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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 Mercer
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…
Owen Mercer
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…
Owen Mercer
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…
Owen Mercer
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…
Owen Mercer
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 Mercer
A small workshop becomes easier to use when tools have a place to work and a place to wait. These ten ideas come from published shop tours and build projects, with a link to each …
Owen Mercer
Two lines on a scrap can reveal a square that needs attention. The awkward part is knowing whether the tool made the error or the scrap did. Before adjusting a saw or trimming a …
Owen Mercer
A ragged pocket opening and a joint that slides out of alignment are different problems. Check the hole before inserting a screw, then inspect the assembled joint. That small paus…
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.