Sam Hubbard
Professional Carpenter
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Co-authored Articles (26)
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
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
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
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
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
Identify Petrified Wood
Everything you need to know about petrified wood identificationIf 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 f...
How to
Build a Cajon
A cajon is a six-sided Peruvian drum that's a popular DIY instrument project. It's a versatile and exciting instrument that can be played with your hands and feet simultaneously, producing a wide variety of tones and rhy...
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
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
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 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
Build a Boat
Little boats are perfect for trips around the lake. They fit on the roof of your car and in the back of truck beds, making them perfect for spontaneous camping trips. This article describes a method for building a canoe,...
How to
Build a Rabbit Hutch
Rabbit hutches are now seen as an old-fashioned and cruel way to house rabbits as they are too small for such high-energy mammals. Instead consider building a large structure, more like an aviary as detailed below. Anoth...
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
Cut Cork Board
Cork board is really soft and easy to cut, so you can realistically use basically any knife or blade to cut it. However, when it comes to making things easy, your best options are the utility knife and scissors. Since co...
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 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...
