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
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How To Build a Miter Saw Station

Do you want to transform your workspace? Learn how to build a storage-rich miter saw station from a set of factory toolboxes in this guide.
S21 E26, Nathan Gilbert works with a portable sawmill
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How to Clear a Fallen Tree with a Portable Sawmill

Did a tree recently fall in your backyard or front lawn? Here's how you can use a portable sawmill to turn the wood into something useful.
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.
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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.
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The 5 Best Wood Glues (2024 Review)

Wood glue is an easy way to join two pieces of wood together without using nails or screws. Here are the best wood glues available.
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Celebrating Craftsmanship: The Principles of Sanding Wood

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares why he loves sanding and what goes into a good sanding job.
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How To Use a Mobile CNC Router and the Benefits of Doing so

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert shows how to set up a mobile CNC router and explains the benefits.
using a rubber band to remove a stripped screw

Easy Ways To Extract a Stripped Screw

Learn easy ways to extract a stripped screw with various tools and techniques with our step-by-step guide.
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What Is It? | Sliding Red Metal Tool

The guys from Ask This Old House take a look at a sliding, red metal tool and ask, "What is it?"
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How to Choose Tools for First-Time Woodworkers

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva reviews the best tools to have for beginner or intermediate woodworking projects.
A man applying wood filler to a piece of molded wood.
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What You Need to Know to Choose and Use Wood Fillers

Discover the best practices for selecting and applying wood fillers and achieving perfect repairs in your woodworking projects.
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How To Stain and Finish Wood Furniture

In this video and guide, wood finishing expert Bruce Johnson shares tips for refinishing new and old wood furniture.
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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.
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House of Blue

A curiously colored, waterproof wood fights bugs, fungus, and mold
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Non-toxic, Affordable Pressure-Treated Lumber

A new process encases wood fibers in trace amounts of glass, with surprising results.
A set of files and rasps.

Files and Rasps: The Best Tools for Shaping and Smoothing

There are a variety of files and rasps to choose from, and you might wonder which is the best for your job. Read on to find out.
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How To Protect Against Plier Marks

When it comes to plier marks, prevention is always better than repair. Invest in quality tools and protective accessories.
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When and How To Use a Handsaw for DIY Projects

Having trouble knowing whether to use a handsaw or a power saw? Learn how to choose the best saw for the job with our in-depth handsaw guide.
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Choosing and Using a Random-Orbit Sander

The tool that takes the hassle out of sanding wood
A man using a hand plane on a board of wood.

A Guide to Choosing and Using Hand Planes for Your Projects

Few tools are better for smoothing and shaping wood than a plane tool. Here we share the different types of bench tools, block tools, and maintenance tips.
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Making Wide Miter Saw Crosscuts

Get a bigger bite with this tip
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Finishing Plywood Edges

Iron-on veneer tape does the trick