Why professional woodworkers never use stain
Starring
ENCurtis
You been asking, and I've been stalling. But finally it's here: how to use stains and dyes like a pro. I hope this is helpful for you, friends.
When going above and beyond is necessary
Let’s face it: the hound’s tooth dovetail is a silly endeavor. And yet, in some instances, that ornamentation can be exactly the thing that’s needed…
This video might save you hundreds of dollars.
I hate WoodRiver tools. Ok… hate might be a strong word. But I’ve had negative experiences with them. But it’s been many years since I’ve…
Make stronger cabinets with through joinery
The Alan Peters joint is one of the strongest bits of joinery you can employ in your projects. Whether you cut it with a Shaper…
Why the most dangerous jig I’ve made is also one of the best
Thank to Oupes for sponsoring this video. To learn more about the Mega 3. check out https://oupes.com/?ref=encurtis and use the code ERIKCURTIS for 5% off!…
Hand tool woodworking is easier than you think
Ever want to cut dados by hand but didn’t know where to start? Every think you could tackle a more advanced versions of the dado?…
This is a GREAT intermediate woodworking project
This one time, I had a Netflix show. And that show one an Emmy. Because life is silly.
I wish I did this a year ago
Some days, you just need to make a thing to improve your shop. Because you spend a lot of time in there and you should…
I did a dumb thing. And it was awesome.
Some days you just gotta sit down and tell a good old fashioned story. Like that time I almost got eaten by a hippo. But…
Building a book case with $2400 of warped wood
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: wood is a fickle mistress. Some days she loves you. Some days she’s patient and kind.…
Final Fantasy 7 might be the greatest game of all time.
I never make pop art. It’s just not a thing I explore much. But I took a few days to reset my creative brain and…
Why this simple jig is criminally underrated
Sometimes you need to make a quick jig. In this case, a simple guide to help resaw veneers. But why this simple jig is so…
The three best finishes you’re (probably) not using
Soap. We all have it (I hope). We use it every day (again, hopefully). But did you know it’s also a fantastic finish? No? Well…
Why professional woodworkers never use stain
You been asking, and I’ve been stalling. But finally it’s here: how to use stains and dyes like a pro. I hope this is helpful…
Does a $500 saw cut better dovetails?
Sometimes I buy tools because I need them. Sometimes I buy tools because I want them. And sometimes, though rarely, I buy tools because I…
This might be my least favorite joint in woodworking
Who, me? Being facetious? I don’t know what you’re implying. I am an honest man. And sliding dovetails suck. Except for when they don’t. But…
I wish I knew this BEFOFE I started woodworking
Recently I broke my favorite spokeshave–and one of my favorite hand tools–at a live teaching event. It was dramatic. It was funny. It was devastating.…
It’s been a whirlwind
2023 was a wild year. And I think, with the end of the year upon us, it’s a fine time to look back on what…
Simple. Effective. But how strong?
The housed mortise and tenon. It’s a bomb proof joint. But it just takes so dang long to cut. So I’ve come up with a…
The tool that almost broke the woodworking community
Router planes. A criminally underrated tool. But which router plane is the best? And is the Katz-Moses router plane any good? We’re taking a deep…
What does $1,200 in wood and 6 months of work get you?
More than a year ago, I was contacted by two Navy pilots who wanted to commission a keepsake box for their first and only child.…
It’s easier than you think
I made a pair of mirrors. Because people love mirrors. And because it made me happy. And that’s enough of a reason, isn’t it?
Building high-end cabinets in my shed
I built a wall hanging white oak cabinet. In a shed. Because, masochism. But also because I didn’t have my shop available. And the best…
I visited three different lumber yards. It did not go well.
I went to three different lumber yards in Los Angeles to search for the right piece of wood for a project. To put it simply,…
Make furniture. Not firewood.
Furniture design. It’s vital to successful woodworking projects and nobody seems to want to discuss it. So let’s change that.
Don’t sleep on what’s possible with basic machines…
Just because I’m not in my own shop with my own equipment doesn’t mean I can’t make things out of wood. Sure, it’s a whole…
The hidden cost of custom furniture
You been asking, and I've been stalling. But finally it's here: how to use stains and dyes like a pro. I hope this is helpful for…
This Video Is About Nothing At All
Nothing is good. Nothing is important. For the creative process, nothing may even be imperative. Don’t sleep on nothing.
Why machine woodworkers should use hand tools, too.
Sometimes life gets busy. Like when you’re traveling around the Northeast teaching woodworking to groups of delightful human beings. And in the those times, my…
The basics of refinishing wood furniture
Refinishing is tricky. Let me show you how the basics.
How I tell a story without words
Sometimes you just gotta give the client what they want. And it’s your job as a designer to figure out how to incorporate those elements…
Fastest dovetails East of the Mississippi
I needed to dovetail some drawers. But I wanted to try something new. So instead of breaking out the handsaw, I broke out the bandsaw.
What being a professional woodworkers really looks like
Some days you just gotta get a thing did. Because, that’s life. So today, I’m getting a thing did and inviting you along to see…
Can you spot the difference?
The eternal debate rages on–will you get a better quality surface from a hand plane or a sander? My opinion: yes.
I love this joint
Sometimes you gotta dust off the router plane, take the tenon saw from the tool box, sharpen up your chisels, and cut some joinery by…
STOP making sharpening so complicated!
There’s a lot of debate out there as to what the “best” or “proper” sharpening system is. I’m here to show you that it’s all…
Answering YOUR woodworking questions
I don’t always have time to respond to everyone’s comments, so I wanted to address some of the most common questions I get in this…