Steve Maxwell

Wood is wonderful stuff, but I wonder sometimes if woodworkers aren’t hooked on the material so much as they are on the act of creating things with it. That’s the case with me, and that’s why I’m writing about welding in...

Solid wood isn't always the best material for woodworking. The proof? Medium-density fibreboard. Commonly called MDF, this very fine-grained sheet material is an inexpensive alternative to solid wood and veneered plywoods. This...

Many of the advances we enjoy today in the workshop ultimately spring from innovations in glue chemistry. Sheet goods depend on it, biscuit and dowel joinery couldn't happen without it, and woodworking everywhere is simplified...

Sanding is both a plague for woodworkers and an essential ingredient of great craftsmanship. You may get everything else right, but if you mess up on the sanding, your project will be second-rate. Unfortunately, necessity...

Anything that spins at 25,000 rpm presents both great potential and great pitfalls. That’s certainly the case with routers. They let you create interlocking joints, decorate project edges and even duplicate parts with amazing...

Every woodworker makes a mistake sooner or later, but the good ones know how to fix them. That's what really matters. And that's what you'll get here: real-world tips for fixing your real-world woodworking problems. 1. Removing...

Clothesline poles, mailbox supports, bird-feeder stands and garden trellises are all some of the big and beefy outdoor projects I’ve tackled, and all are based on the same four woodworking strategies. Cutting and fitting big...

One of the best things about being a home workshopper is you can afford to indulge in woodworking luxuries that aren't feasible in industry. The tenon is a good example. Though they're almost extinct on the commercial furniture...

The first time I glued pieces of wood together along their edges was while building the top for a butler's tray tabletop. It was the first big project that I built to sell, but the instructions on the plans I was following didn't...

Working with improperly dried wood is like falling into a pit. By the time your plight is obvious, it's too late-assembled parts warp, glue joints crack and a rising sense of panic takes hold. I know because I've felt it. I also...