What is it? Changes in workshop temperature and humidity cause the metal and wood components of your tools to physically expand or shrink. This movement, though tiny, can throw off precision settings. Why does it matter? This constant shifting is a primary cause of inaccurate cuts, misaligned fences, and out-of-flat tool surfaces, leading to frustrating…
What is a wire edge? A wire edge, or burr, is a tiny, flexible sliver of metal that forms along the cutting edge of a tool during the sharpening process. It’s a crucial sign that you’ve ground the two bevels to a true meeting point. How do you remove it? The best way to remove…
A corner chisel is a specialized hand tool used to quickly and accurately square the rounded corners left by a router or drill bit when creating a mortise. It functions like a precision punch. To use it, you simply place the L-shaped blade into the rounded corner, strike the top firmly with a mallet, and…
The best task lighting for woodworking tools consists of adjustable, high-intensity LED lights positioned directly over your work area. Fixtures like magnetic gooseneck lamps, clamp-on spotlights, and under-cabinet LED strips are ideal for illuminating specific tools like table saws, drill presses, and lathes. Proper task lighting is crucial because it eliminates shadows on your cut…
A mortise chisel is a specialized, heavy-duty woodworking tool designed for chopping out deep, square-sided recesses (mortises) for mortise and tenon joints. Its thick, robust blade can withstand heavy mallet strikes without flexing, making it essential for creating strong, traditional joinery in furniture and structural woodwork. Ever look at a beautiful piece of antique furniture…
What are registered chisels? Registered chisels are heavy-duty woodworking hand tools designed for deep, powerful cuts. They feature a thick, strong blade with parallel sides (not beveled) and a robust handle with steel hoops, making them ideal for striking with a mallet to chop out mortises and remove large amounts of wood. What are they…
The most common bevel angle for a plane blade is 25 degrees. This angle provides a good balance of sharpness and edge durability for most woodworking tasks. The standard effective cutting angle for most bench planes is 45 degrees. This is achieved by placing a 25-degree beveled blade on a 45-degree “frog” or bed, making…
What is the best insulation for a woodworking shop? For most DIY shops, a combination of rigid foam board (like XPS or Polyiso) on walls and ceilings offers great R-value and moisture resistance. Use spray foam insulation (like Great Stuff) to seal all air gaps around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Why is shop insulation…
A circle cutting jig is a shop-made or commercial device that guides a woodworking tool, like a router or jigsaw, to cut a perfect circle. Its primary benefit is achieving precise, repeatable circular cuts that are nearly impossible to make freehand. You can easily build one from a scrap piece of plywood or MDF, attaching…
A hollow grind creates a concave bevel using a grinding wheel, which makes honing the edge on a flat stone much faster. It’s ideal for tools that need a razor-sharp edge, like bench chisels and plane irons. A flat grind creates a straight, V-shaped bevel that is stronger and more durable. It’s better for tools…