We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Effective July 1

Woodworking Tools & Materials

Discover a guide to the tools & materials involved with your woodworking.

S22 E8: Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor build a miter saw station
Play

Filed under:

How to Build a Miter Saw Station

General contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor work together to build a storage-rich miter saw station from a set of factory toolboxes.
S21 E26, Nathan Gilbert works with a portable sawmill
Play

How to Clear a Fallen Tree with a Portable Sawmill

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert’s Christmas tree farm suffered some damage from a fallen red oak. Rather than get rid of it, he’s going to turn it into usable slabs of wood for his projects.
WEN handheld spindle sander, JET OSS 5 tabletop spindle sander against a blue graph paper background. Lead image for best spindle sander guide.

Best Spindle Sanders (2024 Guide)

When a typical belt sander won’t do, experienced woodworkers turn to spindle sanders. These tools add smooth, flat finishes to any piece of wood. In this roundup and buying guide we take a close look at the best spindle sanders available so you can find the perfect fit for any job.
Makita 9403 Belt Sander, BLACK+DECKER Belt Sander, and CRAFTSMAN Belt Sander isolated on a white grid paper background with blue lines. Lead image for the best belt sander guide.

Best Belt Sanders (2024 Guide)

A belt sander helps woodworkers deliver a smooth and polished finish to their work. In this guide, we take a look at the best belt sanders.
DEWALT Thickness Planer and Bosch Palm Sander isolated on a yellow grid paper background

5 Best Woodworking Tools (2024 Guide)

No matter how experienced or inexperienced a woodworker you are, high-quality tools are a must. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best woodworking tools on Amazon.
Best Random Orbital Sander review and guide - lifestyle lead art

5 Best Random Orbital Sanders (2024 Guide)

Random orbital sanders help sand in the direction of the wood grain. Our team reviewed the best random orbital sanders for a variety of jobs.
iStock_1253477232

Wood Putty vs. Wood Filler: What’s the Difference?

You can confidently repair holes, cracks, or scratches in your woodwork when you know which product to use for the job. This guide will help you understand what makes wood putty and wood filler different, and when to use each so you can restore damaged trim, molding, or even furniture to its original glory without fear of doing harm.
best_wood_glue_panel

The 5 Best Wood Glues (2024 Review)

Wood glue creates a permanent chemical bond between two pieces of wood. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best wood glues on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various furniture stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
sanding2_1917_SF
Play

Celebrating Craftsmanship: The Principles of Sanding Wood

Ask This Old House general contractor, Tom Silva, explains why he loves sanding and what goes into a good sanding job.
cnc_router
Play

How to Use a Mobile CNC Router

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert demonstrates a mobile CNC routing machine.
stripped_screw

Easy Way to Extract a Stripped Screw

Too much torque can strip a fastener clean in seconds, but this fix is just as quick
tom_kevin_woodworker_tools
Play

How to Choose Tools for First-Time Woodworkers

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the best tools to have in your shed to start beginner or intermediate woodworking projects
wood_filler_xl
Play

How to Choose and Use Wood Filler

Looking for the best wood hole filler? We offer a variety of options for plugging holes and filling cracks, with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva.
stain_finish_wood_x
Play

How to Stain and Finish Wood Furniture

Wood finishing expert Bruce Johnson shares tips for refinishing new and old furniture
random_orbit_sander_x

Choosing & Using Random Orbit Sanders

Random orbital sanders are both versatile and effective. Learn more about buying and using them from the This Old House experts.
water_proof_wood_x

House of Blue

A curiously colored, waterproof wood fights bugs, fungus, and mold
pressure_treated_lumber_x

Non-toxic, Affordable Pressure-Treated Lumber

A new process encases wood fibers in trace amounts of glass, with surprising results.
files_rasps_x

Files & Rasps

Both are meant to be used between the rough cut of a saw and the smoothing of sandpaper — we'll tell you what types to use for what jobs
padded_pliers_x

Protect Against Plier Marks

Keep your grippers from digging in with this tip
handsaws_x

Making the Cut

Choosing and using handsaws
random_orbit_sander_x

Choosing and Using a Random-Orbit Sander

The tool that takes the hassle out of sanding wood
hand_planes_x

Choosing and Using Hand Planes

Few tools are better for smoothing and shaping wood than a plane tool. Here we share the different types of bench tools, block tools, plane alternatives, and maintenance tips.
miter_saws_x_0

Making Wide Miter Saw Crosscuts

Get a bigger bite with this tip
edge_cover_up_x

Finishing Plywood Edges

Iron-on veneer tape does the trick