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Materials

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The purpose of this department is to house information about the all of the various materials used in woodworking, plus some of the most basic information on how to use these materials.  The idea is to provide the information necessary to make an informed choice.

And that's what it's really all about.  Creative choice, and the knowledge about why to use a particular material or product in a given situation.  Once you understand  how or why a particular finishing product works, it's a lot easier to see whether it's really as great as the manufacturer claims it is for whatever job you're contemplating.  I've noticed that being good at something often relates not so much to knowing how to do it, but rather why it's done that way (and therefore, when and why to break the rules and do it differently).  Some of the information listed below is pretty elementary and commonplace, but some of it was rather difficult to find; and that's precisely why I wanted to create this website in the first place, so enjoy the wealth!

Note: I'm right in the middle of re-working this section after migrating from the old site, so many of the links below are not working yet.

Solid Wood

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A Few of the Most Popular Woodworking Woods A beginner's introduction to some of the woods which are commonly found in the woodshop.  If you're looking for information on some exotic wood you've never heard of, try the link below instead.

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The Big Wood Directory I've been researching and compiling this one for nearly twenty years.  It's BIG.  If you can't find a wood through one of these links, maybe it doesn't exist!

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Scientific Names of Species A brief introduction to taxonomy, and why scientific names are often important to woodworkers.

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Toxic Woods Many woods can have toxic or allergic effects.  Find out which woods and how to protect yourself.

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Lumber Abbreviations & Grades

Common abbreviations and codes used in the lumber industry, and grading standards for hardwoods, softwoods and hardwood veneer plywoods.

Plywood, Veneers & Engineered Wood Products

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Plywood & Sheet Goods Plywood and engineered wood types and grades.

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Joinery for Plywood Construction Plywood, PCB, and MDF require some special construction techniques to make the most of their unique properties.

Glues & Abrasives

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Wood Glues Use the right glue for every job; you can reduce the number of joint failures to nearly nil, and prolong the lifetime of your masterpieces.

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Tips for Gluing Success Description

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A Woodworker's Guide to Abrasives A guide to woodworking abrasives and how they are used, including types of sanders, sandpaper, steel wool, and nonwoven abrasive pads.

Finishes

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Introduction to Wood Finishing: The Finishing Process A survey of the finishing process, and the order in which everything is done.

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Sealers, Sanding Sealers, Stain Controllers, and Wood Conditioners Description

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Stains and Dyes Description

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Wood Putties and Grain Fillers Description

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Clear Finishes: Unlocking the "Black Box" A primer on varnishes, lacquers, polyurethanes, and more

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Selecting a Finish A  finishing guide with a step-by-step decision tree to make selecting the right finish for the job easier.

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Glossary of Wood Finishing Terms Unabridged.

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Finishing FAQ Everything that didn't fit neatly under the above headings.

Miscellaneous Materials

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A Woodworker's Guide to Plastics Description

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A Woodworker's Guide to Metals Description

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Notes on Shop Consumables, or the Top 20 "Other" Woodworking Supplies Miscellaneous notes on tape,aluminum foil, WD-40, 3M Super-77, etc. 1.25

Apple Bullet Vendors of Woodworking Supplies << Distribute to Individual Pages

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