Page 9 - Learn Woodworking Tips with Rockler

New water-based polyurethane topcoat adds protection to bare or painted wood without imparting color or altering sheen.

Our finishing expert and publisher agree that meticulous prep work is key to achieving “glassy smooth” with paint.!

Mitered corners are often used to make boxes. A mitered corner is a clean joint that hides the end grain of the box sides. The downside of a mitered corner is not the strongest joint because it is formed by connection of two end grain faces. One way to strengthen this joint and add a decorative accent is to run a dowel through the miter at a 45 degree angle. Installing the dowels may look tricky, but it's actually an easy process when you use the Rockler Corner Key Doweling Jig . The jig makes the angled drilling accurate and easy. No other product on the market offers the same functionality, repeatability and convenience. Extended length bits are required.

Another variation of a mortise-and-tenon joint is the loose-tenon configuration. It's a tried-and-true option that has served woodworkers for decades.

A Murphy bed, sometimes called a folding bed, is the perfect option for a small bedroom or for a guest bed that is only used occasionally. You can choose from two types of Murphy beds. The most common type are vertical Murphy beds that locates the head of the bed against the wall and extend out from the wall. Another option is a side mount or horizontal Murphy bed that locates the side of the bed along the wall.This free plan demonstrates how to make a horizontal twin-size Murphy bed. This is a great choice for small rooms. The orientation of this bed leaves enough open wall above it that you could hang cabinets or even a flat-screen TV there if you like. It’s a good use of space. If you'd rather build a vertical Murphy bed then check out our free Vertical Murphy Bed Plan.

The clean and timeless look of Shaker cabinets make them a popular style choice. The secret to building frame-and-panel Shaker cabinet doors or drawer fronts is to use the Rockler Rail-and-Stile Shaker Router Bit Set. Rail-and-stile joints, also referred to as cope-and-stick joints, feature a frame profile that surrounds the panel and a groove that contains the panel. Watch the video (below) to learn how easy it is to set up and use a cope-and-stick router bit set. We have everything you need to make and install Shaker doors for your next furniture project or complete kitchen remodel, including the lumber, tools, fasteners, finishes, and hardware. You can even determine your door part dimensions using our Woodshop Calculator tool.

SawStop Table Saws are well known for their innovative blade brake safety technology. This table saw safety solution is available in all of their table saws. The best saw for your shop depends on the types of woodworking projects you make and where you do your woodworking. This demo will walk you through the benefits of three of the bestselling SawStop Table Saws.

Modern machines and jigs simplify and streamline their construction.

There are three basic reasons for buying a "bench top" router table (a router table intended to stand on a workbench or other support rather than taking up a permanent space on the floor): cost, compactness, and portability.

Bring two flat surfaces together with glue or other reinforcements, and you've created woodworking's simplest joint.

There is a wide variety of safety gear on the market that applies to table saw use. Push sticks of various types and styles protect fingers. Featherboards secure and guide stock. Personal protective equipment shields hearing, eyesight and lungs. But to be effective, these items need to be routinely used.