Achieving a Quality Finish with Gel Stain and Varnish

Achieving a Quality Finish with Gel Stain and Varnish

One of the most important parts of kit building, or woodworking in general, is finishing. This is also where many of us can fall short. The attention you pay to sanding and finishing can make or break the quality of a piece of fine furniture. Here is a short review of proper sanding and finishing techniques. Mr. Sandman The first three secrets

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The Pros of Poplar

The Pros of Poplar

Poplar is a species of wood that is commonly used in woodworking. You can find poplar in many furniture projects, toys, and wood-turnings because it is fairly workable and takes nails, screws, and glue well. We use poplar as a secondary wood in many of our kits. Early woodworkers started using secondary woods around the time mahogany began to

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The History of Woodworking

The History of Woodworking

Woodworking…Is the process of building, making, or carving something using wood.Along with stone, mud, and even animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood. The development of civilization was closely tied to

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Warped Boards & How to Fix Them

Warped Boards & How to Fix Them

What is Warp?First of all, let’s talk about what “warp” is and what it is not:Warp is a bend or “cupping” of a board across the grain, not with the grain. Usually this means that a board will be warped across the width of the board, not its length. (When a board is bent or cupped with the grain it is known as “bow.”)Causes of WarpTo understand warp

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