Steve Maxwell

Whether you’re building a deck or you just need compact cutting power in your workshop, a circular saw is the tool of choice. It boasts versatility and efficiency both indoors and out. And while many workshoppers turn to...

We put seven cordless jigsaws in the hands of our three experienced tool testers and asked them to evaluate the tools by using them in their own workshop. Each test-er evaluated the tools according to the following criteria: -...

Wood is full of surprises, and not all of them are good. That's especially true when you're choosing wood to build outdoors. Just ask anyone who owns a deck that's more than five years old. What started out as beautiful wood is...

Carpentry is a precarious business. So I steer away from the pitfall that traps many professional carpenters. My first six years in the trade taught me that large, prestigious projects are great for reputation, but can leave you...

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this publicly, but here it goes: I'm abandoning wood in exchange for a modern upstart. When I built the 800-sq.-ft. wraparound veranda on my house a dozen years ago, I used 2x6 eastern white...

Durable decks are more difficult to build than they look. That's why it pays to take the time to incorporate top-notch construction details into your next deck project. They're going to cost you a little more time and money up...

Durable decks are more difficult to build than they look. That's why it pays to take the time to incorporate top-notch construction details into your next deck project. They're going to cost you a little more time and money up...

One reason I like small projects is that it’s practical to lavish extra effort when finishing them. That’s where traditional hand-rubbing comes in. It’s a process of applying a very fine abrasive action to wood surfaces that...