Fine Woodworking

How-To

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A Trick for Cutting Smooth Curves on the Bandsaw

Using the back edge of the bandsaw blade to pivot through curves leads to less waste and more accurate cuts.

Using acrylic cauls for tricky glue-ups

Patrick Edwards uses thick acrylic cauls that allow him see that everything is where it should be while the glue dries.

A lesson in referential measuring

How to determine the length and angle of a chair’s knockdown joint without math.

Amana Church Bench

With a long and storied history going back to the early 1800s in Iowa's Amana colonies, this bench is built to survive being broken down and transported, and used every week by church members.

How to cut houndstooth dovetails

A master of this strong and snazzy joint explains its secrets

Recent How-To Stories

Restoring a water-stained tabletop

August 4, 2022

Even if you forget to use a coaster, there's still hope.
A rogue Arts and Crafts finish

August 3, 2022

This rich, dark-brown finish is the one often found when you see this Arts and Crafts chair in collections.
Q&A: Mineral spirits vs. paint thinner vs. turpentine vs. naphtha

July 19, 2022

Everything you always wanted to know about solvents but were afraid to ask.
Build a sled for octagonal tapers

July 8, 2022

Designed to make quick work of octagons, Tom McLaughlin's bandsaw sled has an auxiliary base with a V-groove in it tacked to the main base.
‘Ebonizing’ wood with hair dye

June 28, 2022

Here's one way to save money while getting the look of expensive ebony.
Making a complementary routing template

June 24, 2022

Bruce Eaton's two-step template process is the key to a perfect match.
Fine pine finishes

June 22, 2022

Pine's notoriously splotchy thanks to its uneven density, but that doesn't mean it's unusable.
DIY handles and pulls—from simple to complex

June 21, 2022

The team at Hank Gilpin's woodshop takes care to balance looks with ease of construction to make the best choice for each project.
Turn a Lidded Container

June 14, 2022

Matt Monaco demonstrates shaping the outside and excavating the inside, creating the foot, making the lid, and finishing.
How to make a sunburst veneer top

June 9, 2022

Bruce Eaton's adaptable method relies on fundamental veneering techniques.