The best outdoor bench plan is one you can build accurately and maintain where it will stand. A covered porch, exposed garden and damp patch of ground present different conditions…
Owen MercerAn Adirondack chair's comfort comes from the relationship between seat slope, back angle, arm height and leg position. Changing one part of a downloaded pattern can affect bot…
Owen MercerA useful beginner sequence adds one new problem at a time. Choose a project because it teaches a repeatable operation, not because a photograph makes it look effortless. The first…
Owen Mercer“Veneer” describes a thin wood surface, but the backing changes how you handle and bond it. Identify the product before choosing an adhesive or rolling it onto a panel. Instructio…
Owen MercerA small box or cabinet part is a manageable place to learn shellac application. Prepare the surface, organize the work and make a sample before beginning the visible part. Trying …
Owen MercerA chopping board and a decorative serving tray do not experience the same wear. Knife cuts, washing and repeated moisture change what a finish must tolerate. Choose for the actual…
Owen MercerTwo products with “tung oil” on the front can require different application and cure routines. One may be pure oil; another may be a formulated finish containing other ingredients…
Owen MercerIn an equal-thickness half-lap, each member loses half its thickness at the overlap so the two faces finish flush. The fit depends on actual stock thickness and square shoulders, …
Owen MercerA beginner pattern should leave room to change direction and correct a cut. Start with straight-grained, identified carving stock and make the first version larger than a tiny orn…
Owen MercerA spoon handle is narrow, so grain direction becomes part of the design. If the fibers run diagonally out through the neck, an attractive blank can leave a weak connection between…
Owen MercerChoose a gift whose final dimensions matter to its recipient. A box sized for a particular deck of cards is more useful than a random box, and a plant stand should fit the actual …
Owen MercerA guitar stand must do three things: support the instrument without loading delicate parts, resist tipping and avoid damaging the finish. A soft-looking pad does not prove that th…
Owen MercerA rack sized for one slender bottle may not accept a broad sparkling-wine bottle. Gather the bottles you expect to store, including the widest base and broadest shoulder, before l…
Owen MercerA garden bench is seating, so its joints matter as much as its appearance. Do not enlarge a decorative plant stand or screw together a few boards and infer a load capacity. Start …
Owen MercerChoose the drawer hardware before deciding the drawer width. Side-mount slides, undermount runners and a wooden runner system require different clearances and construction. A draw…
Owen MercerThe strongest-sounding label is not always the best glue for the job. A complicated assembly may need more working time; a repair may need a different adhesive than a new, close-f…
Owen Mercer“Stainable” means a filler can take some color. It does not mean it will absorb the same amount as the surrounding wood or reproduce its grain. A repair can match when dry and tur…
Owen MercerA transparent brown stain does not erase the starting color of poplar. If one area begins pale and another begins green or gray, both remain part of the final color. The useful qu…
Owen MercerA table leg, drawer side and painted cabinet face have different jobs. Choosing one expensive species for every component can add cost without improving the furniture. Start with …
Owen MercerA box joint should close with steady hand pressure during a dry fit. If it needs hard mallet blows before glue is added, the fit is too tight or the joint contains a local obstruc…
Owen MercerA shallow leaf relief gives you a place to practice stop cuts, slicing cuts and small V cuts without shaping a fragile stem in the round. Begin on a flat basswood board, approxima…
Owen MercerFor a first carving, a clean, straight-grained blank matters more than a dramatic species. A small knot or patch of reversing grain can interrupt every cut. Buy a modest blank of …
Owen MercerA sliding lid needs straight, parallel grooves and room to move. It does not need a tight friction fit. Make the box first, then fit the lid to the assembled opening. A layout yo…
Owen MercerPut your largest shoes on the floor before deciding how deep a rack should be. Measure the pair side by side, including soles that flare out. A rack that saves five centimeters bu…
Owen MercerA bookcase starts with the things it must hold. Measure the tallest books, the deepest binders and the available wall space. Then allow for the side thickness, shelves and back. T…
Owen MercerA low platform can lift a houseplant clear of the floor without turning it into a top-heavy pedestal. Start with the pot and its saucer, not a photograph of a stand. Measure the s…
Owen MercerAn offcut is useful when a finished part fits inside it after you remove checks, old holes and damaged edges. Sort your scrap by usable size before choosing a project. These five …
Owen Mercer
To smooth an inside curve without flattening its shoulders, support the abrasive on a backer that fits the hollow. Then use light witness marks to check contact and stop when the…
Daniel Reed
A shallow dent in bare solid wood may be raised with moisture and brief heat if its fibers are compressed rather than missing. The aim is to recover the surface, then let it dry …
Daniel Reed
To hide a screw with a wood plug, make a clean counterbore above the screw head, fit a face-grain plug from matching stock and trim it without tearing below the surface. The small…
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.