Hot Furniture & Woodworking Posts
How To: Finish a wood desk
Finishing a wood desk is a very simple process. Tim Carter shares one technique for finishing a wood office desk for a home office.
How To: Make a wood pen
Watch this video to see how to make a wood pen.
How To: Make a wood pens with a rope twist
Watch this video to learn how to make a wood pen with a rope twist design. The finished pen makes a great Father's day gift.
How To: Use and care for router bits
Watch this video to learn how to select, sharpen and care for your router bits. One of the keys is setting the proper router speed and feed rate.
How To: Make a Bombe jewelry box
Watch this video to learn how to make a beautiful jewelry box. This project requires fairly advanced woodworking skills.
How To: Hollow Spiral Candlestick
Watch this video to learn how to make a candlestick. This is a tough project for advanced woodwork. Part 1 of 5 - How to Hollow Spiral Candlestick.
How To: Cut miters with This Old House
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to make miters. Steps:
How To: Make a cardboard chair
This is a quick demo of how to make a cardboard chair.
How To: Laminate a countertop
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to laminate a countertop. This project requires some specific skills, but they can be learned quickly. Laminate a countertop.
How To: Build wall cubbies
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to build wall cubbies. This project is pretty easy because all the pieces are made with simple square cuts. Build wall cubbies.
How To: Build a step stool
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to build a step stool. This is an easy project to complete. Build a step stool.
How To: Square lumber
Watch this video to learn how to square lumber in seven steps.
How To: Stain fir woodwork
Watch this video to learn how to stain fir. Wash, stain, and wipe clean.
How To: Turn a wooden pen on a lathe
This video demonstrates how to turn a slimline style pen on a wood lathe.
How To: Turn a bottle stopper on a wood lathe
This video shows a demonstration of a wooden bottle stopper being turned on a wood lathe
How To: Build a simple window flower box
Add appeal to your new home with a new window box you make yourself. This video shows you how.
How To: Make a wooden doorknob coatrack
Gathering the materials is probably the most challenging part of the project, though it's great fun.
How To: Make a folding screen using old hinges and shutters
Assembling the wooden screen is simple, but be prepared to get grimy while rooting around the salvage yard for matching hinges.
How To: Create a vintage tile tabletop end table
Amy H. Hughes helps you make a vintage tile tabletop. Part of the fun of making this table was rooting through the tile crates with Rosi Zingales at Olde Good Things in New York City. Our first find was an 1890s 6-by-6-incher depicting a Spanish Colonial mission, for $45. This, we agreed, would be the centerpiece. Next were four flowered accents, $8 each, and 30 yellow-and-white marbled tiles from an old fireplace surround that we bought in bulk for $40. We also uncovered the wrought-iron tab...
How To: Make a Unique Cardboard Chair
There have been numerous chairs made out of recycled or reclaimed cardboard. This week on the GreenerBusiness Podcast, we attempt to build our own unique comfortable cardboard chair.
How To: Fix a cracked walnut bowl
This is a lesson in fixing a crack in a walnut bowl with cherry strips.
How To: Make cutting boards
Learn how to make a quality cutting board, which will teach you the basics of woodworking and save you money.
How To: Make a jewelry box
This simple band saw jewelry box is easy to make. Measurements can be quite varied, as it is the concept which is important.
How To: Make a gourd bird house
Here you can learn how to make a cute little bird house out of a dried gourd.
How To: Apply quarter round/soffet molding on bombe secretary
All the dentil molding is on and now it's time to add another layer. Tommy shows how the applied dentil molding looks and how the soffit and quarter round fit over it. He then attaches them to the case. Tommy cleans up the dentil molding with a chisel so it is flush with the quarter round. After gluing the final corner in place, the first part of the crown is done and Tommy can enjoy a victory cigar.
How To: Make the wood pediment astragal for a bombe secretary
Tommy has finished the box frame with front work and blocking attached. Now it's time to make the astragal for the pediment. An astragal can be an architectural element used at the top or base of a column, and it is also used as a framing device on furniture. He drank extra coffee so his hands are nice and steady for the astragal work.
How To: Make the fret work trim pieces for a bombe secretary
With divider and bevel in hand, Tommy walks viewers through the layout and design of the fret work trim pieces for the upper pediment. A little prep work on the pattern layout makes it a fairly simple process. Slow and steady wins the race -- or finishes the Bombe Secretary, in this case.
How To: Create the upper pediment for a wooden bombe secretary
Tommy’s ready to start the upper pediment of the secretary and shows the drawing for the upper case as well as what’s left of his wood to make it. He now has to figure out how to make the frame. He’s hoping that he’s found his stride and he’ll “get this thing done” because the bombe is “way more complicated” than he ever expected.
How To: Do the interior of a hidden box for a bombe secretary
Tommy works on the interior of the hidden box. He’s added document drawers and a false back. He says, “It’s a pretty cool little thing, and I’m having fun making it.”
How To: Glue the wooden hidden box for a bombe secretary
Tommy finally gets to glue this “bad boy together.” After putting glue in the front only, he assembles the drawer dividers, the back and the partition and puts them in the desk to show the viewers. Watch this episode to find out why Tommy calls himself a “colorful guy, just not too bright.”
How To: Finish the hidden box in wooden bombe secretary
Tommy finishes construction on the hidden box for the secretary. Between segments, he takes time to show the viewers his personal memorabilia hanging on the walls, including family photos and accolades for his work. Tommy says he’s having fun making the box because it doesn’t have to be precise. He’s especially happy when the box is finished because he’s moving into his final phase of the desk assembly.
How To: Use dovetails to attach wooden legs to a column
Tommy and Al dedicate this podcast to answering the question of the week: What is the best way to attach legs to a column? With explicit instructions, they demonstrate how to use dovetails to get the legs and columns to fit together “nice and tight.”
How To: Construct the hidden wooden box for a bombe secretary
Tommy had debated on whether he was going to show the viewers the hidden drawer in the Bombe, which is typical of a period piece. Considering how the early podcast at the museum showed how it was taken apart, he figured why not. Using scrap wood he has saved while working on the project, Tommy begins construction on his first hidden drawer. He’ll need to mill the pine, cut the sides and glue the bottoms. While waiting for the glue to dry, he demonstrates how to cut dovetails again.
How To: Design pigeonhole valances for a bombe secretary desk
Tommy gets a second wind now that he can see noticeable progress on the Bombe. He draws and cuts the dividers for the pigeonhole assembly and inserts them from the back. Using scrap wood from previous cuttings because it has the same colors, tones and textures, he designs a pattern for the valances. Now the top row is almost complete, and Tommy is “feeling energized again.”
How To: Tune up a woodworking hand plane
Taking a break from building the Bombe, Tommy tunes his hand plane by taking it apart and sharpening it. He demonstrates the power of the plane, showing how to flattening an uneven piece of wood. Using paraffin wax to glide the plane, he gets the piece of gnarly wood in perfect shape.
How To: Plan the pigeonhole assembly for the bombe secretary
Before Tommy can get started cutting and shaping the pigeonhole assembly, he needs to select the style and get a 1:1 scale plan together. Tommy walks us through his thought process on selecting the style and how he prepares to cut.
How To: Build a scrub plane to shape the lower bombe secretary
Tommy builds a custom scrub plane to work the side shapes of the bombe lower cabinet. He transposes the curve to the bottom edge of the plane and the blade and then shapes the tool. Once the plane is shaped, he shows off the new plane working the sides. PLANE, PLANE, PLANE... Nothing like making a tool before you start the job.
How To: Shape the lower cabinet sides of the bombe secretary
Tommy surfs the long board in the shop and then tackles the first cuts of the bombe secretary cabinet sides. This is a critical part of the secretary since it determines the real look and feel of the piece of furniture.
How To: Use the Saw Stop table saw for woodworking safely
Watch Al, Bobby, and Tommy discuss (with big words) some table saw safety tips and demo the Saw Stop table saw. Tommy breaks down the process of setting the saw up, engaging the safety systems, firing the blade break and resetting the saw.
How To: Build a big wooden dining room table for your dinner
Tommy shows how to make a BIG dining room table (approximately 14' long) and walks you through the wood selection, milling, stickering, and routering out the top. As Tommy goes through this process he explains the science behind the wood. And don't adjust your computer screen, Tommy isn't turning into the hulk, just blowing off some steam.