Wood glue has several different time limits. You need to join the coated surfaces before the open time expires, finish clamping within the total assembly time, then leave the join…
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Winding sticks make twist in a board easier to see. Place one across each end, lower your eye to their top edges and compare the slopes. If those edges do not line up parallel, ch…
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Give every part a short ID before milling begins, then use that ID on the drawing, cut list and workpiece. A stack containing four similar rails is easy to recognize until two bec…
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A blind hole needs enough usable depth for the part it receives while leaving sound material on the far side. Those requirements refer to different places on the bit. A brad-point…
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Measure overlay with the cabinet door closed. Overlay is the distance the door covers past the edge of the cabinet opening. For replacement hinges, the hinge-side measurement is e…
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Check the sanding pad's diameter, fastening system and extraction pattern before buying discs. A disc can stick to the pad and still cover important dust openings. The grit nu…
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A 6 mm router bit shank and a 1/4 inch shank are different sizes. One quarter inch is 6.35 mm. That 0.35 mm difference is small on a ruler and large enough to matter in a precisio…
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Count the edges that need covering before ordering edge banding. A shelf with only its front visible needs one strip. A freestanding desktop may need four. Multiplying every panel…
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Estimate wood finish from the surfaces you will actually coat, the number of coats and the coverage stated for that product. A tabletop's length times width gives only one fac…
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Measure the usable inside of the drawer with it fully open. Check width at the front and back, depth on both sides and height beneath anything that crosses the opening. Use the sm…
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Mark the bottom and inside face of both cabinet sides before laying out shelf pin holes. Every row needs the same height reference. A row measured from the top on one side and fro…
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Measure the complete package that will sit inside the frame before cutting the molding. That package might include glazing, a mat, artwork and a backing board. Its outside size de…
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The right sandpaper depends on both the material and the job. Rough hardwood, softwood ready for stain, a dry coat of polyurethane, and painted furniture need different treatment.…
Owen MercerUnfinished Wood is a collection of practical ideas for the workshop: choosing your materials, solving small problems, and bringing out the character in what you make.
Workshop notes on hand tools, joinery, jigs and the small habits that make a project easier.
Practical guides to choosing lumber, understanding grain and planning for wood movement.
Notes on sanding, test samples, color and finishes that let the character of the wood show through.