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It’s the rare woodworking endeavor that’s low-cost, no-risk, and that offers the reward of honing your skills while producing nice-looking, useful items. Making refrigerator magnets checks all those boxes. It doesn’t involve any special commercial equipment—just regular turning tools, a 4-jaw chuck, and a lathe-mounted drill chuck.

Wide, sweeping coves such as those found in crown molding and raised panels are a hallmark of good woodworking. 

The Arts & Crafts (or Mission) style has always appealed to me. I find myself drawn to its typically simple, clean lines and unobscured wood grain. 

I suspect that a lot of empty nesters would like to convert a kid’s former room into a usable space for other pursuits while still having it available for visiting friends and family. 

I enjoy Shaker furniture—it’s beautiful in its simplicity and it possesses an elegant utility. A particular piece has always caught my eye: the long-back hanging step stool. 

Vacuum veneering and lamination doesn’t always require professional equipment costing hundreds of dollars. A new hand-powered vacuum-bag system can introduce you to this professional technique easily and inexpensively.  

Lamps are fun to build. They  go together quickly, require minimal material, and allow a lot of creative leeway. A few years ago, I developed a method for making shades from thin plywood, opening up even more design possibilities and a chance to break away from relying on commercial shades.

I have thousands of songs in my phone, to say nothing of the apps streaming satellite radio, live sports, and more. But when I’m without headphones or a Bluetooth speaker, getting all that entertainment out of the phone and into my ears leaves much to be desired. 

There’s something about a beautifully designed three-tiered serving platter that’s classy, timeless, and certain to impress guests. In addition to its stacking functionality, it looks great as a dinner table or side table centerpiece, and serves for ideal presentation of desserts, chocolates, fruit, and other goodies. 

Many woodworkers struggle with designing, whether it’s with a pencil or mouse. Even if you can sketch and/or navigate design software, it can still be difficult to get a good sense of how a piece of completed furniture is going to relate to real space.