How-To

Recent How-To Stories

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  Steam-bend a spiral

  August 20, 2021

  Helical legs and a conical shade combine in a beautiful lamp.

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  Block plane meets the lathe

  August 18, 2021

  After using gouges to take square stock close to its finished form, Mario Rodriguez often relies on a block plane to achieve a smooth taper when turning.

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  How to make banding

  August 18, 2021

  Pete Michelinie's shares his techniques for creating a timeless furniture element.

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  How to Create a Charred Wood Furniture Finish

  August 12, 2021

  Christopher Miano shares an ancient Japanese technique that preserves wood by charring the surface.

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  How to prevent brad-nail blowouts

  August 11, 2021

  Nobody wants a brad sticking out of their drawer side. Here's how to make sure that doesn't happen.

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  How to rub out a varnish to a mirror shine

  July 28, 2021

  Rubbing out allows you to adjust the sheen of a finish, while removing imperfections like dust nibs, runs, sags, or bumps from the surface.

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  Choosing the right wall anchors

  July 19, 2021

  Mario Rodriguez has gathered a range of wall anchors from toggles, to screws, to butterfly anchors and talks about how they work, where they are best used, and how to install them in drywall, plaster, and masonry.

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  Tips for drop-leaf tables

  June 15, 2021

  With Steve Latta's proven directions, rule and knuckle joints add class with little hassle.

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  Build a Shaker chest of drawers

  June 14, 2021

  Years of experience mending antiques led to the methods Tom McLaughlin used on this Shaker chest of drawers to ensure that it will live to be an antique someday, too.

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  How to make a rule joint

  June 11, 2021

  This joint links drop leaves to the tabletop and looks good with the leaves up or down.