Hot Furniture & Woodworking How-Tos
How To: Make a custom built-in entertainment center
If you're looking to make use of some extra space in your home, this tutorial may be the answer. This video focuses on making a custom built-in entertainment center. It's a task that can take two or three days to complete, depending on time and skill. Once completed, though, it gives you a great amount of storage and space to put all your entertainment needs. Enjoy! Make a custom built-in entertainment center.
How To: Build your own picture frame from scratch
This tutorial shows you how to build your own picture frame from scratch. It's a grea tutorial for those interested in saving some money for a high-end frame or for those interested in expanding their woodskills. This tutorial has great insight and tips for making a great looking frame. Sit back and enjoy! Build your own picture frame from scratch.
How To: Install a wood handrail in your home
If you've recently bought a home or currently reside in one with stairs, handrails are an important way of ensuring you and your family's safety. If you are looking to add a handrail on the opposite side of the wall, this tutorial will give you the necessary steps and tools needed for the project. It's an moderatley difficult task that takes time, but will look great once completed. Good luck and enjoy! Install a wood handrail in your home.
How To: Install a wood stair railing kit in your home
Many home that have stairs in them, tend to have either wood or metal stair railings. Each has their own benefits, but metal tends to be cold and less attractive to homeowners and potential home buyers. Installing a wood stair railing adds much more character to the space and can increase the value of a home significantly. So check out the tutorial above and see if this is a project you would like to tackle. Enjoy! Install a wood stair railing kit in your home.
How To: Add details to your moldings and door casings
Sometimes when it comes to existing moldings, they tend to be dull and lack any kind of style to them. But the best way to maximize their look without breaking the bank, is to add some detail to existing moldings that are already in place. This can help with the character of the room and even house. So check out this tutorial and find out if you got what it takes. Enjoy! Add details to your moldings and door casings.
How To: Best use your space by installing pull-out shelves
If you're looking for a way to maximize the amount of space you have in your cabinets, this video tutorial may have what you need. In it, you will be shown, step-by-step the process of removing old shelves and adding pull-out shelves instead. This ensures that whatever space is available is being used properly in your kitchen cabinets. Good luck and enjoy! Best use your space by installing pull-out shelves.
How To: Apply a ceramic tile over an old countertop
Sometimes, it can be a pain to remove an countertops made of material such as wood and laminate. So an easy to do option would just let it be. If you're looking to add ceramic tile, you can easily do that over your existing countertops. This video will show you how for a quick to do and easy kitchen project. Enjoy! Apply a ceramic tile over an old countertop.
How To: Build an attractive breakfast nook in your home
If you own a home with a big kitchen and are looking for a way to optimize the space, this tutorial may have what you need. This video will show you what supplies are needed in order to create a helpful seating area for a corner of your room, known also as a breakfast nook. Enjoy! Build an attractive breakfast nook in your home.
How To: Treat your furniture for bed bugs
Nothing is worse than bed bugs, right? Those pesky little creatures can make you seriously uncomfortable and cost you tons of money replacing furniture. But you can treat your furniture without spending money or having to throw it out. You will need to inspect everything thoroughly and make sure to to follow every step properly. This video will show you how to treat furniture for bed bugs.
How To: Calibrate your jointer
You will to learn set up and calibrate your jointer for optimal woodworking and creating a clean and straight edge on a rough board to later use as a reference. You will also learn a system on how to set up your knives to achieve the perfect cut using a jig and how to select the best jig to work with.
How To: Refinish wood furniture with simple techniques
When that dusty old dresser you have starts looking more fit for Grandma than your sleek 21st century home, it may be time to refinish.
How To: Assemble an IKEA Kvarnö garden table
Looking for comprehensible instructions on how to assemble your IKEA Kvarnö garden table? You're in luck! This free video tutorial presents comprehensive, step-by-step guide on how to put together a Kvarnö table. For detailed instructions and to get started setting up your own Swedish garden table, watch this helpful how-to.
How To: Finish antique furniture to give a distressed look
Kathy Carroll of the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes and Faux by Kathy demonstrates how to give a decorative distressed look to antique furniture pieces. Distressing is a great way to revive outdated or worn pieces, as well as achieve character and age newer pieces. Antiquing furniture techniques are easy to do and can be done by everyone from veteran decorative artisans to the beginning crafter.
How To: Whittle a wooden bird
Whittling has been around for years and years and doesn't require a great amount of skill to perform. What it does require is patience, a steady hand, and a creative mind. This tutorial focuses on how to start of whittling a wooden bird. So sit back, pay attention, and enjoy!
How To: Build a bat box and get rid of insects
If your yard is full of pests in the summertime that you can't get rid of, consider building a bat box. Bats are great animals - they eat any unwanted insects and only come out at night so they don't bother anyone.
How To: Build a bat house for the bats in your yard or barn
A lot of people fear bats; in fact, bats rank third on America's most feared list behind spiders and snakes. Most people get nervous around bats because they are hard to see at night and can fly around undetected; not to mention that Dracula myth that hasn't done bats any favors.
How To: Recover a chair with custom fabric
If that old chair is covered in holes or stains, or boasts a pattern that can best be described as "70s chic" it may be time to update it a bit. In this video learn how to save your favorite comfy chair and recover or reupholster it like a pro. By recovering your furniture yourself you can avoid the cost of buying a new one or paying a professional, with the added bonus of holding on to a long-loved piece of decor.
How To: Measure wood by relative dimensioning
The Wood Whisperer demonstrates how we can install hinges on a cabinet without a tape measure, using relative dimensioning. In this example, we use center lines instead of marking the top and bottom of each piece that needs to line up. Using shims at the bottom and top of the door, we center the door on the cabinet to the desired spot. At this point, it's as simple as marking the center lines where you want your hinges to go on both the door and the cabinet frame. Now we can simply attach our...
How To: Upholster a cushion
Let's face facts: Upholstering a cushion can be difficult. However, it can also be easy. So easy, in fact, that this video guide can present a complete and thorough overview of the entire process in just over a minute and half of time. Watch to learn a simple upholstery method that will insure your cushion turns out perfect every time!
How To: Re-paint old furniture
If your furniture has seen better days but is nevertheless structurally sound, restoring it might be as simple as applying a fresh layer of paint or wood stain. This free video tutorial demonstrates a method for refinishing furniture with a power sander. For more information, and to get started rejuvenating your own antique furniture, watch this video tutorial.
How To: Build your own custom workbench
Enhance your garage with a custom-built workbench. If you can use a wooden workbench, you can build one. And this carpenter's guide, which presents a complete breakdown of the build process, will show you precisely how to do it. For more information, and to get started building your own custom worktable for your garage woodshop, watch this free video guide.
How To: Build a garage workbench
Want a work table for your garage workshop? If you can use a wooden workbench, you can build one. And this carpenter's guide, which presents a complete breakdown of the build process, will show you precisely how to do it. For more information, and to get started building your own custom worktable for your garage woodshop, watch this free video guide.
How To: Build a workbench on a tight budget
A good first project for anyone interested in doing woodworking projects on a regular or semi-regular basis is, naturally, a wooden workbench. This carpenter's guide will help you to build a solid work table without breaking the bank in the process. For more information, including a step-by-step breakdown of the assembly process, watch this free video tutorial.
How To: Build a fireplace mantel
Have an interest in building a protruded mantelpiece for your fireplace? It's easy. So easy, in fact, that this free woodworker's guide can present a complete overview of the process in fewer than 10 minutes. For more information, including a step-by-step look at the mantel (or mantle) building process, watch this DIY guide.
How To: Design and assemble your own custom kitchen cabinets
Beautiful cabinets really make the kitchen, don't they? Not only are cabinets handy storage, they also lend a certain level of elegance to the room depending on their craftmanship. If you would like to perform a kitchen makeover but don't want to hire someone else to do it for you, check out this eight part tutorial on how to build custom kitchen cabinets on your own.
How To: Install a built-in wardrobe
If you're looking for a means of saving money as well as closet space, installing your own built-in wardrobe can be a great way to go. This free DIY video tutorial provides a nuts-and-bolts overview of the entire process.
How To: Make an accurate boomerang
In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to make an accurate boomerang. Material required are 4-6mm thick ply wood or hard board or paper-mache, saw and some spray paint. Search for and download boomerang plans from the internet. The boomerang has three protrusions or handles equally spaced with each protrusion being 14cm long and the diameter of the circle at their ends being 4.5cm. Trace the plan on the plywood and cut it out with a ‘U’ shaped saw. Next draw out the line for ...
How To: Install Dry Core basement sub floor
First, the plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) subfloor floats on a corrugated or “cleated” waterproof underlayment, so the wood never actually touches the floor. The underlayment material can be made of Styrofoam or heavy-duty polyethylene, the same material used in corrugated plastic drain pipe (one of the toughest plastics available). This underlayment creates an air gap above the concrete. Combined with the wooden panels, the air in this space provides a thermal break that acts as insu...
How To: Create router based inlays in woodworking
In this tutorial, you will learn exactly how to make a router-based inlay. And inlay is made up of small cut out sections of wood, and looks like a stencil or pattern when you are finished.
How To: Build a storage chest with Lowe's
In this five part video series, we are going to be creating a gorgeous storage chest that is sure to be a favorite at your house. Over the course of these videos, I will give you easy to follow instructions, along with some helpful hints.
How To: Turn an old door into a desk
Danny Lipford and Allen Lyle demonstrate how to turn an old door into a desk. First, remove the door hinges. Then, fill the biggest part of the voided hardware holes with wood and seal them with bonding adhesive. Don't leave too much excess bonding adhesive on the door or else you'll have to sand it off once it's dried. You may need at least two coats of bonding adhesive to get the surface level. Cut wood for the sides of the desk and then run them over a router. Sand down the door and the ne...
How To: Spray paint Ikea furniture for a girl's bedroom
The video demonstrates the way of converting a plain IKEA cabinet for a girl's bedroom using spray paint. The person presenting us the video uses a pink all-purpose spray paint from Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch. The cabinet to be painted is dismantled and placed on a table. The person recommends to shake the paint spray bottle well before using it. First she paints the cabinet body and then the two cabinet doors using the pink spray paint. Once the spraying is complete, she lets it dry well and...
How To: Use scrap wood to make a picture frame box
Most people have scrap wood hanging around in their garage collecting dust - so why not make a cool gift out of it? This picture frame box can be made in a couple of days and with a little elbow grease. It is a lovely gift for any occasion, and basically free to make.
How To: Apply a deep red mahogany finish to furniture
Add shimmer and color to your wood furniture with a Deep Red Mahogany Finish. Watch as The Wood Whisper's Marc Spagnuolo shows you how to apply this look to anything wood in your home. First Marc tells you about narrowing down whether or not you have to mask the wood or enhance the wood. After you figure that out you must choose how to color your wood. There are stains, oils, dyes and more! Marc chooses both a Merlot General Finishes Water Based Dye and Brown Mahogany General Finishes Gel Sta...
How To: Build a punching bag out of trash
In this video, Danny Lipford will show you how to make a punching bag with trash found at a construction site. First, a circle of plywood is cut out about one foot in diameter (in this video, a bucket is traced in pencil over the plywood). This is for the base of the punching bag. A large piece of PVC pipe is used for the center of the punching bag, which carpet padding is wrapped around to makeup the main part of the bag. Finally, duct tape is wrapped around the whole thing. Out of these ver...
How To: Make your own professional looking jewelry box
A jewelry box is not just a great way to keep your jewels safe, it is also a beautiful addition to your decor. In this video, learn how to make a gorgeous, professional looking jewelry box from walnut, maple and cherry woods. This in depth, seven piece series takes you from selecting your wood, through the finishing touches. These boxes are lovely enough to compete with anything on a store shelf.
How To: Upholster a full occasional chair
This is a demonstration of how to upholster full an occasion chair. First the seat upholster is removed carefully. The new cloth is cut accordingly to the shape. The edges are folded and stitched. The cloth is spread over the seat, tucked under the hand rest stretched to the bottom and nailed. For the hand rest a rectangular cloth of required color is cut. A piece of foam is spread over the hand rest and covered with the upholstery cloth and stapled at the sides and bottom. The back rest is r...
How To: Use the antique distressed paint technique
Using an antique distressing paint finish technique on furniture is a good way to revive a piece of furniture that other wise might just be discarded. This video is part of a series of videos taking viewers through the process of distressing furniture and focuses on accent technique. You’ll want to accent the select parts of the furniture you want to accentuate that distressed look. Our expert recommends painting the edges of this table. You’ll want to pick a complimentary color and when you ...
How To: Get a nice, even stain on wood
You will learn how to get a nice, even stain on wood in this Home and Garden video tutorial brought to you by TheSoapGuy. It’s really easy and simple to do. Get a finished piece of wood. You should work in a well ventilated area because wood stain generates a lot of fumes. Wood stain comes in aerosol spray and in cans. Mix the stain in the can by rolling the can. Don’t shake it, it will generate bubbles. Open the can and apply the wood stain with a brush evenly on the surface. The more coats ...
How To: Paint any piece of wood furniture
In this Home and Garden video tutorial you will learn how to paint any piece of wood furniture. The video is from CR8everydaycrafts.com and is presented by Jen Grant. You will need yellow and red color general finishes paint, aging wax, sand paper, a piece of soft cloth and of course your furniture. First fine polish the raw wood furniture. Then paint two coats of yellow general finishes paint. Now paint two more coats of red paint. Allow the each coat to dry before painting the next coat. Af...