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1500 questions
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How can I accurately cross-cut a board that is too wide for my table saw?

I have some 0.75" x 14" wide boards that I'm trying cut to lengths in the 50-60" range. It's important that the cuts be precise, and true. However, 14" is too wide for any of my sleds or miter slides on my table saw. I'm having a very difficult time…
Jason C
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Finishing a desk or tabletop?

I am wanting to make my own computer desk and I am not sure in the steps I need to take to finish it in regards to oiling and applying something like polyurethane which seems to be used in all the YouTube tutorials (it's a bit harder to find in the…
Liam Owens
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How and when should I sharpen my router bits?

I recently got a router and a set of Freud carbide router bits. I had a friend tell me that he sharpens his bits after every use. So I have a few closely related questions: How often should I sharpen my router bits? Is it really necessary to do it…
Doresoom
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Best way to flatten boards by hand

I'm trying to process 4/4 soft maple rough stock into 1/2" thin boards, ready for use in furniture and I'm having a real hard time getting them flat. Here's my process so far: Crosscut a 18" piece from the rough stock, about 12" wide Rip this…
thebeekeeper
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Why are keyed drill chucks still available for modern tools?

Barring support for older tools why are keyed chucks still manufactured? Hopefully not just in my own ignorance but I view keyless chucks as just a useful equivalent without being tethered to the need for a key. A recent question I asked had a link…
Matt
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My band saw blade consistently slips off. What are some common causes of this?

I have an older Craftsman band saw that is very difficult to get the blade back in place and it tends to toss the blade often. It makes it annoying to use the tool. I'm wondering if there is a common set of causes for this behavior that I might be…
Peter Grace
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Issue sanding between coats of polyurethane

So I am playing with finishes for the first time and experimenting with polyurethane. My problem involves quoting the instructions on the can and giving some background into my process. Bear with me. From other answers on WW I understand that…
Matt
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How can I minimize warp due to wood movement when gluing up a panel?

I recently built a small 2' x 3' dresser top out of pine. It was within 1/8" flat and level when I glued it up in the garage, but within a few weeks inside it had warped and buckled significantly. What techniques can I use to minimize the chance of…
Doresoom
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How can I ensure my threaded inserts go in straight?

I'm putting threaded inserts into a MDF base. When I start to screw the insert in, the thread digs in at an angle and pulls the entire insert in at that angle. I thought it would straighten out when it got further down the hole, but it still…
Bill Nace
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Does the speed of sanding a piece of wood affect the end result?

Does the speed of sanding a piece of wood affect the end result? In particular, what is the point of having a dual speed random orbital sander?
beattyac
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Are there any serious and non-obvious disadvantages to thermally modified wood?

A local wood trader has shown me some thermally modifid ash planks (never seen that before!) with a stunning coloring that almost seduced me to immediately buy a table and two benches worth of it and build some new massive garden furniture. Now, the…
Damon
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What's an appropriate wood type for making toy blocks?

The wife wants to create custom painted toy blocks as a gift for a friend. The block will be approximately 3 inches per side, or whatever dimension is convenient based on the wood I purchase. I plan on cutting them using table saw. What type of wood…
longneck
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Recommendation for manual planing and sanding

I am a hobbyist who spends a lot of time manually preparing "plaques" of wood primarily for the purpose of relief carving and/or pyrography. I have very few tools, but what I do have (relevant to this question) includes a manual hand plane and a…
EngBIRD
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What is the difference between full overlay and half overlay hinges?

I am building cabinet doors for a cabinet we inherited from a friend. The cabinet has a 3/4" face frame around the caracasse. I am investigating different hinges, but I am not sure what the difference is between "full overlay" and "half overlay"…
Peter Grace
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Finishing schedule for live edge walnut slab

I'm working on a live edge walnut slab coffee table. This is a photo of the bottom side of the table before any finish is applied sanded to 220 (for reference the holes are for threaded inserts that take a 1/4-20 bolt -- I machined metal legs that…
Doov
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