Steve Maxwell

At a previous Canadian Home Workshop Show, I spoke with a reader in front of the magazine’s Project Showcase, which featured projects on display. Each item was gorgeous, and that's why this man was unhappy. “I have a shop...

Trim–it really does tie a room, woodworking project or built-in project together. And, in spite of all the varieties available commercially, I recommend you make your own. There are three reasons using a router table as a...

Whenever you build a project in your workshop, you're launching something into history. The more personal that project is, the more sentimental value it accumulates over the years. This is especially true with gifts, and it's why...

No matter how much trouble you've had finishing wood in the past, you're only four easy steps away from silky smooth success. There are dozens of ways to finish wood, and my no-fail finish is ideal for furniture, cabinets and...

It's getting harder to ignore the evidence that we're creating a strain on the planet. As workshoppers, we have more than the usual amount of influence in this regard, either for good or for bad. Here are 15 ways you can tip the...

When it comes to working with hand planes and chisels, the state of your cutting edge determines the difference between drudgery and delight. In fact, you need to master sharpening your hand tools properly or there's no point in...

You may not have noticed yet, but there’s an up-and-coming tool category that I expect will improve DIY options across the board. Generically called track-guided saws, these light, simple power tools are changing the way sheet...

Dovetails make a beautiful and strong joint. A jig makes it easy to cut these great-looking joints accurately. But do they make sense for your workshop? That depends on how much time you have, how much you value traditional...

When the first cordless tools appeared in the 1980s, they were all limited by the same thing: wimpy batteries. That's why it's been interesting to watch new tools emerge in cordless form because batteries and chargers have...

Imagine being able to fasten trim, moulding and small pieces of wood instantly and invisibly with a flick of your index finger. No more obvious nail holes; no more filling. Pin nailers promise this, and while they're not a...