Over The Workbench

Handheld planers are very useful if you have the need. Apparently, I’ve never had the need. Till now, that is.

I have more than three times the amount of room in my new shop as my old one. Generally, that’s wonderful, but not for everything.

Sally found a Valentine decoration online – made of wood! – and there was no way I could let her buy it.

I needed a hammer, so I bought one. Yes, another one.

What do woodworkers make more of than any other thing – Cabinets? Furniture? Built-ins? Lots of dust?

I love when wood is combined with high-tech gadgetry. I love it even more when the wood makes the technology better.

It’s a new year, but no new resolutions. Instead, I’m just digging out last year’s and dusting it off, and when I do I’m gonna …

Those who understand the subject can always answer the question, “What’s wrong with this picture?”, if a photo is set up by someone who doesn’t. That’s especially true with woodworking.

I recently talked about making a cutting board for the first time after decades of woodworking. Turns out I was wrong.

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.