Learn the fundamentals
Tools, techniques, joinery and finishing — explained in plain English by people who actually build. Start here, then go make something.
Woodworking Tools for Beginners: What You Actually Need
A no-nonsense starter tool list for new woodworkers — what to buy first, what to skip, and how to start building without spending a fortune.
Read itWood Joints Explained: 6 Joints Every Beginner Should Know
A plain-English breakdown of the six most useful wood joints — when to use each, how hard they are to cut, and how much strength they actually provide.
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Types of Wood for Woodworking: A Beginner's Guide
Softwood or hardwood? Pine or oak? Here's a plain-English breakdown of common wood species, what they cost, how they work, and which to pick for your first builds.
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How to Stain and Finish Wood: A Beginner's Guide
A step-by-step guide to sanding, staining, and finishing wood — which products to use, in what order, and the common mistakes that wreck an otherwise good project.
Read itHow to Use a Circular Saw (Safely and Accurately)
How to use a circular saw for straight, accurate cuts: blade choice, depth settings, guide setups, and how to stop kickback before it starts.
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Wood Finishing Oils Explained (Tung, Linseed, Danish & More)
A plain-English comparison of the main wood finishing oils — tung, boiled linseed, Danish, hardwax, and mineral oil — with durability, food-safety, and application notes for each.
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How to Read Woodworking Plans (A Beginner's Guide)
A practical guide to understanding woodworking plans — cut lists, dimensions, exploded diagrams, scale, joinery symbols, and how to actually follow a plan from start to finish.
Read itHow to Use a Pocket Hole Jig (Kreg) for Strong, Simple Joints
A practical guide to pocket hole joinery — setup, depth and screw settings, drilling technique, and when to use it (and when not to).
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How to Sand Wood Properly (Grits, Tools & Technique)
The right grit progression, when to use a power sander vs hand sanding, how to avoid the most common finish-ruining mistakes, and how to know when you're done.
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Setting Up a Woodworking Workshop on a Budget
A practical guide to starting a functional woodworking workshop without overspending — the right space, the tools worth buying used, and a sensible spending order.
Read itPlywood vs MDF vs Solid Wood: Which Should You Use?
A plain-English comparison of plywood, MDF, and solid wood — cost, strength, workability, moisture resistance, and which to choose for common beginner projects.
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How to Use a Wood Router (A Beginner's Guide)
Fixed base vs plunge, bit types, edge profiles, dados, direction of feed, safety, and the common mistakes beginners make with a wood router.
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How to Glue Up Wood Panels (Edge-Joining & Clamping)
How to select, prepare, and glue up solid wood panels that stay flat — board selection, grain orientation, edge prep, glue choice, clamping technique, squeeze-out, and flattening.
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How to Measure and Mark Wood Accurately
Tape measures, marking knives, squares, and story sticks — the measuring habits that keep your joints tight and your projects square from the first cut to the last.
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How to Sharpen Chisels and Plane Irons
A clear progression from grinding through honing to stropping — how to get a chisel or plane iron genuinely sharp and keep it that way without overthinking the process.
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Wood Screws and Fasteners: A Beginner's Guide
Screw types, head styles, gauges, pilot holes, countersinks, and when to reach for screws vs nails vs glue — the fastener decisions every woodworker makes.
Read itReady for complete plans?
Once you know the basics, the bottleneck is good plans. See our honest take on the 16,000-plan TedsWoodworking package.