PROJECTS
Projects
Full build-alongs from raw lumber to finished object. Cut lists, joinery decisions, finish schedules, and the sequencing that keeps a build moving from Saturday to Saturday.
18 guides
Project guides are the start-to-finish builds — cut list, sequence of operations, joinery decisions, finishing approach, the whole thing as one continuous walk-through. They're how most woodworkers learn: pick a project that's just past your skill level, build it, get one new technique under your belt, and pick the next one a notch harder.
A good project guide does three things at once. It teaches the techniques the project requires (so you don't need to bounce between five tabs while you're at the bench). It documents the design choices and why they were made (so you can vary them confidently). And it flags the gotchas that show up the first time you build it (so you don't have to discover them yourself by ruining a board).
The guides below cover beginner builds (cutting boards, simple shelves), intermediate work (small tables, picture frames, boxes), and harder projects (cabinets, chairs, dovetailed casework) — sorted so you can find the next step rather than the next twelve.
Wood & Materials
5 guidesHow to Build a Live Edge River Table
How to Build a River Table from Scratch
Build a live edge epoxy table from scratch: slab selection, epoxy type, pour calculation, bubble prevention, and a grit-by-grit sanding sequence.
- Black Walnut
- White Oak
- Hard Maple
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
2x4 Woodworking: Projects, Dimensions & Building Guide
Eight projects worth building, from sawhorses to platform beds
2x4 construction lumber is the best starting material in woodworking. Learn actual dimensions, how to pick good boards, and 8 projects worth building.
- Pine
- Cedar
- Circular Saw
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
Cedar vs. Pressure-Treated Pergola
Why Cedar Costs More Upfront, Less Over 20 Years, and How to Build One That Lasts
Cedar pergolas cost more upfront but save thousands over 20 years. Material comparison, sizing tables, construction details, and finishing.
- Western Red Cedar
- Outdoor
- Power Tool
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
How to Build a Cedar Planter Box
A Saturday afternoon project that lasts a decade outdoors
Build a cedar planter box that resists rot for 15+ years. Plans, cut list, assembly steps, drainage design, and finishing options for garden planters.
- Western Red Cedar
- Drill
- Circular Saw
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
Power Tools
2 guidesHow to Build a Crosscut Sled for Your Table Saw
Step-by-Step Build Plus the 5-Cut Method for Getting the Fence Square to 0.001 Inches
Build a crosscut sled from 3/4-inch plywood in 4 hours. Includes the 5-cut method with worked formula to get your back fence square to within 0.001 inches.
- Table Saw
- Crosscut Sled
- Drill
Intermediate · Updated May 12, 2026
How to Make a Bandsaw Box
One Block of Wood, One Tool, One Afternoon
How to make a bandsaw box from a single block of wood. Blade selection, wood species, grain direction, build steps, troubleshooting, and finish options.
- Band Saw
- Box
- Power Tool
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
Joinery
1 guideShaping & Forming
2 guidesHow to Build a Modern Adirondack Chair
Build the Classic Redesigned
Build a modern Adirondack chair from scratch — clean lines, wide slats, natural wood finish. Full cut list, assembly sequence, and wood species guide.
- Western Red Cedar
- Circular Saw
- Jigsaw
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
Building a 55-Gallon Rain Barrel Stand
Build a Stable Wooden Platform in a Weekend
Build a wooden rain barrel stand that holds 500 lbs and stands 24 inches for gravity feed. Cut list and assembly steps for the box frame design.
- Western Red Cedar
- Drill
- Speed Square
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
Finishing
1 guideDesign & Planning
2 guidesOwl House Plans: Screech, Barn, and Barred
Build a Functional Nest Box, Species by Species
Free owl house plans with exact dimensions, cut lists, and assembly steps for screech owl, barn owl, and barred owl nest boxes.
- Cedar
- Pine
- Circular Saw
Beginner · Updated Apr 12, 2026
How to Build a Mid Century Modern Coffee Table
Walnut, Tapered Legs, and a Lower Shelf
Design and build a walnut MCM coffee table with storage — proportions, tapered legs, mortise-and-tenon joinery, and an oil finish that lasts decades.
- Black Walnut
- Table Saw
- Router Table
Intermediate · Updated May 12, 2026
Workshop
1 guideSharpening
1 guideCabinetmaking
3 guidesHow to Build a Coffee Table with a Drawer
Build One That Stores Things and Teaches You Drawer Construction
Learn to build a coffee table with drawer from scratch. Covers frame joinery, drawer box sizing, metal slide installation, and finishing for daily use.
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Drill
- Router
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
Building a Floating Desk With Drawers
Build a Wall-Mounted Workspace With Storage
Build a floating desk with drawers in a weekend — French cleat mounting, cut list for a 48" × 22" desk, drawer slides, and beginner finishing tips.
- Drill
- Circular Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
How to Build a Room Divider Bookshelf
Build a Freestanding Shelf That Looks Good From Both Sides
How to build a room-dividing bookshelf — dimensions, stability, joinery, and finishing every surface so it looks right from both sides of the room.
- Drill
- Table Saw
- Router
Beginner · Updated May 12, 2026
Recently Updated
How to Build a Crosscut Sled for Your Table Saw
Intermediate
Sharpening Station Setup: Build a $50 Bench Rig
Beginner
How to Build a Coffee Table with a Drawer
Beginner
Building a Floating Desk With Drawers
Beginner
How to Build a Room Divider Bookshelf
Beginner
How to Build a Mid Century Modern Coffee Table
Intermediate