Sam Hubbard
Professional Carpenter
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Co-authored Articles (23)
How to
Join Two Pieces of Wood
From edge joints to complex dovetails, there are dozens of techniques for joining wood. If you need to join boards side-by-side to make a larger plane, an edge joint is your best bet. Arrange the boards so they’re visu...
How to Measure and Determine the Cost of a Cord of Wood
Everything you need to know about measuring and purchasing wood Wood is sold to consumers by the cord, but if you've never purchased wood before, you might be wondering what a cord of wood actually is. Moreover, since fi...
How to
Connect Wood to Concrete
Connecting wood to concrete can seem intimidating but, with the right tools, even an amateur craftsman can do it. You can fasten wood to concrete using 3 different methods, depending on your preference. Hammer-set concre...
How to
Plane a Door
Over time, the doors in your home may begin to stick and bind. Sometimes simply tightening the hinge screws will solve the problem, but occasionally it is necessary to resize the door. One of the best ways to resize a wo...
How to
Make a Pilot Hole
Learning how to drill pilot holes properly is an essential part of working with wood. A pilot hole is a small hole drilled before driving a screw into a piece of wood. The hole helps in multiple ways: it prevents the scr...
How to
Increase the Height of Dining Chairs
Simple solutions to raise and level dining chairs in your homeNo furniture problem is quite as frustrating as a table that's too high for its dining chairs. If you want to raise your chair's height, however, you can do s...
How to
Identify Petrified Wood
If you've ever been hiking and discovered a unique gemstone that looks like wood and feels like a rock, you've probably stumbled upon petrified wood! These fossils used to be wood but, over millions of years, turned into...
How to
Make Wood Pellets
Wood pellets can be used for a variety of purposes, including making fuel, acting as tinder for a fire, and creating bedding for animals. Most pellets are made in bulk by industrial pellet mills, but homeowners and small...
How to
Polish Polyurethane
Finishing a coffee table, handrail, or other wooden surface with polyurethane? We can help! Polyurethane can help make your wood surfaces look smooth and glassy, but it may feel a bit bumpy or uneven at first. To create ...
How to
Learn Carpentry
Whether you want to become a professional carpenter or simply build items for personal use, learning carpentry skills is the first step. Start by building up foundational skills and learning how to use hand and power too...
How to
Build a Rabbit Hutch
A rabbit hutch is a great way to keep your rabbit safe, while giving it the freedom to run around and explore. You’ll first want to consider how large to make your hutch. It needs to be sizeable enough to accommodate a...
How to
Use Oil‐Based Polyurethane over Water‐Based Polyurethane
Oil and water are famous for repelling one another and not mixing. Luckily, you can still apply an oil-based polyurethane over a water-based one. If you already laid down a water-based finish and decided to go for an oil...
How to
Stain over Stain
Staining wood can be a great way to give new life to a piece of furniture, your kitchen cabinets, a deck, or anything else you come across. If the wood is already stained, though, you might not be sure how to proceed. Lu...
How to
Build a Skateboard Ramp
Whether you’re a seasoned skateboarder or trying to raise one, building a skate ramp can be a fun and satisfying experience when done right. Maximizing space, keeping safe, and staying patient are keys to creating this...
The Best Way to Apply Polyurethane to Wood: Techniques & Tips
Get professional-level results when finishing your wood Polyurethane is a protective finish applied to wood to guard against wear and other damage. Whether it’s oil-based or water-based, polyurethane comes in a variety...
How to Stain and Seal Butcher Block
Protect your beautiful countertops from moisture & damage Butcher block is a stylish, durable, and budget-friendly alternative to traditional kitchen countertops. Because butcher block is made out of wood, it needs to be...
How to
Finish Cutting Boards
If you’ve purchased a wooden cutting board, you’ll need to apply a finish to prevent the board from becoming damaged with use. The first step is to choose your preferred finish. Cutting-board finishes come in 2 categ...
How to
Saw Straight
Not getting the straight cuts that you'd hoped for? Whether you are using a hand saw, table saw, or circular saw, straight cuts are critical to the success of a construction project. There are different ways that you can...
How to
Bleach Wood
Bleaching wood is often a necessary step when staining a dark piece of furniture. Bleaching may also be necessary before refinishing wood that is stained by water spots, or if the color has become blotchy and uneven in ...
How to
Build a Longboard
Building a longboard is usually cheaper than buying one, and it can be a lot of fun to make your own a unique board. You will need a bit of wood chopping ability, access to woodworking tools, a dash of creativity, and a ...