Author name: Enthusiast

On May 22 last year (2016) I complained about consolidation in the wood finishing industry, which is eliminating competition. The latest was Sherwin-Williams buying Valspar, a move that would effectively remove Valspar as a company independent of the interests of Sherwin-Williams. Many of you agreed with my complaint. The next day I reported that the Federal Trade Commission was looking into this. I guess they heard us because the latest […]

The post They heard us: Valspar Will Spin Off Wood Coatings Division in Sherwin-Williams Merger appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Nearly every time that I approach the planer, I think to myself, how am I going to get rid of snipe this time? Without fail, I end up with snipe at the leading or trailing edge at some point in the process to a varying degree. It has been rumored that some have totally mitigated the issue – but it is relieving to hear Doug Dale at Marc Adam’s School of Woodworking share […]

The post Video: How to Reduce Planer Snipe appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Gluing up narrow boards into big panels stresses out many beginning woodworkers. Sorry to say it, but I have another stressor to put on your shoulders: Don’t tarry. Schnell. Andele. Large panels are like manicured lawns. Right after you mow and trim your yard, it looks like a golf course or a military haircut. But within minutes or hours, the blades of grass and weeds begin to move and grow, […]

The post Big Panels? Don’t Tarry appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

It’s a shame customers don’t know as much about woodworking as woodworkers. They run their hands over your work and if it’s smooth they think it’s good – whereas you know that’s just the temporary wax on top. It shows the customer nothing about the weeks you spent oiling it daily or the high number of light coats of shellac used to create a deep and repairable finish. Customers can also […]

The post Mushroom Your Drawbore Gaps appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Design has always been one of my biggest challenges in woodworking. To be frank, I didn’t know how to create my own designs. I’m always amazed by the innovative designs of other woodworkers, but aside from copying, creating my own seemed beyond my capacity. How woudl I begin to create a vision? Where would I get ideas? And how might I create something that is coherent, makes sense, has “style”? […]

The post Creativity Step by Step: Furniture Design appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Want to be a hero with friends and relatives? Here are two tricks that are surprisingly little known but are worth a lot to your reputation: how to remove crayon and candle wax. Crayons are made of wax, of course, and wax dissolves in turpentine, mineral spirits (paint thinner) and naphtha. None of these solvents damages any finish (except, of course, a wax finish) when used in moderation. So to […]

The post How to Remove Crayon and Candle Wax appeared first on Popular Woodworking Magazine.