Archive for: September 2010

Walk into most any hardware or Home Depot type store and invariably you’ll find boxes upon boxes of drywall screws but only a meager selection of woodworking screws. Not only that, the drywall screws cost much less than the woodworking screws. As a consequence, I suspect many a woodworker has pondered the question: “Can drywall screws be used for woodworking?” Well, let’s explore that question a bit…

The conventional wisdom seems to be that drywall screws are not suitable for woodworking projects because: a) they are too brittle and can …

If you’re fond of all your fingers, a good way to help keep them is by using a push stick or push block. This is especially pertinent when milling small pieces on the table saw and jointer but also applies to the router table, shaper, and band saw. A push stick keeps your precious body parts away from the blade and allows for a smoother, more controlled cut. If you ever feel the least bit nervous about making a cut “freehand”, that’s a pretty good indicator that you should be using …

Instead of throwing out sawdust, wood chips, and shavings that are produced in your woodshop, there are a number of uses for these materials in and around your home and garden. Here are a few ideas.

Sawdust Mulch

Sawdust can be used as an organic mulch that is very effective at controlling weeds, insulating soil, and conserving soil water. Sawdust can also be used to improve soil quality, especially if it is combined with other organic materials as part of a composting program. Sawdust tends to be acidic and is best …

Sanding Wood by Going Through the Grits

Sanding is not the most pleasant woodworking task but it goes a lot smoother (pun intended) if you have a system in place for choosing sandpaper grits. That is: what grit to start with, what grit to end with, and what grits to use in between. This process is sometimes referred to as a sanding schedule or sanding sequence or more simply, going through the grits.

Keep in mind that the purpose of sanding is to remove mill marks on the wood created by …