Shop Blog

2013 has been a tough year to compete when it comes to woodworking event “stuntery.” With gatherings like Handworks in Amana, Iowa, The French Oak Roubo Build, Woodworking in American 2013, and [...]

As I was building the Shaker blanket chest that’s in our upcoming October 2013 issue (which just went off to the printer), I chose my usual glue: liquid hide. Five years ago, I took a [...]

You may not really think about it, but much of woodworking is history. Today we use tools from centuries back, we assemble projects using joinery that has stood the test of time and we reproduce [...]

Over the last few years I’ve been frequently asked why I write for Popular Woodworking Magazine. The conversation usually begins something like, “Someone with your experience could [...]

Q & A: What’s the Deal with Combination Planer/Molders? Q: I’m shopping for a planer, and am also planning to do a bunch of trim work in my house: crown moldings, door casings, [...]

Mortise Centering Jig With this jig I can rout mortises exactly centered on the workpiece— no measurement or layout necessary. First I drilled and tapped two holes in my router base plate [...]

A gentlemen, not much older that I (that means elderly), wrote me this week after seeing my American Woodworker SketchUp blog. He asked me if there was a good application out there for drawing in [...]

Build the infamous and seemingly impossible Chinese stool with Bob Lang, in a special weekend class at the Popular Woodworking Magazine Shop. Once in a great while, we invite readers into the [...]

As woodworkers we know who great wood is. We also know who important wood is in the construction of our homes. But most of us are not aware that wood can also be used as the principal material [...]

Collapsible Work Table This shop solution was submitted by Michael and Christine Powell, Bellingham, Wash. Every shop needs a work table or two. In cramped shops, it’s great to have the [...]

Plywood Carrier You don't have to be built like an orangutan to carry plywood! This simple carrier extends your reach and turns an awkward job into an easy one. It's quick to build out of [...]

Extra-Large Bandsaw Fence By Jack Phillips I never throw anything away. Some day, I tell myself, the stuff in that neglected pile of junk will come in handy. I was right! I resurrected my old [...]