Welcome to our Woodworking Tips Library!

We've created a Woodworking Tips Library here at Highland Woodworking to help you become a better woodworker. The library contains a free collection of original articles on woodworking tips, woodworking questions and answers and techniques written to help woodworkers master both fundamental and advanced woodworking skills and techniques. Over the years, we have published numerous woodworking editorials, woodworking advice from customers and woodworking how to videos; too many to list so for even more woodworking tips use our search tool which will search all of Highland Woodworking's woodworking articles by topic. If you are new to woodworking check out our Woodworking Tool List For Starters and Woodworking Tool Essentials to get the basics.

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Our woodworking tips and articles are available as web links and many are also printable .pdf documents that can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat or any .pdf viewer. Enjoy!

WOODWORKING POWER TOOLS

Bandsaws & Bandsaw Blades

• Slicing Wood: A Practical Guide to Successful Resawing with your bandsaw
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Clean Machine: Bandsaw Dust Control that Works
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Coiling Bandsaw Blades
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Bandsaw Puzzle Cubes
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Leading You On: Feed Direction is the Key to Resawing
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Coplanar Bandsaw Wheels
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Taking a Flutter: Bandsaw Blade Vibration
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Resawing Treated Lumber: Demolition Derby
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Bandsaw Blade Length: What size bandsaw blade do I need?
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• How To Tension A Bandsaw Blade
  

Wood Routers & Router Bits

• Installing Router Bits
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Tage Frid's Mortising Jig
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Routers Go Left!
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Avoiding Damage to Table-Mounted Routers
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Router and Drill Dowel Making Jig
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• The Infinite Oval: A Router Jig for Ovals and Circles
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Making It Plane: How to Flatten a Workbench with a Router
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Adjustable Router Table Mount
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Big Router Bits, Small Bases
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Using Router Collet Adapters
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Miter Guides for Router Tables
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Care and Sharpening of Router Bits
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Changing Speeds: Choosing Router RPM
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Leigh Template Guidebush System Selection Chart
  

Stationary Tools

• A Shop-Built Tablesaw Tenon Jig
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Understanding Snipe
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Setting Jointer Knives
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Tablesaw Cut-Off Stop Blocks
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• In Your Face: Tablesaw Dust Control
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Installing Tablesaw Blades
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Building a Sliding Table for Your Tablesaw
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Feather Boards
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  

WOODWORKING HAND TOOLS & WOODWORKING TIPS

Woodworking Hand Tools & Shop Techniques

• Tuning Metal Bench Planes for the Rest of Us
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Seven Steps to Peak Handplane Performance
  
  
• Perfectly Flat Planes
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• A Guide to Sharpening Chisels and Plane Irons
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Hock Plane Blades to Improve Hand Plane Performance
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Fitting Clifton Plane Irons in Bailey Planes
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Life After Sandpaper
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Sharpening #80 Cabinet Scrapers
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Modifying Clifton Spoon Bits
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• The Stationary Biscuit Joiner: A Simple Jig for Productive Precision
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• When Biscuit Joints Go Bad
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Taming Wild Veneers
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Animal Glues (Hide Glue)
  
  
• Clamping Mitered Boxes: Another Tage Frid Solution
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Measuring Turning Tools
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Moisture Content Of Wood
  
  
• Clamping Up
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Winding Sticks
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

Wood Finishing & Wood Sanding

• A Knock-Down Spray Booth for Non-Commercial, Home Use
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• A Beginner's Guide to Spray Finishing
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Fish-Eye Eliminator
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Mision Oak Finish
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Mixing Shellac
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Wax Eloquent: Make Your Own Wax
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Life After Sandpaper
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Preserving Wood's Color
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Raising the Grain
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Spraying Orange Peel
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Spontaneous Combustion: Wood Finishing Without Flare
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Hand Rubbed Wood Finish
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Water Over Oil: Using Hydrocote on Stains
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Arti Water-Soluble Dyes Mixing Instructions
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  


• Color Triangles
  


• Aerosol Finishes
  


• Story Boards
  


• Shading Wood
  


• Pros and Cons of Wax Finishes
  


• Using Hide Glue Putty
  


• Wet Sanding with Penetrating Oils
  


• Removing Pet Stains from Hardwood Floors
  


• Finishing with Crackle
  


• Silicone Contamination
  


• Furniture Touch-Up Markers
  


• Curlin' Burls and Swinging Flames
  


• Inpainting
  


• Painting Laminates
  


• Removing Mold
  


• Aging Brasses
  


• Clamping Tricks
  


• Epoxy Putty Sticks
  


• Rolling and Tipping
  


• In a Pinch Finish Tips
  


• Holiday Cheers and Smears
  


• Finishing in Cold Weather
  


• Sanding Between Coats
  


• Blotching
  


• Spontaneous Combustion
  


• Gilding Powders
  


• 3D Finishing
  


• Chemical Safety
  


• Stripping Basics
  


• Painted Finishes
  


• Finish Durability
  


• Using India Ink
  


• Wipe-On Varnish
  


• Reversible vs. Non-Reversible Finishing
  


• A-B Bleach
  


• Wet Sanding
  


• Spray Finishing
  


• How Many Coats of Finish?
  


• Selecting the Right Finish
  


• Distressing a Piece
  


• Using Wood Putty
  


• Using Milk Paint
  


• Wipe-On Finishes
  


• Fading Finishes
  


• Smashing Repairs
  


• Steaming Mars
  


• Cleaning a Finish
  


• Decorative Painting
  


• Wood Glue Types and Uses
  


• Using Touch-Up Powders
  


• Contamination in Antique Restoration
  


• Prepping for the Top Coat
  


• Clarity with Satin Finishes
  


• Preserving Patina
  


• Wet Sanding
  


• Protecting Your Furniture
  


• Spray Finishing Safety
  


• Oxalic Acid in Furniture Restoration
  


• Distressing a Finish
  


• Off Gassing and Wood Finishes
  


• Bleaching in Furniture Restoration
  


• Getting the Shabby Chic Look
  


• Simple Veneer Repairs
  


• Touching Up Hardwood Floors
  


• Cleaning Your Finishing Brushes
  


• Using Soft Wax
  


• All About Paste Wood Fillers
  


• Green Finishing
  

Dust Control

• Small Shop Dust Collection Simplified
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• The Devil's in the Dust
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Shaker Felt Filter Bags for Dust Collectors
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Clean Machine: Bandsaw Dust Control that Works
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• In Your Face: Tablesaw Dust Control
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Shop Vacs vs. Dust Collectors
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  

Sharpening Woodworking Tools

• Basic Plane Iron Sharpening - instructions to sharpen plane blades front and back
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• User's Guide to the Makita 9820-2 Sharpener
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• How To Sharpen An Axe
  
  
• Life After Sandpaper
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Sharpening #80 Cabinet Scrapers
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Cutting vs. Scraping
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Waterstone Sharpening
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Hollow Grinding: Necessity or Relic?
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Build an Angle Setting Jig to Sharpening Plane Irons & Sharpening With The Jig
  (printable .pdf of this article) & Sharpening With The Jig .pdf
  
  
• A Guide to Sharpening Chisels and Plane Irons
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Sharpening Forstner Bits
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Achieving Balance for your Stationary Bench Grinding Wheels
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• New Tools Need Sharpening
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

Product & Kit Instructions

• Turn a Wood-Handled 4-in-1 Screwdriver
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Highland Woodworking's Rosewood Plane Handles
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Turn a Scratch Awl
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Instructions for Patternmakers Vise
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Mounting Quick-Release Vises
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

Helpful Woodworking Formulas & Reference

• Measuring for Mortise Taper Size
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Helpful Woodworking Formulas & References
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Fractional Conversion Table
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Converting Linear to Board Feet
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Building a Steam Box
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Standard Furniture Dimensions
  (printable .pdf of this article)


• Choosing Wood Carving Tools


• Woodworking Tips For Beginners

THE DOWN TO EARTH WOODWORKER

Past Columns

• Who is the "Down to Earth Woodworker?"
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• 5S Your Workshop for Efficiency, Comfort, Safety, and Fun
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

Miter Saw Station

• Miter Saw Cut List
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Miter Station Measured Drawing
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• MSC Drawer Cut List
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

Mobile Sanding Center

• Mobile Sanding Center Cut Diagram
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Mobile Sanding Center Cut List
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Sanding Center Drawer Cut
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Sanding Center End View
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Sanding Center Front View
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Sanding Center Top View
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

• Shooting Board
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Shooting Board Design Video
  
  

Decision Matrix

• Decision Matrix
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

• Pet Steps Cut List
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Pet Steps Drawing
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

• Large Roller-Holder Plan
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

• SawStop Outfeed Drawing Notes
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• #1 Top Assembly
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• #2 Front View
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• #3 Side View
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• #4 Pedestal Leg Positions
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• #5 Shelf Detail - Trim
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• #6 Top Trim
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• #7 Drawer Boxes
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

• Finishing Enclosure Cut List
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Finishing Enclosure Cost List
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

• Cabinet Side Detail
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  
• Cabinet Configurator
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

• MagSwitch "Roadmap"
  (printable .pdf of this article)
  
  

MY LAST WORKSHOP: A SERIES

• Part 1: Getting Started
  
  
• Part 2: Permitting
  
  
• Part 3: Getting Bids
  
  
• Part 4: Demolition of an Old Shed
  
  
• Part 5: Construction
  
  
• Part 6: Construction Framing
  
  
• Part 7: Construction Details
  
  
• Part 8: Details Continued
  
  
• Part 9: Final Inspection
  
  
• Part 10: Final Details