Skills and Techniques

Skills and Techniques Product Finder

• Carbide Mini Turning Tool Set

  by Mike Mahoney

  One of the challenges Of learning to turn wood is learning to sharpen the tools. Traditional turning tools require complicated bevel angles and finely ground cutting ...

• Plane Blades and Chisels Need a Flat and Polished Back

  by Chris Gochnour

  A sharp-cutting plane blade or chisel depends upon the meeting between two flat, polished surfaces. That's why you need to pay as much attention to the backs of ...

• Video: Upgrade Your Jointer with a Segmented Cutterhead

  with Roland Johnson

  Learn step-by-step techniques for upgrading a jointer with a state-of-the-art segmented cutterhead

• How to Master the Plunge Router

  by Gregory Paolini

  When it comes to getting the most from your plunge router, it makes sense to go a routing guru like Gregory Paolini. He has more routers than most woodworkers, ...

• Video: Dado Jig Tackles Shelves of Any Thickness

  with Steve Scott

  Learn how this fully adjustable, easy-to-use jig works

• Q & A: Need a Smoothing Plane? Start Small, Then Go Big

  by Chris Gochnour

• Video: How to Use a Height Gauge

  with Mark Schofield

  Learn how to dial in more precise machinery set-ups by using a height gauge.

• Heavy-Duty Plunge Routers

  by Gregory Paolini

  3-hp routers have the raw power needed to cut great mortises, profile edges, shape wood to a template, cut dadoes and rabbets, and more. But because these routers ...

• Q & A: Use a Bench Chisel to Square Mortise Corners

  by Michael Pekovich

• How to Troubleshoot a Spray Gun

  by Jeff Jewitt

  When everything works correctly, a spray gun delivers a thin, even coating of finish that makes furniture look fantastic. But what to do when everything is not ...

• Do More with Your Dado Set

  by Steve Latta

  The dado set is a great tablesaw accessory that is unmatched at a variety of operations-grooving, dadoing, rabbeting, and tenoning-but you must use it properly ...

• Joinery Shootout

  by Thomas McKenna

  When designing a piece of furniture, how do you decide on the joinery? Chances are aesthetics, efficiency, and available tools factor into the decision. But so ...

• Q & A: Q&A: Can a Miter-Saw Blade Be Used on a Tablesaw?

  by John Leko

• Are You Getting the Most from Your Combo Square?

  by Philip C. Lowe

  The combination square is one of those essential tools that no woodworker should be without. Even if you are just starting out as a woodworker, it won't take long ...

• Video: Turning Gouge Primer

  with Mike Mahoney

  Why are there so many different gouges?