Hot Furniture & Woodworking How-Tos « Furniture & Woodworking

How To: Install the moisture barrier over concrete subfloor

This video describes the process of installing a moisture barrier over a concrete subfloor. The presenter is using 6 mil thick poly barrier. The barrier comes in rolls about twenty-four inches wide. When rolling out the moisture barrier you want to go from wall to wall and cover the entire floor. For optimal moisture control you will want to overlap the poly barrier by at least six inches. The barrier plastic does not need to be taped or secured to the floor at all, it simply lays on top of t...

How To: Build a stow-and-go router table

This video will show you how to build a full-featured router table that is portable, lightweight and easy to store. All it takes to put a compact, versatile router table in your shop is a half sheet of plywood, a small supply of solid-wood lumber, a handful of hardware, a router mounting plate, and one of the newly designed routers. Build a stow-and-go router table.

How To: Apply a tung oil topcoat over an oil-based wood stain

Prefer a clear, hand-rubbed, "antique" finish to the shiny or satin sheen of varnishes? Then you will want to use a tung oil-based topcoat applied over an oil-based stain when you are staining or refinishing your special piece of furniture.

How To: Make wooden gears for complex woodworking projects

Most people think of gears as big pieces of metal, but for a long time gears were mostly wooden affairs. In this video you'll learn how to make small wooden gears that you can use in all sorts of complicated machinery oriented woodworking projects.

How To: Fix a cracked wood cutting board

If you have a cutting board that you made or purchased from the store, excessive exposure to water can be bad. Water can be sucked into the wood and damage the wood board, eventually leading to a crack. Instead of throwing it out, you may want to let it sit for a couple of weeks so that the water is able to dry out.

How To: Use a nail set & punch for woodworking

Bob Schmidt teaches us how to use a nail set & punch for woodworking. A nail set is a traditional kit that you can find anywhere. The nail set punch does not require a hammer to use and is very easy to figure out. Place this on a nail and then pull the spring back. Keep the pressure towards the nail head and it will drive the nail right into the hole that you need it to go in. This is great if you have a nail that needs to go into the wall but the hammer will not fit where you need it to. Any...

How To: Make a sharpening jig set up for bowl gouges

This instructional woodworking video to make a wooden jig for sharpening gouge tools on a grinding wheel. These sharpening jigs give consistent grinds. The jig makes sharpening a gouge almost foolproof so you can get back to wood turning.

How To: Extend your jointer for a bigger outfeed table

Shopsmith Academy shows you how to add 24 inches to your jointer for a bigger outfeed table. Apply this lesson to your next woodworking project. Watch this video for useful woodworking tips. Search Shopsmith Academy on WonderHowTo for more woodworking videos.

How To: Build a steamer trunk

The Wood Whisperer thinks you have what it takes to be a great woodworker. In this 4-part series, the Wood Whisperer is building a steamer trunk for a friend. He takes you through the process of building a steamer trunk, from beginning to end. Check out more tutorials on woodworking by searching for woodworking on WonderHowTo.

How To: Build a table saw crosscut and miter sled

Check out this woodworking video from Eagle Lake Woodworking. Learn how to build a table saw crosscut and miter sled by watching this five-part series.

How To: Make a box seat

Downing drinks while perched on the bed, the floor, and the arms of the couch is totally awesome!!! (If you're a college freshman.) Otherwise it sucks. Don't get us wrong; living small doesn't mean you can't party like a rock star, it just requires a little creativity. This project offers dual functionality: wall art on quiet evenings, and extra seating and side tables on nights when friends roll in to bring down the house.

How To: Transfer patterns on woodworking projects with Lowe's

This video illustrates the transfer of paper patterns on woodworking projects with Lowe's. If you have a pattern in a piece of paper for the woodworking project. Draw the grid for the pattern in a piece of paper. Even though, the piece of wood is six times larger than the pattern in paper. Draw the grid in the wood with One and half inches by the use of ruler. Then check out each and every box of grid in a pattern, trace the shape of each boxes in the wood. After finishing all the grid boxes ...

How To: Put a finish on wood to pop the grain

Learn about different finishes. In this video, the Wood Whisperer puts the finish on a pencil holder. It's not just any finish. Since we are working with a beautiful curly maple, the finish deserves a little extra special attention. Learn how to pop the grain.

How To: Remove a Scratch from an Antique Table

Hi everyone, I have been working on some videos and tips about restoring antique furniture, in this tutorial, I will be showing you how to remove a scratch from a wooden table.

How To: Faux Ebonise Wood

If you have some worn scuffed wood and want to give it a little bit of life. These steps might help you to ebonise, taking half the time!!

How To: Cover plywood edges

Watch this video to learn a few of the many ways you can cover the exposed edges of plywood. The Wood Whisperer demonstrates how to iron on veneer, thin solid wood, and thick solid wood.

How To: Build a Puzzle Box

Watch the video and animation for to see how it works. The drawing(free PDF download) is included in the description of the videos.

How To: Use a router to make a bowl

There's nothing like the sweet satisfaction of making something using your own two hands. It can give you a great sense of pride knowing that you were able to make something that you and others can use. If you're interested, check out this video tutorial on how to make a bowl using a router and other tools. It's easy to follow and will result in a beautiful bowl that anyone can use. Enjoy! Use a router to make a bowl.

How To: Install quarter round

This video will be a very quick, simple, and easy way to install your quarter round. To start you will see that instead of cutting a 45 degree corner, it was left flush. With the other piece you will cut a cove in it and then align it on top of the other piece at the corner of the wall. This method allows the pieces to fit, regardless of the irregularities in the wall (if any). To finish it up take the return and just apply enough glue to attach it to the end of the first piece. There it is -...

How To: Hollow out a wooden ball form with a hollowing rig

New to the lathe or simply interested in further developing your skill set? In this four-part tutorial, you'll learn how to create a hollowed-out ball form using a lathe and a captured hollowing rig.

How To: Finish a scrollsaw project

In this two-part tutorial series from the Scrollsaw Workshop, Steve Good discusses how to finish scrollsaw projects–a process which, according to Steve, includes four steps: gluing, sanding, beautifying and protecting. Let Steve walk you through his finishing process with this tutorial.

How To: Make wood roof shingles by hand

In this video, we learn how to make wood roof shingles by hand. Start off with round oak wood, then split it with a splitting axe. Then, use a mallet to split them out further. Make sure to use clean and straight grained oak to do this. Now, remove the bark from the wood and split into thin sheets. Then, place into a cleaver brake and use a mallet to split down the different wood shingles. From each piece of wood, you should get 4-5 different shingles. When finished, you can hammer these toge...

How To: Store your lawn equipment on your garage walls

Home improvement expert Danny Lipford provides tips to help organize your garage. Watch this video tutorial to see how to store your lawn equipment on your garage walls.

How To: Make a magic wooden disappearing box

The wooden magic disappearing box is a great project to work on if you are great at woodworking, this can be a great gift for someone or a great addition for your next magic trick. When working with wood and making specific sized cuts, it is important to measure as closely as you can.

How To: Make old cabinets look like new

Cabinets are usually the most prominent feature of a kitchen and greatly determine the room's overall décor. Peeling paint, nicks and scratches, or a dull, dirty finish can plague older cabinets and really sap the pizzazz out of the living space. On the other hand, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for cabinets and breathe new life into the kitchen. A repainting project can also save tons of money when compared to full cabinet replacement, which can easily total several thousands of dollar...

How To: Build a small wooden gift box out of scraps

Making gifts for people is one of the best ways to save money and show them your care on Christmas. Why not take it a step further by making the box you put your present in? This video will show you how to make a simple wooden box out of scrap wood using a router.

How To: Build a beautiful cedar log bench using a chainsaw

For the normal woodworker at home, the table saw, router and lathe are the prime tools used for making fine furniture, but when you hit the outdoors, the backwoodsman's tool of trade is the chainsaw. Mastering furniture-making with a chainsaw is the key to being a great woodworker, and in this three-part video, you'll learn the techniques to chainsawing your way to a beautiful log bench.

How To: Install the last row without a pull bar

When you end your last row, there are occasions where you can't use a pull bar. The alternative to using a pull bar is to modify the groove side of the plank that's on the floor. Shave the groove and remove the debris, making sure that there's none in the track. Next, take a small bead of glue and run it down the groove side of your plank. Engage the next plank as close as you can get. Set the plank in place with the pull bar. Finally, tape the plank to its neighbor to secure it until the glu...

How To: Build an Outfeed Table for a Table Saw

An outfeed table is a device to catch the workpiece after it's been machined. This how to video shows you how you can build an outfeed table for your tablesaw.

How To: Build a retaining wall to flatten a sloped lawn

In this video you will learn how to build a retaining wall to flatten a sloped lawn. He says that if someone wants to garden but their yard is sloped and they know they can't do it, they should know that this is a lot of work. So be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and effort. You start by getting a building permit. If you're looking to build a low retaining wall you start by digging a trench a little wider then the stones and a few inches deep (the higher the wall the deeper the trench). F...

How To: Make your own tortilla press

This step by step instructional video will show you how you are able to make your own tortilla press at home using simple everyday materials. Shows the best sizes of wood to make the tortilla press and what tools you will need to complete this project. Including tips and tricks to make sure that the tortilla press makes the tortillas well. After watching this quick and easy to follow how to video you can easily make your own tortillas at home.

How To: Build a target shooting bench

A lot of the available shooting benches on the market today are well-made, but it's really hard to find one that you're completely comfortable with. That's why it's best to make your own custom shooting bench, made especially for you, how you want it.

How To: Make your very own Connect-Four game with wood

In this next woodworking tutorial, you'll find out how to make a favorite game using, of course, wood!

How To: Build a storage box for your deck

Building a storage box for your deck is a smart way to add extra storage to an area usually not known for having storage. The great thing about using wood than plastic, is that is adds to the feeling of being outside and can be stained to match the look of your deck. This three part tutorial, will take you through the steps of building a successful storage box and shows you step by step.

How To: Bleach to lighten wood & remove stains from furniture

Restoring wood furniture takes time and patience, but the results of your labor can be enjoyed for years, even generations. The restoration process usually involves stripping off old finishes, bleaching, staining and then varnishing. Two-Part Hydrogen Peroxide is a strong bleach that will lighten wood and remove previously applied finish stain, providing you with a fresh new surface to refinish.

How To: Make a collapsible basket with a scrollsaw

In this two-part tutorial from the Scrollsaw Workshop, Steve Good demonstrates how to create a collapsible basket with a scrollsaw. As always, the pattern is available through Steve's blog, scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com. Make your own collapsible basket with this great scrollsaw tutorial.