Woodworking Tools & Materials
Discover a guide to the tools & materials involved with your woodworking.
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How to Build a Miter Saw Station
General contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor work together to build a storage-rich miter saw station from a set of factory toolboxes.
How to Clear a Fallen Tree with a Portable Sawmill
Carpenter Nathan Gilbert’s Christmas tree farm suffered some damage from a fallen red oak. Rather than get rid of it, he’s going to turn it into usable slabs of wood for his projects.
Best Spindle Sanders (2024 Guide)
When a typical belt sander won’t do, experienced woodworkers turn to spindle sanders. These tools add smooth, flat finishes to any piece of wood. In this roundup and buying guide we take a close look at the best spindle sanders available so you can find the perfect fit for any job.
Best Belt Sanders (2024 Guide)
A belt sander helps woodworkers deliver a smooth and polished finish to their work. In this guide, we take a look at the best belt sanders.
5 Best Woodworking Tools (2024 Guide)
No matter how experienced or inexperienced a woodworker you are, high-quality tools are a must. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best woodworking tools on Amazon.
5 Best Random Orbital Sanders (2024 Guide)
Random orbital sanders help sand in the direction of the wood grain. Our team reviewed the best random orbital sanders for a variety of jobs.
Wood Putty vs. Wood Filler: What’s the Difference?
You can confidently repair holes, cracks, or scratches in your woodwork when you know which product to use for the job. This guide will help you understand what makes wood putty and wood filler different, and when to use each so you can restore damaged trim, molding, or even furniture to its original glory without fear of doing harm.
The 5 Best Wood Glues (2024 Review)
Wood glue creates a permanent chemical bond between two pieces of wood. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best wood glues on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various furniture stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
Celebrating Craftsmanship: The Principles of Sanding Wood
Ask This Old House general contractor, Tom Silva, explains why he loves sanding and what goes into a good sanding job.
How to Use a Mobile CNC Router
Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert demonstrates a mobile CNC routing machine.
Easy Way to Extract a Stripped Screw
Too much torque can strip a fastener clean in seconds, but this fix is just as quick
How to Choose Tools for First-Time Woodworkers
Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the best tools to have in your shed to start beginner or intermediate woodworking projects
How to Choose and Use Wood Filler
Looking for the best wood hole filler? We offer a variety of options for plugging holes and filling cracks, with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva.
How to Stain and Finish Wood Furniture
Wood finishing expert Bruce Johnson shares tips for refinishing new and old furniture
Choosing & Using Random Orbit Sanders
Random orbital sanders are both versatile and effective. Learn more about buying and using them from the This Old House experts.
House of Blue
A curiously colored, waterproof wood fights bugs, fungus, and mold
Non-toxic, Affordable Pressure-Treated Lumber
A new process encases wood fibers in trace amounts of glass, with surprising results.
Files & Rasps
Both are meant to be used between the rough cut of a saw and the smoothing of sandpaper — we'll tell you what types to use for what jobs
Protect Against Plier Marks
Keep your grippers from digging in with this tip
Making the Cut
Choosing and using handsaws
Choosing and Using a Random-Orbit Sander
The tool that takes the hassle out of sanding wood
Choosing and Using Hand Planes
Few tools are better for smoothing and shaping wood than a plane tool. Here we share the different types of bench tools, block tools, plane alternatives, and maintenance tips.
Making Wide Miter Saw Crosscuts
Get a bigger bite with this tip
Finishing Plywood Edges
Iron-on veneer tape does the trick