints

The door fits perfectly, now how do I get it out?

Prolong the life of your bench vise with these easy-to-make jigs

The perfect finishing touch to small boxes

Take a tour with the artist of this classic cherry desk

Five ways to increase accuracy and reduce the time it takes to execute this hand-cut joint

Proven methods for dealing with expansion and contraction

Three horses that cover all of your shop needs

This Shaker drop-leaf design can be built for two or for 20. Get step-by-step instructions and order detailed project plans.

Choose your movement first, then build the clock around it

Nontoxic and easily repaired, this traditional finish is still worth considering

Five solutions, from standard to stylish

Shopmade hardware designed to fit any drawer, large or small

A little arithmetic is all it takes to enliven the proportions and increase the utility of a case, a cabinet or a built-in

Sensuous curves and well-chosen details enhance a simple design

Chris Becksvoort reveals authentic details that will help you stay true to the form

Structure and details make the difference in this Shaker-style case

Sensuous curves and well-chosen details enhance a simple design

Pick a catch that fits the cabinet

Six ways to keep them solid and level

Classic lines blend a simple turning and straightforward joinery

Five options dramatically change a basic box

Beltsanding and drawer stops leave a front that's always aligned

A simple project to hang your hat on

Flush panels modify a Shaker design

Customizing a leg-and-apron table with drawers

Making flat panels with nearly invisible joints

An abrasive approach to flat surfaces and smooth curves

Build this classic design with the help of templates and a jig for machining tapered octagons

A furnituremaker's cache box

Add a removable leaf when company comes

Joinery and design considerations

How to cope with wood movement