OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

To mount/release a NOVA scroll chuck from lathe spindle, you need a 1-1/2″ crescent wrench. These wrenches are expensive if you purchase one from woodworking/woodturning stores. I found a cheaper alternative… in an automotive section of a discount store. One …

Economical Alternative for Scroll Chuck Wrench Read more »

Staining wood is probably the thing woodworkers dread the most, and the reason is that so many common woods that we work with are prone to blotching. Testing your finishing strategy can certainly spotlight potential problems, but unless you test lots of scrap there’s always the chance that you can be in for a nasty surprise once the stain goes on. Gel stains can help tremendously with woods that often blotch, and in this article we’ll take a look at how gel stains work, how they compare to traditional stains, and how to apply them. We’ll also look at a couple of other interesting things that you can do with gel stains that would not be possible with other types of stains.