Troubleshooting a Cupping Table Top
Moisture-related wood movement works its bad voodoo again. July 15, 2011

Moisture Conditions and Furniture Shrinkage
A discussion of the way changing humid or dry conditions can affect furniture, and how to deal with the risk. April 24, 2014

Air-Dried Oak for Furniture
In theory, kiln-drying is better; but people have successfully made furniture from air-dried hardwood. April 20, 2011

Router Table and Lift
Designs and ideas for a smoothly functioning router workstation. December 9, 2004

Fix Twisted Wood Cabinet Doors
02/13/2013

Tinting and Staining Wood Filler
Furniture makers discuss how to make wood filler match wood, and debate wood filler's proper role in the shop. December 1, 2005

Flattening and Truing Big Matched Burls
A CNC is handy for dimensioning big, heavy awkward pieces accurately. But a shop-built router jig can also get it done. July 18, 2008

Best Tool for Cross-Cutting
Chopsaw, up-cut saw, or sliding table saw? September 26, 2006


Table Tops For Restaurant With Mitered Patterns
12/06/2012

Furniture Shipping and Tropical Moisture Issues
Shipping from the tropics to the temperate zone, how do people deal with humidity changes? Here are some thoughts and possible solutions. November 8, 2007

Engineering a Wide Pull-Out Table
Furnituremakers puzzle over ways to construct to a wide-span, narrow table able to roll away from the wall as needed. November 3, 2010

Making A Challenging Molding Design
01/19/2013

Matching a Curved Apron to a Curved Top
Explanations of how to template a curved tabletop or countertop and fabricate a matched nosing or edging piece. November 14, 2009

Furniture for High Humidity Conditions
Advice on controlling moisture content during construction for furniture destined for a relatively uncontrolled environment. November 15, 2010

Treating Soft Wood to Reduce Tear-Out when Turning
Soaking the piece in a sizing or finish solution can stiffen the material for cleaner turning results. November 27, 2007

Powder Post Beetles in Furniture
A woodworker sees the exit holes and decides to bake some wood. January 18, 2011

Table Extension Slide Ideas
After slides specced by a designer fail to satisfy, a woodworker gets advice on better alternatives. December 12, 2008

Pine for Furniture Drawers
Furnituremakers discuss whether pine is too unstable to use for making drawer sides. March 13, 2007

Filling Cracks in Reclaimed Lumber
Home-made crack-filler recipes for old wood. October 3, 2007

Joinery for Mitered Corners
Suggestions run the gamut: lock miters, splines, dowels, floating tenons, pocket screws, and butterfly splines. Take your choice. October 19, 2013

Creating a Heavy Laminated Furniture Frame
A furniture maker gets tips on wood bending and lamination for a four-by-four curved hammock-chair frame. May 23, 2007

Making Curved Chair Arms
Ideas for fabricating a curved wooden sofa arm. September 18, 2014

Air-Dried Wood for Furniture
As this example demonstrates, when a people tell you your air-dried lumber won't make a sweet (and sweet-smelling) piece of furniture, sometimes it's because they want to take your wood away for free. January 11, 2007

Routers and Half-Blind Dovetails
Nicely fitting a dovetail joint using a router. March 13, 2009

How to Make Matching Male and Female Templates
Here are two ways to create templates that fit seamlessly into each other. January 27, 2008

Exterminating Insects in Furniture
A table built from old wood previously stored in a barn now has "old house borers." The solutions are fumigation or heat. March 13, 2007

Powderpost Beetles in Furniture
Pinholes and powder are a dead giveaway of a beetle infestation. Here are some facts about the bugs and how to handle them. February 19, 2006

MDF and fine furniture -- a contradiction in terms?
Do the two go together, or is MDF inherently lower in quality? March 4, 2002

Drawers, from scratch to systems
Materials and methods forum participants are employing in their quest for the perfect drawer. February 14, 2001

Bending wood -- options
Products and methods for bending wood. March 23, 2002

Halogen lighting: Passing the temperature test
How high-heat halogen lighting is tested for safety, to ensure it is appropriate for various applications. - 1998

Truing-up rough wood
Planers will not remove the bow from rough stock; jointing is required before boards can be properly thicknessed. February 13, 2001

Machinery setup: Squaring up your saw
How to make sure your saw is cutting square. February 12, 2001

PUR adhesives
A Q&A on PUR hot melt formulations and their proper use. December 6, 2000

Overcoming sander swirl marks
Why does a random orbit sander leave swirl marks and scratches? January 24, 2001

Learning the trade
How to approach a woodworking firm about becoming an apprentice. November 7, 2000

Sliding table saw basics
General information for first-time users of 'sliders.' 1998.

Applying putty for the long haul
How to fill holes in cherry and keep the colors matched over time. February 13, 2001

"M" particleboard grades
The difference between grades of particleboard is explained. June 14, 2000

"Crying" Spanish cedar veneer
Cleaning up and fabricating "crying" Spanish cedar veneer. June 14, 2000

Dealing with Rough Edges in Table Top Glue-Ups
Advice and suggestions for gluing up table top when the outside boards have "live edge" irregularities or bark. January 8, 2010

Table Saw Cutting Out of Square when Set on the Bevel
A little help with the problem of a table saw that cuts out of square, but only when the blade is tilted over to 45 degrees. November 16, 2010

From Slab to Tabletop
How one craftsman took a big chunk of tree and turned it into furniture. January 27, 2007

Glue Options
Glue options for furnituremakers. September 26, 2006

Portable Mortising Tools
Furnituremakers look at handy mortise-cutting power tools that work on the same principle as a biscuit-slot cutter. November 27, 2007

Making A Laminated Table Top
01/02/2013

Shopping for a Slot Mortiser
Woodworkers and the slot mortisers they have known. December 8, 2012

Corner Cutouts on Large Tabletops
There's more than one way to notch out the corner of a big table top. January 11, 2007

Miter Cuts for Very Thick Solid Wood
In the small shop, crafting furniture from heavy stock can be a challenge. Here are suggestions. July 29, 2012

Waxing Wooden Drawer Runners
Apply wax directly to bare wood for long-lasting slippery action. December 9, 2008

Flattening boards with a planer
Methods for planing warped wood flat. September 25, 2002

Designing A Table To Prohibit Warping
11/27/2012

Cupping and Bowing in Resawn Stock
Furnituremakers discuss drying issues such as casehardening that can cause lumber to move when ripped or re-sawn. April 18, 2015

Cabinets and Furniture: What's the Difference?
A cabinetmaker who seeks greater satisfaction by building furniture sets off a long and thoughtful discussion on why furniture is different. December 12, 2008

Professional Development for Furnituremakers
Here's a furniture maker with skills and experience who wants to elevate his game. What are his options? June 4, 2012

Troubleshooting a Moving Table Top
Another good discussion on a typical learning experience: a table top is restrained on one face from moving in service, and instead the wood cups. December 8, 2012

Multi-Router Versus Slot Mortiser
Furnituremakers discuss the value of a multi-router and compare it with other equipment options. August 21, 2006

Wrapping a cone with laminate
How to determine the size, shape, and positioning of cone "skins." April 9, 2003

Board Widths for an Oak Table Top
Wood movement is the big concern with table tops. Here's how that concern affects the choice of lumber size. May 7, 2007

Edge Sanding Curved Parts
Craftsmen discuss off-the-shelf and shop-invented solutions for smoothly sanding unique curved wood items. May 16, 2014

Making Furniture from Air-Dried Oak?
A beginner asks about drying wood for use in rustic furniture. April 20, 2011

Choosing Between Red Oak and White Oak
Furnituremakers consider the choice between Red Oak and White Oak for a display cabinet. August 17, 2009

Wood Movement Destroys Table Top
Another designer learns the hard way, as a table top cracks because of ambient moisture changes and restrained wood movement. May 3, 2011

Distressing Oak to Create Deep Grain Texture
Outstanding examples and explanation of how to create a deep, worn-in grain texture using wire-brush wheels. January 19, 2012

Steam Box Construction Ideas
Here's a handful of ideas for building a simple steam box for steaming and bending wood. December 9, 2010

Why Heat the Shop?
A start-up furniture maker hears about ten reasons not to work in an unheated garage during the winter. August 21, 2006

Cutting Clean Through-Mortises in Oak
Techniques and equipment for volume production of accurate through mortises, without tear-out on the punch-through side. January 9, 2007

An Edge Band around a Solid Wood Table
It's impossible. However, here are some ideas to play with. August 3, 2009

Attaching Drawer Fronts Efficiently
Quick and simple methods for quality production. April 2, 2004

Loose Tenon Joinery for Breadboard Tabletop Ends
Here's a detailed discussion of breadboard joinery, focusing on whether loose tenons will serve the purpose in a Mesquite table top.March 28, 2012

Solid Wood Table-Top Thickness and Warping
Ideas about how to make a solid wood table-top that will stay stable. March 26, 2007

Dealing with Insects in Furniture
Advice on heat-treating a Persimmon hutch that is being attacked by beetles. February 14, 2010

How to make a tenon
Accurately sized tenons without a tenoner. September 25, 2002

Table Leg Joint Reinforcement
Thoughts on how to reinforce table legs so the assembly will not rack. November 25, 2008

Straightening Cupped Slabs of Pine
Detailed information and advice on removing cup from wide boards. April 30, 2009

Why Glass Tops Can Warp Tabletops
A cautionary tale of a table that cracked because of glass resting on it. October 19, 2005

Mitered Frame and Panel Table Tops
Wood movement is likely to wreck a mitered solid wood table top with a wood panel center. Other methods stand better odds of success. August 30, 2007

Wide-Board Table Top with no Warping
Can it be done? Maybe. February 26, 2005

Drying and Cupping in Table-Top Boards
Here's a discussion of moisture-related wood movement and table construction. November 27, 2007

Furnituremaking: Education Versus Experience
Thoughts about skill-building for a young craftsman. December 11, 2007

Table Top Mistake/Wood Movement
A craftsman gets into trouble with incorrect wood orientation in a table top. It's a learning experience. April 20, 2011

Dining Top From Hardwood Flooring
02/19/2013

Can Machinery Make Dovetails that Look Hand-Cut?
The simple answer is "no," but here is some discussion. March 28, 2010

Loose Tenon Joinery for Chairs
Loose tenons are easier than traditional mortise and tenon joinery, and they are a more robust and authentic solution than dowels or biscuits. October 26, 2011

Wood Apron on an MDF Table
Furnituremakers discuss moisture-related movement issues for an MDF table-top with a Maple apron. March 28, 2010

Mahogany Table-Top Glue-Up
A discussion of how to avoid problems in a large round table-top slab. March 13, 2007

Green Cedar, Wood Shrinkage, and Furniture Joinery
A discussion of whether to worry about what's green and what's dry when making roundwood furniture from Cedar. June 30, 2009

Cost Cutting and Productivity Boost for Small Box Production
Outsourcing some lumber profiling for a small custom item could carry a big comparative advantage. April 15, 2012

Combination Machines in Furniture Shops
Furnituremakers share experiences with combo equipment. December 6, 2011

Large Veneered Conference Table Top
A discussion of how to lay up veneered components and assemble them for a large conference table. March 13, 2009

Accurate Resawing with the Bandsaw
Tips for scribing or kerfing wood in order to keep bandsaw cuts precise and accurate. December 14, 2009

Straight Lining Rough Lumber
Efficient methods for creating an edge. December 9, 2004

Drying Shrinkage Causes a Desktop to Cup
A typical example teaches a lesson about moisture changes and wood movement. January 14, 2008

Spanish Cedar for Furniture?
Characteristics of Spanish Cedar make it problematic, even for porch furniture. January 27, 2007

Cross-Grain Dovetails
Orienting dovetail keys in the wrong direction is asking for breakage at the grain. December 14, 2009

Taper-Cutting Parts At High Volume
Pros discuss equipment, set-ups, and jigs. April 10, 2005

Bending Wood: Steam or Heat?
In steam bending, is it the moisture or the heat that makes the wood bendable? The doctor explains, it's both. October 17, 2012

Solid Wood Tables — Span Length Limits
How long is too long for a maple table? The discussion moves to apron depth and thickness, steel reinforcement, a center rib, and box panel construction. April 20, 2011

Shipping Success Stories and Horror Stories
Sometimes, when you ship your products, they get broken. Sometimes they don't. June 13, 2011

Solid Wood Table-Top Movement Issues
A plank table top with a mitered frame around the edge is a disaster waiting to happen. However, there may be ways to make it work by allowing for wood movement. (Or better yet, use veneer.) May 16, 2008

Choosing a Saw Blade for a Radial Arm Saw
Advice on specs, and brand recommendations, for a furnituremaker's radial arm saw. July 29, 2012

Hiding (or Enhancing) Glue Lines in a Table Leg
A little careful craftsmanship can make glue lines look good — or at least not look bad. July 29, 2011

Wood Movement Considerations for a Large Table Top
Swelling and shrinkage place stress on wood table tops, especially if both sawn lumber and plywood are involved. Here's advice on construction details. March 13, 2007

Veneering Methods for a Torsion-Box Table Top
When you build a torsion box with veneered sheets of MDF over a central core, do you have to balance the veneer on each sheet of MDF? May 4, 2011

Solid Wood Octagon Table Top Failure
Wood movement dooms a solid wood "sunburst" table top, and we learn why that will always happen. February 12, 2007

Specifying Glass for a Table Top
tempered or untempered glass? Furniture makers exchange views. June 20, 2005

Cross-Cut Setups for the Shop
Woodworkers discuss radial-arm saw and sliding miter-saw choices for cross-cutting stock in the shop. May 16, 2008

Douglas Fir for Furniture in a Dry Climate
Old growth wood will perform well if properly dried. May 18, 2010

Folding Chair from Barrel Staves
A woodworker puzzles over how to achieve a straight edge rip on a curved barrel stave. October 17, 2012

Shop-Drying Eucalyptus
Thoughts on how to dry and condition Eucalyptus for use in a table top. December 31, 2012

Whether to Locate Furniture Shop in the Basement
Cheap heat and convenience are up sides, but insurance could be a worry. April 20, 2011

Crating Furniture for Shipment
The voice of experience on how to ship custom furniture. June 8, 2008

Preventing Wobbly Table Legs
01/07/2013

Making Wooden Dining Table Extension Slides
Advice on choosing wood and fabricating table extension slides. December 12, 2008

Flattening a Glued-Up Dresser Top without a Belt Sander
Hand-planing techniques described. January 27, 2007

Square Table Legs — One Piece, or Glued Up?
Should a furnituremaker go to the trouble of laminating smaller pieces together into a built-up table leg? Here's advice on whether to do it and, if so, on how to go about it. March 13, 2007

Hot Cooking Surface Built Into a Wood Tray
Puzzling over an odd problem: How to put a heated stone or iron cooking surface into a wooden tray for use at a restaurant table. Interesting suggestions here for insulating materials, air spaces, et cetera. January 19, 2012

Constructing An Arched Base For Coffee Table
03/03/2013

Repairing a Veneering Defect
A void in the plywood veneer press caul caused a bubble in a trophy tabletop. But it all worked out in the end. March 28, 2012

Where cabinets meet sloped floor
How to properly disguise the gap that appears during installation. August 25, 2003

Using Air-Dried Lumber for Furniture
There are risks, but some say it can be done. April 19, 2006

Fan-Shaped Table Top Glue-Up
A discussion of how wood movement may affect a table top assembled from thin pie-slices, assembled in a radial pattern. January 19, 2012

Profiling a Curve into a 6x6 Blank
A furnituremaker gets advice on machining large, heavy pieces with a simple curve. August 26, 2008

Alternatives to Fumigating Furniture for Bugs
if you're careful. April 24, 2014

Rays and Flecks in Oak
Advice on how to select Oak with or without ray and fleck figure. September 30, 2009

Scale Models of Furniture for Display
Considering how to design and make small mock-ups for use as a sales tool. August 3, 2009

Slot Mortiser Choices
Ideas on commercially available slot mortising equipment, and an example of a custom-built rig. January 29, 2009

Comparing Low Angle and High Angle Planes
Woodworkers discuss the differences between low angle and high angle planes, and the appropriate uses for each. February 14, 2010

Flat Material for a "Jupe" Table
Thoughts on flat, stable material for constructing a table with multiple segments and leaves. September 30, 2009

Mixing Wood Species in a Tabletop
Wood moisture content is more important than wood species for controlling movement. May 13, 2009

Table Border and Wood Movement
Here's an idea (untested perhaps) for constructing a wood tabletop border that allows for movement of the various parts without self-destruction. November 16, 2011

Single or Two-Head Sander for Table Tops?
A discussion of whether a table-top maker should invest in a single-head belt sander, a two-head belt sander, or a stroke sander. February 15, 2015

Hole Filler to Match Wood that Turns Color with Age
So filled nail holes won't stand out after wood ages, use a filler made with sanding dust. January 9, 2007

Veneering Inside Curves on Furniture
After considering several possible methods, a furnituremaker finds success with hot hide glue. September 6, 2007

Wooden Drawer Guides
Thoughts on how to make wooden drawer guides slide smoothly. December 11, 2007

Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
A few tips on laying mother-of-pearl into wood. November 12, 2006

Usefulness of a Shoulder Vise
but is it worth it? January 9, 2007

Osage Orange Color Changes
You can't stop Osage Orange wood from turning brown as it ages. February 12, 2007

Flush Trimming Thick Stock
Advice on flush-trimming the heavy edge of a large conference-table top using a hand-held router. January 12, 2009

Coarse Thread Screws for Joinery
They might hold, but will they stand the test of time? Professionals weigh in. August 30, 2005

Leather Table Top Issues
Tips on using leather for a desk or table surface, with a discussion of some of its drawbacks and limitations. March 26, 2009

Expanding Table Leaf Details
A nice discussion of how to build a table with leaves whose grain runs in the long dimension of the table, with some examples. October 26, 2011

Calibrating a Hollow Chisel Mortiser
Careful adjustments to the spacing between the chisels and the bit can prevent overheating, smoking, and chisel breakage. January 3, 2012

Steam-Bending a Pre-Turned Part
Bending wood that has already been turned is difficult, if not impossible. August 6, 2010

Mounting A Glass Tabletop On Wood
02/11/2013

Poplar for a Dining Table?
Even for a paint-grade piece, Poplar is not a great choice because of its softness. Maple makes more sense. December 6, 2011

Table Tops: Solid Plank Versus Veneer
If you have plenty of solid wood, simpler may be better for bar top construction. April 24, 2013

How to Eliminate Beetles in a Finished Slab
Heating in a kiln to 130 degrees Fahrenheit will destroy the finish, but it's the only sure, safe way to kill the bugs. June 18, 2010

Stapling Into Hard Wood
Hard Maple is tough to penetrate with staples. Fortunately, shorter staples will hold well in harder wood. August 6, 2010

Mortisers
Basic info on mortising machinery. November 12, 2008

Laminating Plywood Panels Together
When gluing multiple pieces of plywood together for a built-up thickness, make sure to balance thicknesses to balance opposing stresses. December 27, 2006

Tabletop Construction Problem
Gluing sawn lumber to plywood for a table top is asking for trouble. April 18, 2010

A Spalted Slab in a Wine Cellar
Kiln-drying kills the fungus in spalted wood, and 60% RH in a wine cellar will not support fungal re-growth. December 6, 2011

MDF Conference Table Details
Advice on building a large table with an MDF top. September 3, 2011

Lathes
Basic descriptions of lathes and related equipment. November 11, 2008

Sliding Dovetails for Bookshelves?
A practical discussion of bookshelf joinery. February 21, 2011

Rate of Wood Moisture Gain from Ambient Humidity
How long will it take for furniture stored in an unconditioned warehouse to equilibrate with the ambient moisture conditions? April 18, 2010

Wood Worms
White worms in reclaimed lumber intended for furniture. What to do? April 20, 2011

Hardwood Loose Tenons in Softwood Furniture?
Can hardwood tenons offer greater strength — and will there be swelling or shrinkage concerns? November 16, 2011

Matching Maple Veneer to Sawn Maple
A furnituremaker's problem: dealing with a color difference between solid sawn Maple table legs and the birdseye Maple veneer top. January 19, 2012

Drying Hickory with the Bark
Secrets of preserving the bark on Hickory during drying. April 18, 2010

Murphy Bed Hardware Choices
Advice on shopping for hardware to build beds that fold back into the wall. March 22, 2013

Boring Angles for Chair Leg Mortises
How to get the correct angle on a chair leg. January 8, 2010

Rocker Lamination Tips
Advice on hardwood lamination thickness for rocking chair rockers, and tips for cutting the laminations. February 12, 2007

Cutting Acute Miters
Suggestions for setting up a table saw to cut sharper than 45 degree angles. April 20, 2011

Guess the Wood Again
Eyeballing a wooden chest and trying to guess the species. (It's not Walnut.) April 20, 2011

Ways to Create Arched Seat-Back Curves
Different methods each have their advantages and disadvantages. December 28, 2006

Gluing Up Split Turnings
Advice on paper choice for gluing up split wood turnings in furnituremaking. July 16, 2012

Protecting Gloss Finishes While Shipping
12/20/2012

Cracks in a Butcher Block
Woodworkers consider why cracks would open in a butcher-block cutting board during orbital sanding. January 8, 2010

Wood Tabletop Stability
A little puzzling over desktop spans, frame stability, and related issues. May 16, 2008

Queen Size Bed Dimensions
Info on bed dimensions and a tip or two on joinery. March 28, 2012

Repairing an Imprecise Glue-Up
Tiny bevels on the ripped edges of boards have resulted in a visible gap after glue-up. How to fix? February 13, 2013

Flexible Rope Moulding
There are sources of flexible rope molding, but if you know what you're doing you can also use actual rope. May 24, 2006

Whether to Study Advanced Woodworking
Are classes on furnituremaking a good idea for a skilled cabinetmaker? March 28, 2015

Dowels and Screws in Breadboard Table Ends
Thoughts on fastening breadboard ends to avoid movement-related problems. March 26, 2007

Arresting End Checking with Epoxy
A few woodworkers report success at halting checks by filling cracks with epoxy. April 13, 2012

Ostrich Skin Technique
Whack wood with a ball peen hammer, then wet it, and the dimples turn into pimples. Who knew? Only the ancient Chinese — until now. December 31, 2012

Sizing a Circular Dining Table
How big should a round table be to accomodate 8 chairs and diners? August 3, 2009

Gluing A Book Matched Live Edge Slab
09/24/2014

Dovetail Jigs for Very Small Drawers
A woodworker looks for equipment to make dovetail joints for small drawers using thin stock. July 29, 2014

Is There Such A Thing As Kiwi Wood
01/23/2013

Controlling Bugs in Finished Furniture
Fumigation or spraying are ineffective and have drawbacks. Instead, here's a tip for heat-treating furniture. April 24, 2013

Defining "Bench Quality"
From the hands of one craftsman... May 10, 2005

Shoji Screen Material Sources
Here are a few leads if you're shopping around for material for those translucent Japanese paper screen assemblies. June 18, 2009

Cleaning Up an Old Board
Tips on getting the bird droppings and grime off a rustic old walnut board. August 30, 2007

Attaching Table Legs
12/27/2012

Polyurethane Glue Spreaders
12/15/2012

Bent Wood Pieces
12/08/2012

Identifying Pecan
Pecan is hard to tell apart from Hickory. July 6, 2012

Assembly Suggestions For A Solid Oak Paneled Nightstand?
12/18/2012

Avoiding Iron Stain when Steam-Bending Red Oak
Oak and other high-tannin woods react with water and iron to create black staining. Here's how to prevent it. December 8, 2006

Combining Solid Wood and MDF in a Table Top
Here's an interesting table top design with a ring of solid Oak around a veneered disc of MDF. Will it crack?July 16, 2012

Pricing Of A Unique Piece
02/18/2013

Moisture Movement of Mixed Wood Species
Mixing species in a single furniture piece is no problem in most situations, but could create an issue if there are drastic changes in ambient humidity. March 30, 2008

Cutting State Outlines from Wood
Ideas for machining complex outlines from solid wood slabs. April 20, 2011

Filled In Locks On Antique Desk
01/21/2013

Calculating Pedestal Size For Table
12/18/2012

Stamped Versus Cast Brass Furniture Hardware
General comments on the difference between cast and stamped brass hardware. February 26, 2007

Allowing for Movement in Tops
Attaching table or cabinet tops in a way that allows wood to move. August 30, 2007

Steam Bending and Wood Moisture Content
Wood needs an MC of 16% or higher to be steam bent. August 21, 2006

Working Green Versus Dry Hickory
Yes, it's true: green Hickory or Oak is much easier to work by hand than dried wood. March 13, 2014

Using Pinch Dogs
02/02/2013

Table Extension Hardware
11/19/2012

Fuzzy Wood Strips Issue At End Tenoning Station
12/19/2012

Slant Top Desk Lock Sources
Tips on hardware for a desk with a slanted closing lid. August 27, 2012

Table Legs
11/26/2012

How Tall is a Lectern?
Bottom line: Adjustable is nice. October 26, 2011

Notching Table Legs for a Shelf
Notch the leg, or notch the shelf? How about both? October 19, 2013

Veneering Plywood
12/20/2012

A Laminated Bent Chair Leg
Furniture makers take a close look at the concept of building a bent chair leg by laminating cross-grain thin sawn layers into a thicker member. May 18, 2010

Sliding Dovetails in Bookcases
A furnituremaker tries dovetail joinery for bookcase shelves, and likes the result. February 3, 2011

End Joint Splitting in Table Glue-Ups
Here's a long troubleshooting discussion about splits that form at the end joints between boards in a round table top. August 29, 2014

Preventing Cupping on a Wide Maple Table Top
Another discussion on moisture and wood movement (causes and preventive measures). November 3, 2010

Oak Table Tops: Solid Wood Versus the Alternatives
For oak restaurant tables, solid wood may be cheaper in the end than hassling with the other possibilities. March 9, 2008

Mitering a Solid Wood L-Shaped Top
A discussion of the risks inherent in building a corner into a solid wood table or counter top. April 24, 2014

Wood Veneer on MDF: How Thick Is Too Thick?
Craftsmen report problems using thick wood veneer on an MDF substrate. June 9, 2007

Raised Glue Lines after Sanding and Finish
Moisture in glue can cause swelling of wood near the joint, which may result in noticeable lines at the joint (depending on the timing of sanding and finishing). October 19, 2014

Edging Round Tabletops
Advice on efficient and effective methods for gluing a 1/8-inch wood edge onto a round tabletop. January 14, 2009

Antique Lumber: Steam Bend or Laminate?
Upon consideration, a furnituremaker decides to laminate a curved table apron rather than try to steam and bend historic old wood. October 17, 2012

Avoiding Messy Excess Glue on Through Tenons
When you use through tenon joinery with exposed tenon ends, it's hard to keep glue off the tenon ends. Here's some advice on dealing with the mess. April 20, 2011

Hand-held Router Accuracy
Routers are not perfectly centered from the factory, and require tuning. You'll notice it on fine-tolerance work such as dovetail joinery.October 4, 2011

Termite Prevention
05/07/2013

Steam Bending Molding Around A Curved Staircase
07/09/2013

Woods that Match Well with Natural Pine
Thoughts on wood species that pair well visually with Pine. October 1, 2010

Flipping a Heavy Table Top by Yourself
Ideas for muscling around a heavy conference table top in a one-man shop. December 6, 2011

Complementary Woods for Mahogany
Furnituremakers suggest woods to match with Mahogany for visual appeal. July 30, 2007

Switching Specialties: From Cabinets to Furniture
Can a one-man business successfully make the change? Owners weigh in on both sides. July 24, 2005

- Wood species
Information on tree species and their uses. March 20, 2001

Blind woodworker's story
A blind cabinetmaker tells the story of his education and career in woodworking. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) January 21, 2003

Compressed air delivery system
Appropriate piping for shop air distribution lines. January 15, 2003

Spray Shop Layout
Setting up an efficient spray-finishing area in an expanded shop. December 26, 2004

Water-Based Polyurethane Over Boiled Linseed Oil
Water-based poly isn't compatible with BLO. Now this furniture maker has to strip off the poly and apply a more suitable top coat. October 1, 2010

Radius countertop edge
Making a radiused wood edge without resorting to segments. January 3, 2003

Filling Big Cracks in Walnut Veneer
Guidance concerning the art of crack filling for a Walnut veneer table top. April 20, 2011

Consistent curves
How to create a long, accurate curve. May 15, 2002

Static charge on wood
Troubleshooting and resolving static problems on freshly planed boards. October 9, 2002

Ideal Humidity in a Wood Shop
Indoor humidity levels correspond with wood moisture content. Here's advice on humidity control. October 26, 2012

Crating and Shipping Tips
Advice on packing and shipping your fine work safely. August 23, 2006

Assembly table
A cabinetmaker shares a photo and description of his shop's assembly table. October 30, 2002

Miterfolds for clean corner joints
A sweet technique for classy corners. November 21, 2003

Dadoing techniques
Using a router to make dados. June 24, 2002

Safety and climb cutting
Safety issues involved in climb cutting with a shaper. January 21, 2003

Wood Movement: How Big a Risk?
In principle, solid wood joinery that does not allow for wood movement is a recipe for disaster. In practice, sometimes you get away with it. June 18, 2009

"Light" and "dark" veneer bands
Avoiding the "striped" look in veneered ply. November 18, 2002

DIY Poly Finishes for Furnituremakers
Furnituremakers who finish their own table tops don't have to settle for finish failures. April 20, 2011

Wood Movement Issues in a Solid Wood Bench Seat
Advice on how to allow for wood movement in bench seating in a commercial space. December 26, 2006

Applying Nosing to Prefinished Plywood
The search for a satisfactory way to treat the seam where nosing meets plywood. May 10, 2005

Humidity and Warping in the Shop
The key is to get the wood at the right moisture content and keep it there. October 26, 2012

Bandsaw and Router Templates and Jigs for Cutting Shapes
Advice on setting up to efficiently and cleanly cut and route multiple copies of the same complex curved shape. December 12, 2008

Blade Choice for a Compound Miter Saw
A thin-kerf blade with a negative rake is the recommendation. October 15, 2009

Making Wood Drawer Slides Slippery
Suggestions for making wood drawers slide smoothly without creating dust. May 11, 2011

Woodworking 101: The Basics
and shows how it can affect various production operations. 1998.

WOODnetWork Discussions: Glue
The correct amount of clamping pressure is vital to a strong bond - 1998

Nettoyage de la peinture au latex
Conseils pour éliminer les gouttes de peinture au latex sur une surface en polyuréthane. 30 août 2005

Cleaning Up Latex Paint
Tips for getting a latex paint drip off a polyurethane finished surface. August 30, 2005

Going metric: Pros and cons
Pros and cons of converting to metric measurement in your shop. February 28, 2001

Rating drawer slides
What does a drawer slide weight rating mean, exactly? February 12, 2001

ITEMIZER - From R & R Drummond, Inc.
Use your computer to generate efficient layouts for cutting sheet material into desired sizes (a link to a demo download is provided)1998

When to use waterbornes
Applications where waterborne coatings will and won't work. May 22, 2002

Regular or dewaxed shellac?
is an appropriate primer coat. May 22, 2002

Darkening of Oil-Finished End Grain
Unusual tables milled from whole logs present an interesting stain and finish problem, besides the obvious moisture-related movement concerns. May 23, 2007

Describing Loose Tenon Joinery to Customers
Domino joints have two mortises and a single floating tenon to connect them. But if you call that it a "loose" tenon, will customers misunderstand and think it's not strong? June 4, 2012

Millwork Touch-up and Repair
A visitor seeks advice on how to get training in the fine art of fixing faults. February 26, 2005

Joint Tape "Shadows" -- at Veneer Seams
Why does the area from which tape was removed accept stain differently? March 14, 2004

Reclaimed Heart Pine Bleeding
Trouble starts when heat brings out the sap in resawn antique pine used for a table top. Here's advice on sealing the surface.December 9, 2010

Financial Success in Woodworking
Philosophies and turning points on the path to $100K a year. January 6, 2005

AutoCAD Drawings, Step by Step
Efficient development of shop drawings. April 18, 2004

Crown Moulding Expansion/Contraction Problem
Who or what is responsible for gaps appearing at joints after installation? June 4, 2004

Sawdust as fuel
Building a sawdust-fired boiler to heat kiln and shop. November 18, 2002

Furniture Pricing: Wholesale and Retail Markups
A heated, but detailed, discussion of cost and pricing practices in the furniture trade. April 24, 2006

Advice for a Young Woodworker Starting Out
Feedback from the old-timers for an ambitious youngster. September 17, 2014

Compound Curved Veneered Panels
Theoretically, it's impossible (or "impractical") — but hey, we can dream. January 20, 2010

Woodshop Waste Percentage
How much wood do you waste in the construction of your product? June 21, 2004

AWI certification
Is membership or certfication with AWI worth your while?July 29, 2003

Speeding Up CNC Router Production
Tips on operation, loading and unloading for efficiency. December 26, 2004

Shop lighting
Best bulbs for brightness and efficiency. February 12, 2003

Parametric Drawings
Can parametric design simplify change orders? May 19, 2004

Showroom Strategies for a Furniture Maker
A successful niche furniture maker looks for ways to broaden his appeal in his local market. October 3, 2011

Distressing Wood
Learning how to give new furniture that well-worn look. January 6, 2005

Potential of a One-Man Shop
Is it realistic to think a small shop owner can make a decent living? December 9, 2004

Presenting A Quote
There are reasons to sell the job face to face, in person. April 10, 2005

New Shop Layout
Efficient shop flow for increased profit. February 28, 2004

Indoor Humidity and Wood Moisture Content
A discussion with data, about typical indoor humidity levels and the corresponding effect on wood moisture content. October 13, 2010

Gluing and clamping pressure
Is clamping necessary, and if so, how much? January 21, 2003

The Ultimate Primer on Single Head Wide Belt Sanding
With understanding of how successive grits function, you can improve the efficiency of your belt sanding and orbital sanding process while optimizing the quality of the results. November 12, 2014

The Business of Chair-Making
A cold look at the hard numbers for furniture building. Between rock-bottom overseas competition at the low end, and popular established competitors at the high end, it's hard for a small shop to find a profitable niche. April 21, 2011

Layer Names and Line Defaults
Organizing and simplifying layers in CAD. May 19, 2004

FOB defined
Origins and meanings of the term "freight on board." (Sawing and Drying Forum) March 23, 2003

Does Your Sanding Make Sense?
"Trouble starts when taking off more than a belt can handle, or taking off more than the scratch pattern of the previous head. These are the most common mistakes in sanding... It can be incredibly frustrating to see a company trapped in a prison of their own design because they really never und ......

Artificially Aging and Weathering Wood
Advice on creating erosion and graying on the surface of boards, without waiting a hundred years. This discussion touches on everything from cow manure to chemistry. February 15, 2009

Outsourcing drawings
Positive and negative experiences from those who have hired the job out. October 30, 2002

Selling Furniture Through A Retail Store
Woodworkers discuss reasonable terms of the deal when showing furniture at a retailer's showroom. Markups on already made pieces, prices for custom orders, and simple referrals each involve their own reasonable market value. June 23, 2006

CNC feed rates for melamine
Concerns on purchasing a CNC router and software for cutting melamine. August 12, 2001

Selling Furniture at a Street Craft Fair
A craft fair is no place to sell pricey furniture. However, they do offer opportunity for some. August 3, 2009

Pricing Furniture
Cost is a hard fact, but the market value of a unique furniture piece can be very subjective. October 28, 2008

Planing on edge
Processing stock through planer to define parts' widths. January 3, 2003

Vacuum Clamping -- Save Time, Save Money!
March 19, 2002

Marketing for Furniture Makers
For furniture makers, word of mouth and cultivation of personal relationships are the best way to build an exclusive high-end clientele. But advertising and web marketing can also attract custom furniture buyers. October 19, 2014

Support and Span Limits for a Concrete Top
A discussion of table design involving issues of wood deflection and concrete span capability. June 15, 2009

Clamping Veneer Core to Plywood
Advice on clamping methods for gluing two panel faces together without a vacuum bag. July 20, 2011

Pros and Cons of a Basement Workshop
Woodworkers share experiences with home-based woodshops. March 12, 2006

Fortune Teller: Making More Money in the Wood Industry
Wood Doctor Gene Wengert makes some educated guesses about the near future in the wood products industry, and offers some advice about how wood-based businesses can profit from change. April 15, 2013

Moving to Metric
Tips on making the transition as smooth as possible. September 9, 2004

Tenoners
Basic descriptions of various types of tenoning machinery and their capabilities. November 13, 2008

Maintaining a Point of Reference
Picking the brain of custom furnituremaker David Fay. July 17, 2002

Clamp Cart
Shop-made carriers for clamps. December 26, 2004

Exhaust Fan Size for Spray Booth
How much ventilation is needed? August 17, 2004

Bowing in a Panel Glue-Up
Woodworkers consider why a one-inch thick shelf made up of a 3/4-inch wood layer glued to a 1/4-inch MDF layer came out of the vacuum bag bowed. October 13, 2012

Template Routing -- with a Vacuum Clamp
March 19, 2002

Surfacing curly woods
The best machinery and tooling to handle the job. October 9, 2002

Finishing Delays and Wood Movement in Solid Wood Cabinets
Woodworkers discuss the risks involved when one side of a solid-wood cabinet panel is finished a week or two before the other side. June 18, 2009

Adapting to an Oversize Table Saw Arbor
Ideas for modifying blades to fit an oversize arbor, or vice versa. August 21, 2006

Nitrocellulose Versus Catalyzed Lacquers for Furniture Finishing
Compared to modern cabinet finish formulas, old-fashioned nitrocellulose offers more ability to fine-tune the color. June 18, 2009

Making Interlocking Shelves
Constructing sets of shelves with fitted parts. October 20, 2004

Cleaning and Deodorizing Urine-Contaminated Wood
Advice on how to handle old lumber wood salvaged from storage, which appears to have been "soiled" by raccoons. 16, 2014

Lamination and Springback
A chair back curvature problem leads to a discussion about predicting and minimizing springback in bent wood laminations. December 6, 2009

Sliding Table Saw Tips
Sliders are a little different for those used to working on a standard table saw. January 24, 2005

Working with Wormy Chestnut
Advice on machining and finishing wormy Chestnut. February 21, 2011

Shop Drawing Submittals in Metric
When converting to 32mm construction, should all drawings be done in metric as well? April 18, 2004

Overnight Shop Temperatures — How Cold Is Too Cold?
Freezing and relative humidity are the prime concerns when you turn your shop heat off overnight. April 20, 2011

Buying and Using a Stroke Sander
Advice on buying a used stroke sander, and tips on making and using sanding blocks for it. July 24, 2006

Refinishing Teak Outdoor Furniture
The table in question might not even be Teak. But here are some thoughts about the choices for a natural-looking refinishing job. January 28, 2013

Clamping for a Curved Edge
Ideas for clamping curved solid banding onto a curved tabletop edge. October 28, 2008

Repairing Defects in Solid Walnut Slabs
If you can't make your patches disappear, do 'em up in style and make 'em look good. January 26, 2008

Income Goals for a Furniture Maker
How to approach the calculations involving cost, overhead, and labor time for a one-man craftsman business. November 16, 2011

How to Secure Floating Panels
Using spaceballs versus pinning panels at top and bottom center points. January 22, 2006

Cyanoacrylate adhesive
How does this glue work for gap filling? (From WOODWEB's Finishing Forum) March 23, 2003

Carton Marks on Finished Furniture
A furnituremaker considers how to prevent his cardboard packaging from abrading the finish on his pieces. February 15, 2015

Filling Deep Knotholes
Techniques for filling knotholes before applying clear finish to a rustic Walnut table top. May 27, 2008

Will Formal Education Help a Furniture-Maker?
Schools offer Master of Fine Arts degrees in furniture-making. Are they worth it? That all depends, say the pros. August 30, 2005

Can You Patent a Woodworking Joint?
Thoughts on whether woodworking ideas qualify as intellectual property. May 21, 2009

Tapered Stop Flutes
The search for a simple, efficient method. December 26, 2004

Table-Top Glue-Up Tips
A discussion of whether to use biscuits or alternate board grain alignment when gluing up table tops. December 6, 2008

Effective Shop Lighting
Let's get some light in here so we can see what we're doing. February 8, 2008

Sourcing Dry-Erase Materials
A look at product choices for making dry-erase fixtures, furniture, and accessories. April 29, 2010

Throat Plate Tweak for Laser-Guided Sliding Table Saw
Advice on a shop-rigged throat plate for a sliding table saw to augment the laser guide, and tips on zeroing in the laser for accuracy. June 18, 2010

Alternating growth rings in panels
The debate between alternating growth rings and matching grain. September 25, 2002

Thick Butcher Blocks
A discussion of construction methods and wood movement issues for a six-inch-thick butcher block top. April 11, 2008

Clamping Octagon Joints
Taping the joints and folding them together works the best. November 26, 2006

Troubleshooting Tearout on End Grain
A furnituremaker gets advice on avoiding tearout when machining Maple end grain with a roundover bit. October 19, 2014

Curved Work - with Form Outside the Bag
Creating vacuum-pressed curved parts with the clamping form outside the vacuum bag. March 10, 2002

Cubby Construction Methods
Advice on joinery methods and veneer application for storage cube shelving. July 15, 2014

Murphy Bed Hardware
A few general observations on the challenge of assembling and installing a Murphy bed. August 22, 2007

Cutting a Circle on the Table Saw
With the right jig, it's quick and slick. March 17, 2005

Warping of a Tabletop with an Unbalanced Finish
A teachable moment: Finishers explain why tabletops finished on one side only (and in humid conditions to boot) experienced bad warping. December 31, 2005

Casters for an Island Cabinet
Here's a look at how to equip an island with casters, while providing for it to be held fixed when necessary. August 12, 2014

Building Up a Two-Inch Trestle Table-Top Edge
Advice on how to fake a two-inch slab thickness by building up the edge of a table top. May 6, 2010

Sanding and Stock Removal for Large Burl Slabs
Advice on equipment and techniques to dress large burls before sale as raw material for table-tops. June 9, 2007

Material for Doors with False Drawer Fronts
Furnituremakers discuss whether to use solid wood or MDF and veneer for a set of vanity doors with fake drawer fronts. April 27, 2011

MC for international shipping
Concerns of moisture content in jobs destined for overseas. November 18, 2002

Waxing Equipment Surfaces
Using butcher's wax to make wood move easily across machine tables. April 18, 2004

Dowel Joinery Glue Application Techniques
The standard method is to place a metered amount of glue into the hole, then insert the dowel. November 23, 2012

Packing Materials for Finished Furniture
without scratching the finish. February 13, 2006

Bandsaw Tire Refurbishing Cost
New tires for an old bandsaw ain't cheap. May 13, 2005

Gluing Leather to Wood
Advice on the right adhesive for gluing up a leather desktop. March 30, 2008

Appearance Considerations with Sapele
Sapele wood darkens over time (as do Cherry and Mahogany), and its compatibility with the look of other woods is a matter of personal preference. April 11, 2008

Powder Post Beetle Worries
Will powderpost beetles found in a piece of furniture spread elsewhere in the house? April 21, 2011

Structural Testing for Chairs
There's the Fat Man test, the Little Boy test, the Throw it Off the Roof test, and the "Entire state is sliding into the ocean" test ... you get the idea. January 3, 2012

Who Can Make Money Building Custom Furniture?
To succeed in business as a custom furnituremaker requires a rare combination of skills and talents. August 3, 2009

Achieving Consistency When Spray-Finishing a Large Table
A finisher struggles with keeping his finish from flashing off prematurely when finishing a large piece of furniture. November 29, 2014

Gilding Compo on Furniture
Tips on the process of gilding compo. October 26, 2011

Shop-Rigged Task Lighting
Ideas for task lighting that is there when you need it, out of the way when you don't. August 21, 2006

Shoji Screen Ideas
Basic tips for a first-timer on fabricating shoji screens. September 10, 2007

Tapering table legs
Small-shop methods for tapering square table legs. June 13, 2001

Coloring Epoxy to Fill Knots
Advice on tinting epoxy to match slab table tops. December 24, 2009

Calculating Springback
Simple formula for determining amount of springback in bent solid wood. April 18, 2004

Expanding your Market for Furniture
When a cabinet shop starts to make furniture, how can they widen their niche? April 11, 2008

Sanding Drawers After Construction
Ideas for sanding distinctive hardwood drawer boxes after building them, without distorting the corners. November 26, 2008

Fabricating a Seamless Tambour Door
Advice on veneer layup and cutting for making a seamless (or "invisible") tambour door. December 7, 2008

Clamping Angled Work so it Won't Slide
Pieces that meet at an angle are hard to clamp together tightly. Here are some clever tricks. March 16, 2015

Octagonal tapers
Instructions for making octagonal table legs, tapered on all eight sides. June 13, 2001

How Stable is Lyptus Wood?
Lyptus has a reputation for lots of shrinkage and twisting. March 20, 2012

Working with Zebra Wood
Zebra wood is splintery, twisty, smelly, and irritating — but beautiful, woodworkers say. January 25, 2013

Plastic Glue Odors in a Cedar Chest
A furniture maker tries to understand why it's so hard to get the smell of polyurethane glue out of a cedar chest. May 5, 2007

Hide glue
Proper mix ratio and storage info. September 24, 2002

Jig for beaded faceframes
Photographs of a shop-built jig. June 4, 2003

Lightweight MDF for Desks or Tables
With MDF, weight is related to strength and durability. November 10, 2006

Dovetailers, Louver Equipment and Drawer Manufacturing
Basic info on dovetailing machinery. November 11, 2008

Pronouncing Exotic Wood Names
Does "Wenge" rhyme with "Ben-Gay"? Well, that depends on who you ask. November 23, 2012

Finishing the Underside of Furniture
Sealing and finishing table tops on both faces helps prevent seasonal warping and cupping. January 18, 2011

Wood Movement and Strap Hinges
Quick tips on mounting large hinges to solid wood in a way that won't restrict the freedom of the wood to expand or contract in response to ambient conditions. July 11, 2013

Troubleshooting Glue Line Swelling in Furniture
In this long and complicated thread, woodworkers and experts try to figure out what's causing a slight ridge to form at the glue line in a wood chair lamination. July 29, 2014

Vacuum Veneered Drawer Faces
Vacuum laminating is ideally suited for creating curved surfaces. May 23, 2006

Stabilizing Details for a Mahogany Island Top
Concerned about wood movement, pros consider options including threaded rod reinforcement, sliding dovetails, or thin-sawing the wood. December 10, 2008

Darkening existing finishes onsite
Setting up shop in the customer's home in order to modify a finish. October 9, 2002

Drawer Construction
Choosing an efficient method over farming out the work. June 4, 2004

"High End" Ready-to-Assemble Fasteners
Furnituremakers take a look at Lamello's new line of knockdown assembly connectors for cabinetry and furnishings. March 28, 2012

Polyurethane (PUR) adhesives
Basic overview of different PUR glues. September 24, 2002

Springback formula for bent laminations
Calculating springback of laminated parts. October 2, 2001

Gluing dovetails and finger joints
Which adhesive is best for these joints? May 15, 2002

Humidity and Raised Glue Lines in Furniture
A closer look at detectable raised glue lines that appear in solid wood joints, related to humidity changes. December 16, 2011

Steam-Bending Hardwood Veneer Strips
A description of the hot-pipe method for bending 1/16-inch veneer strips. February 3, 2011

Oil-Sanded and Buffed Finish for a Table Top
Tips on a custom furniture finish include advice on wet-sanding with natural oil to fill grain, then waxing and buffing to a high gloss. May 24, 2006

Copper-Clad Table Top
Ideas for wrapping and fastening copper sheeting over a plywood table top. January 7, 2010

Fabric for Tambour Doors
You can use canvas, silk, or — old T-shirts? October 19, 2005

Glue Reacting with Cherry
A Cherry table shows witness lines at the glue joints. The culprit: a reaction between the wood and the glue. November 13, 2005

Edgebanding a Round Table
Here's a list of steps for applying edgebanding to a round laminate tabletop. April 8, 2013

Gluing Cocobolo
You can successfully glue this tropical species if you're careful. April 24, 2014

Working Safely with Ipe
Dust and oils from Ipe wood are allergenic and toxic. You need serious personal protective gear if you work with Ipe. Here's more info. May 16, 2008

Equipment For New Cabinet Business
Equipment and other advice for a beginning businessman. August 26, 2004

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