Woodworker's Journal

Woodworker's Journal stands as the top resource for woodworking enthusiasts in the United States. Our mission is to offer valuable tips and effective tool techniques to help you succeed in your woodworking projects. Additionally, we provide the newest tool reviews and news from the woodworking world.

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Mother's Day Gifts Gone but not Forgotten - Woodworking

1 week ago | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

My wife doesn’t make a big fuss about Mother’s Day gifts. But in 2001, she had a very specific request. It was our first spring in a new-to-us home with a large backyard patio. She wanted a couple of Adirondack chairs for Mother’s Day to spruce up that outdoor space. I was more than happy to oblige. I bought some Western red cedar, stainless steel screws and got down to business.
Old Reliable - Woodworking

3 weeks ago | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

Do you have a favorite hand tool? I have quite a few I wouldn’t easily part with, and one of them is a Starrett combination square Starrett combination square I purchased about 25 years ago. It’s not that this square has sentimental value for me, although I’ve built many, many projects with it. I could replace it with an exact duplicate tomorrow, so it isn’t even rare.
Muscle Memory - Woodworking

1 month ago | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

Last week, I finished filming a video in which I install Rockler’s new Rock-Steady Folding Table Saw Outfeed Kit on my 2005-ish Delta Unisaw. If you’re new to woodworking and don’t have an outfeed table, they make a world of difference when you’re wrangling long or heavy stock across your saw. They also keep offcuts from falling off the back of the saw once cut free, which is helpful. After all, who wants to bend over to pick all that stuff up anyway?
No Turning Back - Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To

2 months ago | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

Two weeks ago, I asked you to share some stories about when you all caught the woodworking “bug.” Thanks for all the replies! Some great stories have come in, and you can read them in this week’s Feedback section. I’m not sure if we find woodworking or if woodworking finds us, in some sort of magical way.
When Did You Know You Were a Woodworker?

2 months ago | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

Back in the 1980s, woodworking was part of our general middle school curriculum. That gave me the chance to dabble in a woodshop at a young age. But it wasn’t until after college that I started to take woodworking seriously. Newly married and of very modest means, my wife and I wanted a hutch to store all the kitchen supplies that wouldn’t fit in our postage-stamp-sized first kitchen. We couldn’t afford to buy a new one, so I decided to build a hutch instead. It’s still in the family to this day.
Doing It Yourself

Jan 28, 2025 | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

Last Sunday evening, our water heater stopped making hot water. I was informed of that in no uncertain terms when my wife and daughter were both trying to take showers in different bathrooms at the same time. They weren’t one bit happy about the increasingly uncomfortable chill, either. My response to the issue was much as it always is when something breaks – I started researching how to fix it myself. That stems from being a self-taught woodworker and DIYer from way back.
Quality Is in the Details

Jan 14, 2025 | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

Last week, I assembled Rockler’s Cutting Board Juice Groove Routing Jig to prepare for an upcoming video. The process took about 45 minutes. By the time I had the jig clamped to my cutting board workpiece, I was confident in what I was about to do to cut the juice groove. And that’s not because I have experience with this jig. Rather, it was the clarity of the instructions, the quality of the components and the ease with which it all came together that gave me that assurance.
Your Words of Wisdom

Jan 7, 2025 | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

One of my responsibilities with Rockler involves answering customer questions about our newer products. And while all of us at Rockler, including call support specialists, store associates and many others involved with product development and the website, are happy to answer your questions, I’m often impressed by how quickly and helpfully other customers come to one another’s aid.
Sensuously Sharp

Dec 10, 2024 | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

A sharp hand plane is a joy to use. I was reminded of that this past weekend while softening some corners on a frame project I’m building for a gift. The minuscule curls of wood peeled away so effortlessly with my block plane that I was a little disappointed when the job was done!In his book The Perfect Edge, expert sharpener Ron Hock has this to say about keen edges:“There is nothing like the simple pleasure of using a properly sharpened tool.
Counting My Woodworking Blessings

Nov 26, 2024 | woodworkersjournal.com | Chris Marshall

The yams are bought, a turkey is just days away from the roaster and our daughter will be arriving a day sooner for the holiday than expected – life is good! I’m reminded of my blessings, which of course include woodworking. Here are eight:1) I’m thankful for a safe indoor shop space where I can be creative. 2) I’m richly blessed with tools and supplies; my woodworking efforts would be fruitless without them. 3) I’m fortunate to have the hand and eye coordination to continue to do precise work.