Woodworking Guides

The Best Wood for Beginner Woodworking Projects (Pine, Poplar, Plywood and More)
The Best Wood for Beginner Woodworking Projects (Pine, Poplar, Plywood and More)
Which wood to buy for your first projects, what each species is good at, and how to pick straight boards at the lumber store. Read more...
Woodworking in a Cold Garage: 12 Winter Tips for Glue, Finish, Tools and Safety
Woodworking in a Cold Garage: 12 Winter Tips for Glue, Finish, Tools and Safety
How to keep glue, finishes, batteries and your hands working when the garage drops below 50°F, plus safe ways to heat a small shop. Read more...
15 Easy Weekend Woodworking Projects for Beginners (Finish by Sunday Night)
15 Easy Weekend Woodworking Projects for Beginners (Finish by Sunday Night)
Fifteen beginner projects you can start Saturday morning and finish Sunday night, with the wood, tools and skill each one teaches. Read more...
21 Woodworking Tips for Beginners: What Most People Learn the Hard Way
21 Woodworking Tips for Beginners: What Most People Learn the Hard Way
Twenty-one plain, practical woodworking tips for beginners, from measuring and cutting to glue, sanding, finish and safety. Read more...
How to Set Up a Small Woodworking Shop in a One-Car Garage (Layout + Checklist)
How to Set Up a Small Woodworking Shop in a One-Car Garage (Layout + Checklist)
A one-car garage is plenty of room for a beginner shop if you plan the layout. Here's a simple floor plan, storage ideas and a step-by-step checklist. Read more...
How to Pick Straight Lumber at the Home Center (Never Bring Home a Warped 2x4 Again)
How to Pick Straight Lumber at the Home Center (Never Bring Home a Warped 2x4 Again)
A simple board-by-board check for bow, crook, cup, twist, knots and wet wood, so the lumber you bring home is lumber you can actually build with. Read more...
How to Start Woodworking Without a Garage (Balcony, Closet or Kitchen-Table Setups)
How to Start Woodworking Without a Garage (Balcony, Closet or Kitchen-Table Setups)
No garage? No problem. Pick one of four small-space setups, buy a short list of tools, and start building real projects this weekend. Read more...
First-Year Woodworking Project Plan: 12 Months of Beginner Builds (Start This New Year)
First-Year Woodworking Project Plan: 12 Months of Beginner Builds (Start This New Year)
One project a month for twelve months, each one teaching a skill the next project needs. A simple road map for your first year in the shop. Read more...
Woodworking in an Apartment: 9 Quiet Projects Your Neighbors Won't Hear
Woodworking in an Apartment: 9 Quiet Projects Your Neighbors Won't Hear
You don't need a garage to build things from wood. Here's how to set up a quiet apartment workspace and nine beginner projects that won't upset the neighbors. Read more...
How to Start Woodworking with No Experience: A Beginner's Roadmap
How to Start Woodworking with No Experience: A Beginner's Roadmap
Never touched a saw? This roadmap shows you exactly where to start: the tools, the space, the wood and the first projects that build real skills. Read more...