Tips Archives | WoodWorkers Guild of America

Set Up Your Miter Saw for Perfect Cuts

May 19, 2017 By George Vondriska & filed under Shop Maintenance, Skill Building.

If you’ve got a miter saw in your shop you probably rely on it for perfectly square cuts, and maybe for cutting angles, too. Follow these simple set up tips to tune up your saw so it’s singing an accurate song. It’s important to know, conclusively, that when you’re shooting for a 90-degree cut you’re…

Electrolysis Rust Removal

May 2, 2017 By George Vondriska & filed under Shop Tips, Skill Building.

Ever get to an auction or flea market and stare lovingly, but in despair, at a hand plane that you’d love to own, but are going to pass on because it’s too rusty? There’s a solution for this problem. Electrolysis. It’s crazy cool, and easy to do. Here’s the overview; submerge the tool in a…

Pizza Points for Finishing

March 7, 2011 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Sanding, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

I had a real “Ah Ha” moment. Looking at a pizza we ordered I realized that the plastic thing in the middle of the pizza that keeps the box from touching the pizza (it looks like a little table) would serve a similar purpose when I’m finishing. I started saving them, and found they work…

Finish Both Sides of a Door in One Setting

February 3, 2011 By David Munkittrick & filed under Finishing, Skill Building.

Here’s a great way to finish doors large or small. This neat little trick allows me to finish both sides of a door in one setting. It also holds the door horizontally so there are no worries about runs and drips in the finish. The set up is easy. Just screw a hanger bolt in…

Get Glue in Tight Spots

January 11, 2011 By David Munkittrick & filed under Gluing and Clamping, Skill Building.

My woodworking business includes a fair amount of repair work. Often, I’m confronted with how to force glue into a hairline crack or a bit of loose veneer. I’ve tried using old business cards but that’s like spreading glue with a wet noodle. I finally found the answer in metal shim stock I use to…

Table Saw Plug Shop Tip

September 30, 2010 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

I have had the bad habit of not unplugging the table saw to change blades.To make it convenient, I mounted a 4 outlet box, on the rear corner of the saw. Right where I stand to change blades. The saw is plugged into one of the outlets, and I use the others for sanders, etc.Right…

Easy European Hinge Mounting

August 11, 2010 By Bruce Kieffer & filed under Cabinet Making, Skill Building.

European hinges must be mounted so their arms are 90 degrees perpendicular to the edge of their door. If they are not, then the hinges will bind and wear excessively over time. I struggled for a long time trying to use a combination square to make the alignment. Then I devised this simple jig. Here’s…

Abrasive Cleaner Stretcher

January 24, 2010 By David Munkittrick & filed under Shop Tips, Skill Building.

I regularly use abrasive cleaner sticks to prevent burning and extend the life of my drum sander belts. I hate to throw away the nubs when they get too short to hold against the spinning drum by hand, (I prefer to sand wood, not fingertips). Instead, I epoxy them onto some 1 x 2 scrap.…

Wax Coating Screws to Prevent Wood Splitting

October 2, 2009 By Reader Submitted & filed under Blog, Member Tips, Shop Tips, Skill Building.

When driving a wood screw into wood without a pilot hole, I like to wax my screws to help prevent splitting. I found it time consuming to sit and rub bee’s wax or candle wax on each screw, so I came up with this idea. Take a toilet seal wax ring (around $2.00 at any…