The Wood Journal
Woodworking tips and tricks #1
Dressing bandsaw, guide blocks I replaced my handsaw's steel guide blocks with graphite·impregnated phenolic blocks (Cool Blocks). For accurate operation, the blocks' fa…
Owen MercerFrom the workbench
IDEAS TO PUT INTO PRACTICEExplore the journal archive
Owen Mercer
The Wood Journal
How to buy Sawmill Hardwood and Save (Part 2)
Read the beginning of the story How to buy Hardwood lumber and Save . Mill talk made easy (differences between big wood trading home centers and lumber sawmills) The contrast be…
Ben Harlow
The Wood Journal
Lumber Grades At A Glance
Illustrative AI-generated image. Domestic hardwood lumber found at sawmills meets different quality levels or grades as specified by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NH…
Ben Harlow
The Wood Journal
How to buy Sawmill Hardwood and Save (Part 1)
Illustrative AI-generated image. When you visit a home center to purchase hardwood lumber, more than likely you'll encounter limited quantities, limited species, and through-t…
Ben Harlow
The Wood Journal
4-Step Antique Finish
Create a fool-the-eye timeworn look. Some projects, like wine server for your wood cabinet, are not unlike a pair of blue jeans, Both look better after a few years of regular us…
Daniel Reed
The Wood Journal
Country French Wine wooden Server
Create old-world charm with a few weekends' worth of work. There's something about a glass of fine wine that evokes visions of France. So when I was asked to design a …
Ben HarlowIt starts with
a piece of wood.
Unfinished 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.
The journal voices
Tools & workshop practice
Owen Mercer
Workshop notes on hand tools, joinery, jigs and the small habits that make a project easier.
Wood & materials
Ben Harlow
Practical guides to choosing lumber, understanding grain and planning for wood movement.
Surface & finish
Daniel Reed
Notes on sanding, test samples, color and finishes that let the character of the wood show through.