Wood storage is a challenge for nearly every woodworker. It takes up so much room. It collects dust. And insects. And, the occasional snake. And it’s rarely organized sufficiently that one can quickly and easily access the exact material they want. My wood storage evolved from a structural feature in our new-20-years-ago house. The heavy, concrete […]
Happy New Year to everybody reading this. I don’t know about you, but 2016 was a mish mash of wonderful, and downright discouraging. I am very ready for 2017. Each New Year, I am faced with the challenge of making resolutions or not. Normally, I choose not to. I have felt that they seem to […]
Everyone knows that heat kills. Saw blades. Overheated edges sharpened on a grinder. Motors forced to work harder than they were intended. Nothing is susceptible to heat damage like electronics. Stereos, computers, high-intensity lighting with electronic controls. I almost never turn on my laptop in the shop. Sometimes, if I need it for just a […]
No Southern-fried Southern boy wants to be called a Yankee, but we share the characteristics of shrewdness and thrift. Thus, each month we include a money-saving tip. It’s OK if you call me “cheap.” This is a Matt Cremona tip, but it’s one I just had to share because it revolutionized sharpening for me. Matt […]
As a beginner woodworker, I have accomplished few enough things that I have a staggering amount to discover in any direction I turn. The reasons I was drawn to the craft in the first place included the joy of making things with my hands, a wish to share a hobby with my dad, and an all-encompassing love […]
Welcome to “Tips From Sticks-In-The-Mud Woodshop.” I am a hobbyist who loves woodworking and writing for those who also love the craft. I have found some ways to accomplish tasks in the workshop that might be helpful to you, and I enjoy hearing your own problem-solving ideas. Please share them in the COMMENTS section of each […]
Looking back at my resolutions for 2016, I happily scored high, about a B+, with my plan to stimulate my middle son with his birthday “gift of Time” to pursue time in his shop or at a workshop to learn more about his passion for tools and fabrication. Thanks to the generous support from his […]