An old bottle of wood glue is not automatically spoiled, and a bottle that still pours is not automatically trustworthy. Identify the exact product, check its storage history and …
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Use a pencil for rough sizing, part names and waste marks. Use a marking knife when you need a fine physical boundary for joinery layout and the scored line belongs on the finishe…
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Choose a synthetic-bristle brush labelled for water-based clear finishes, then check the finish manufacturer's application instructions. Width and shape matter too: a brush mu…
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Measure wood thickness with the outside jaws of a caliper, closing them gently against the two faces. Check the zero first, keep the tool square to the faces, and repeat at severa…
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For a flat wooden face, choose a sanding block with a flat, firm working surface that you can keep fully supported. The grit determines how aggressively the abrasive cuts; the blo…
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Choose a roundover router bit by the radius you want on the wood, then check that its shank, overall diameter and permitted speed suit your router. A “1/4-inch bit” is an incomple…
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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…
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.