Are you ready to take your woodworking projects to the next level? I teach beginner and intermediate woodworkers how to build awesome projects while saving them money on tools and equipment! I make tool and technique videos, downloadable woodworking project plans, tips and tricks, and more!!
Is Your Square REALLY Square?
|
Hey Reader, There’s nothing more frustrating than getting to the end of a project, trying to glue up a box or a drawer, and realizing the corners just won't seat right. Usually, we blame our technique or the wood. But sometimes, the tool actually is the problem. Even a brand-new square from the hardware store can be off by a degree or two, and over a long cut, that adds up fast. Here is a 30 second test to check yours: Grab a scrap piece of plywood with a straight factory edge. Draw a line using your square. Then, flip the square over so it faces the opposite direction and draw another line right next to the first one. If the lines are perfectly parallel, you’re good to go. If they V-shape at all, your square is out of alignment. It’s a simple check, but it’ll save you hours of sanding and "fixing" joints that should have been right the first time. Now go build something awesome! John - Biscuit Tree Woodworks P.S. If you want a project that really puts your square to the test, my Keepsake Box plans are a great way to try some fine woodworking! |
Biscuit Tree Woodworks
Are you ready to take your woodworking projects to the next level? I teach beginner and intermediate woodworkers how to build awesome projects while saving them money on tools and equipment! I make tool and technique videos, downloadable woodworking project plans, tips and tricks, and more!!
Videos | Plans | Tools Hey Reader, Sanding is easily the least favorite part of the job for most of us, so it’s tempting to rush through it. But if you move too fast, you end up with those annoying pigtail swirls or blotchy spots once the finish hits the wood. A quick way to get a professional look is the 50% overlap rule. When you’re using a random orbital sander, move it about one inch per second. That feels painfully slow, but it’s what the tool needs to actually do its job. On your next...
Videos | Plans | Tools Hey Reader, We’ve all been there. You start spreading glue, the clock starts ticking, and suddenly you realize a tenon is too long or you forgot to sand an inside corner. Now you’re rushing to fix it before the glue sets and the stress levels are through the roof! My #1 rule to avoid that is to always, and I mean ALWAYS, do a dry fit first! I never put glue on a joint until the entire project is assembled with clamps just as it will be when I do apply the glue. It lets...
Hey Reader, One of the biggest things I hear from people starting out in woodworking is that they just don't have enough time. Between work, family, and everything else, it’s hard to find a solid four or five hour block to really get into a project. I used to fall into that trap too. I’d wait for the "perfect" Saturday morning, and if something came up, the whole project would sit untouched for another month. Lately I’ve been focusing on beating what I call "shop creep" by using the 15 minute...