Over The Workbench

Glue is a staple of what we do in the woodshop, but you might be surprised at how many kinds you have. I know I was.

Any longtime woodworker would have a hard time thinking of something they’ve never made, including me. Well, I just thought of something.

Since Sally and I recently observed our anniversary, I thought it might be fun to celebrate some shop anniversaries, too.

Some things are so simple that they’re impossible – in my shop, anyway – to remember.

Welcome to Pet Peeve Friday™! In the crosshairs today: “slotted screwdriver.”

Safety is paramount when woodworking. But some of the safety warnings in tool manuals leave me scratching my head.

I’ve ruined a lot of projects by not leaving well enough alone, but sometimes tweaking really does improve something.

My new basement shop’s been fully operational for some time, but a lot of things remain undone. I moved one of those items over to the “done” list this week.

I’m a pretty handy guy, but I don’t know anything about electricity.

I’ve decided that the biggest factor in working off-site isn’t tools, materials or something you forgot. It’s inadequate lighting.

That table lamination project is now history. While I had my doubts, it came out pretty nice. Of course, there were some ups and downs.

Confession time: Wood imperfections don’t always bother me. In fact, I sometimes embrace them.

I have a lot of shop work coming up, but none of it will take place in my shop. So, I have to take my shop with me.

You can call this a rant, plain and simple, but sometimes the way they size tools makes no sense to me.

There are the plans you make, and then there’s reality. I hate reality.

Creating plans for a completed project is easy. Doing it the other way around – for me – is harder.

There are lots of expenses in woodworking (or any other business), but the most onerous are those that accomplish only to get you back where you already were.

Woodworkers tend to buy things they don’t need. I do it all the time and – admit it – so do you.

We’ve talked before about the most important (or favorite) tool in the woodshop. But which one is the most essential?

When you have bad news about a project issue, it’s sometimes better for the customer to hear it from someone besides you.

Measure twice; cut once. Good advice, but it leaves out an important part: Do the math.

Ever take a walk around your shop just to look at it? Not work, just look? You should.

I hate scams and the scammers who scam you. This particular scam isn’t new, but it deserves an update.