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A Beginner Guide to Wood Types and Their Uses
Learn the main categories of wood, from softwood framing lumber to hardwoods and engineered panels, and what makes each suitable for different projects.
Materials, Finishing and Fasteners
Wood and Sheet Goods
Know the materials before choosing tools and blades.
Choosing Wood for Outdoor Projects
A general look at rot resistance, pressure treatment and fastener compatibility, so you can choose lumber that holds up outdoors for fences, decks and planters.
Cutting Sheet Goods Safely and Cleanly
General methods for supporting and cutting large plywood and MDF panels safely, with less tearout, using common saws, sharp blades and good support.
Dealing with Warped and Twisted Boards
Learn the four types of board distortion, cup, bow, twist and crook, why they happen, and how jointers, planers and hand planes can flatten them or work around them.
Drying and Acclimating Lumber Before You Build
Why boards should rest in your shop before cutting, how long that typically takes, how to stack them, and how a moisture meter helps you know when they are ready.
Hardwood and Softwood Differences
Hardwood and softwood are botanical terms, not measures of hardness. Learn what the labels really mean, the exceptions, and how they affect tools and projects.
How Moisture Changes Wood
Wood swells and shrinks with humidity, mostly across the grain. Learn why seasonal movement happens and how to build panels, tabletops and doors that allow for it.
Plywood, MDF and Particleboard Compared
Compare plywood, MDF and particleboard on strength, moisture resistance, screw holding, cost and cutting behavior to choose the right panel for your project.
Reading Lumber Grades and Dimensions
Understand nominal versus actual lumber sizes, how the board foot works, and the general ideas behind softwood and hardwood grades so you can buy with confidence.
Understanding Wood Grain Direction
See how wood grain affects cutting, planing, sanding, strength and splitting, and learn simple ways to read grain direction so you work with the fibers.
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