All Guides

Choosing the Right Wood Stain

Types, Colors, and How to Choose

Pick the right wood stain for your project — types, opacity levels, color families, and what to do when you're staining pine or a weathered deck.

Minwax Stain Color Chart: All 36 Oil-Based Colors

All 30+ Colors, How They Look on Oak, Pine, and Maple

Complete Minwax stain color chart with all 36 oil-based colors, red oak results, species behavior, and application specs. The reference you wish existed.

Choosing a Dado Stack for Your Table Saw

What They Are, What Size to Buy, and How to Use Them Safely

A dado stack cuts flat-bottomed grooves from 1/4" to 29/32" wide in one pass. Learn which size fits your saw, what to buy, and how to set one up.

Router Bit Speed Chart: RPM by Bit Diameter

Bit-diameter-to-RPM lookup table from manufacturer specs. Plus the tip-speed math that explains why big bits need slow RPM and small bits run fastest.

1x4 Lumber: Actual Dimensions, Grades, and Uses

A 1x4 board measures 3/4" × 3-1/2", not 1"×4". Actual dimensions table, lumber grades, wood species, common uses, and when to size up to 5/4 or 2x4.

1x6 Lumber Dimensions: Actual Size 3/4" × 5-1/2"

Nominal vs. Actual, S4S Decoded, and When 5/4x6 Is What You Actually Want

1x6 lumber actual size: 3/4" × 5-1/2" after milling. Full nominal vs actual table, conversion tips, when to use 5/4x6 instead.

How Far Can a 2x6 Span?

Floor Joists, Deck Joists, Shelves, and What the Numbers Mean

2x6 span chart: DF-L #2 spans 9'-9" at 16" OC. Full tables by species and grade, deck joists, shelf sag guidance, and safety margins.

CDX vs ACX vs Marine Grade

Types, Grades, and How to Choose

Exterior plywood grades explained: CDX vs ACX vs marine grade, when pressure-treated is required, and how to pick the right thickness outdoors.

Marine Plywood vs ACX Plywood

What It Is, When You Need It, and When ACX Will Do

Marine-grade plywood has a void-free core and WBP adhesive—but it's not waterproof wood. Learn the standards, species, and when ACX is the smarter buy.

What Does Black Walnut Cost Per Board Foot?

Current Prices, Where to Buy, and How to Tell If a Price Is Fair

Black walnut runs $10–$13/bf at specialty dealers, $15–$22/bf at Rockler and Woodcraft. Price breakdown by grade, surfacing, and sourcing channel.

Is Knotty Alder Good for Cabinets?

Properties, Grades, Finishing, and When It's the Right Choice

Knotty alder: 590 Janka, easy to work, stains beautifully, and costs less than cherry. Properties, grades, finishing, and when it's the right choice.