Woods, Glues, Sanding, Finishing

Yes, every wood has the potential for spalting, however some wood species are more susceptible to the fungal attack that creates the patterning. Both hard and soft woods can be spalted, and the availability of each of these comes down to the typical location where that particular tree grows naturally. Softwoods will spalt quickly while…

For decades, maybe even centuries, the natural patterns and intricate details that are exhibited in wood that has spalting within it has captivated the hearts and minds of the creative wood worker. The feature that we call spalting is a natural process and is one that allows us to capture a snap shot of that…

If you are a wood worker like me you will eventually come to a situation where end grain will need to be joined somewhere and the concern about glue joint integrity fills the mind. Is the joint strong and can it be trusted? End grain has it’s own set of peculiarities that we need to…

In the 25 years I have been wood turning I have noticed the interest in wooden kitchen items made from spalted wood has never wavered. While woodworkers around the world have long marveled at the fascinating colors and patterns that pieces of spalted wood often hold, and while they can be incredibly beautiful, there is…

The use of drum sanders has become more and more common as the woodwork hobby industry has expanded into products like the end grain cutting board. The challenge for the woodworker is to find the right grit to get the job done without leaving too much work after the drum sander for the random orbital….

End grain cutting boards are fantastic bits of kit for the kitchen and if made correctly will last decades, but there are a few common issues that people have when the time comes to make a board and/or put that new board into use. This article is a list of the 7 most common mistakes…

Have you ever had a woodwork project go backwards because the wood you selected decided to take a turn for the worse? It can be a frustrating thing and can be difficult to wrap your head around at times. It has happened to me many a time and so this article is here to help…