Steve Maxwell

There are two kinds of handheld circular saws, and the difference boils down to the way power from the motor is delivered to the blade. So-called sidewinder saws have the motor either on the left- or right-hand side of the blade,...

Pattern routing (also called template routing) is a powerful method for duplicating wooden parts quickly and precisely on any router table. But before the appearance of a new design of router bit, there's been one annoying problem...

I like most things about power finishing nailers, except the holes they leave behind. And the ragged, rectangular marks created by typical finishing nailers always look second-rate, even when filled. That's why I took notice when...

With a traditional European bench in my shop, you'd figure I wouldn't need any more ways to hold wood while planing and sawing. After all, I already have a face vise to hold boards on edge and an end vise that holds them flat on...

Your personal temperament, risk tolerance and expectations are almost as important as the technical issues when choosing the best deck foundation. You have a choice between either dealing with seasonal movement in order to save...

Spray guns are the fastest way to put a great finish on wood. That's why they're used all the time by professionals. Trouble is, home workshoppers have traditionally been shut out of spray finishing because big air compressors...

Putting a finish on your deck isn't a destination, it's a journey. By that, I mean you might get to stop and rest for a while, but the job of preventing your deck from slowly decaying into old barnboard never really ends. The...

It's easy to spend $10,000 or more on lumber for a deck, and depending on how you fasten that deck together, it could last anywhere from 15 years to 50. Which do you choose? Giving your deck the best chance at a long life hinges...

Letting your next outdoor project weather naturally-turning to a silver-grey sounds so casual and green, almost Zen. The problem: natural weathering often looks ugly, especially when there's a little black mould here and some...