Simple Solution to Improve Accuracy in the Shop


Hey Reader,

Accuracy in the shop usually comes down to the smallest details.

A standard carpenter’s pencil is great for framing a house, but for furniture or shop jigs, that thick lead isn't ideal.

A dull pencil line can be 1/32 of an inch wide. If you’re off by a "pencil width" on both sides of a board, your piece is suddenly a 1/16th off. Do that a few times, and nothing fits.

Try switching to a 0.5mm mechanical pencil or even a marking knife.

When your line is thinner, your cuts get more precise, and your joints start fitting together like they’re supposed to. It’s a $2 upgrade that makes a massive difference in the quality of your work.

Now go build something awesome!

John - Biscuit Tree Woodworks

P.S. A sharp line is a lifesaver when you're building something like the Table Saw Cross Cut Sled. It’s one of my most popular plans for a good reason! You can check out the individual plan here:

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!!

Read more from Biscuit Tree Woodworks

Videos | Plans | Tools Hey Reader, I have new and exciting news! I just finished completely rebuilding biscuittreewoodworks.com from the ground up! The old site was getting a bit clunky, so I wanted to create something cleaner, faster, and much easier to navigate whether you are looking for specific project plans or just browsing. The checkout process is also a whole lot smoother now, which should save you some frustration. After getting lots of questions, I finally put together a brand new...

Videos | Plans | Tools Mission Accomplished: $7,000 for the Purple Heart Project! I am absolutely blown away! When I started this 30-day mission, I knew this community was special, but you all truly exceeded every expectation I had! Over the last month, we had 491 orders for the Cedar Planter Box plans. This generated $4,419 raised for the veterans and Purple Heart Project! As promised, I am contributing my personal pledge of $2,500, and I’ve decided to round the final total up for a grand...

Videos | Plans | Tools Hey Reader, I think we all get a little bit of "analysis paralysis" when we’re about to cut into a nice piece of walnut or cherry. You’ve spent the money on good quality lumber, and you don't want to blow it on a simple mistake. The best way I’ve found to get past that is to test your setup on some scrap pine or plywood first. Once you’ve cut that joint or shaped that curve on a piece of scrap wood, you can be more confident everything will go right with the more...