Wood

Resawing lumber is cutting the stock lengthwise along the edge. Resawing a board creates a thinner piece of stock. This technique is used to make thin panels, such as veneer, and also to make book match panels. Learn how to choose the best band saw blade and band saw fence to resaw a board. A wider blade is best for resawing. Choose a 3/4-in.-wide band saw blade for most 14-in. band saws and choose a 1-in.-wide blade for most 15-in. band saws.

The dado joint is one of the strongest woodworking joints you can make. A dado joint is made from a three-sided channel cut across the grain of one work piece. A second, mating work piece fits into the slot. Dado joints are often used to build cabinets and bookshelves. Dado joints are easy to make using a table saw or router.

Water-based finishes can raise the grain fibers, leaving a rough surface. Before applying water-based finishes, it's a good idea to wet the surface with water to intentionally raise the grain. Then sand the surface with 400 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Now you can apply the finish and it will not raise the grain.

What are the best woods to use when building outdoor furniture? Learn which woods are best for outdoor projects. Ultraviolet rays and moisture are tough on wood. Not all wood can stand up to the elements. Learn which woods will last when exposed to prolonged outdoor conditions.

So far in this series we have looked at simple wood bending in thin stock or with kerf cuts, and forming bent wood parts through laminating thin strips together on a form. In this final installment, we will discuss steam bending wood. Steaming actually changes the cellular structure of wood to make it more pliable. As the wood cools and dries clamped to a form, it very quickly regains most of its original stiffness, but in the shape of the form.

We started this wood bending series exploring simple and kerf bending. In this edition, we look at forming wood parts using thin laminates. As we all know, the thinner the part, the easier it will conform to a curve. Lamination is the process of bending many thin parts together and holding them in the desired shape until the glue between them dries. Once dry, the resulting part will pretty much hold its shape forever.

Nature hates straight lines, and as woodworkers we spend a huge amount of time and effort in making things straight. But curves can and should be a large part of your woodworking. There are several methods for forming wood into curves, and the next few blog posts will explore these techniques. We will be looking at simple force bending, kerf bending, lamination and steam bending.

In this article, we'll take you through the process of refacing your cabinets with pressure sensitive wood veneer and precut end panels. Along with providing step by step instructions, we'll point out the tools and materials you'll need to complete the project, all of which are available at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware.