Essential Platform Bed Frame

Reader submitted photo Getting mattresses off the floor is essential to bedroom form and function.  A bed frame creates the room structure, makes it easy to make the bed, and differentiates the mattress from the floor.  For about the cost of a box spring or metal bed frame, you can build a wood bed frame that removes the need for a bed skirt.  A wood bed frame is much more beautiful, adds texture to the room design, and is sturdy and substantial. In this free plan, I'll show you how to build

Ian Kirby Turns 90

Cutting the cake at his birthday celebration last summer, Ian demonstrated the hand-eye dexterity he developed through years of hand tool woodworking. Incidentally, he is also no slouch in the kitchen! Many happy returns on the day from those of us at the Journal. I called Ian Kirby out of the blue in late 1999 after reading parts of his book The Accurate Router (Cambium Press). I found his direct language and instruction refreshing amid so much romanticized writing about the craft of woodworkin

Simple Lift Top Storage Bed

Why a Lift Top Bed? A lift top bed is an easy way to create maximum storage in a bedroom, without the bed appearing complicated with storage drawers or shelves.   The storage is not as easy to access as a drawer, but with the assist of the lift top hardware, it is not difficult.  This becomes a great place to store out of season items, extra blankets, or just things that you don't need everyday but can't part with. There is also more storage in a lift top bed than a traditional captains bed or s

Easy Build End Table or Nightstand with Drawer

End Table with Drawer Features With a simple, solid wood design that can be painted or stained, this DIY end table fits almost any decor and is super functional. Easy to build design  Basic tools (no pocket holes) Roomy drawer Easy to vacuum underneath Paint or stain - all wood Substantial size - like something you'd find at Pottery Barn! Use as a Nightstand This end table can also be used as a nightstand to match any of our beds, I have it paired with our Modern Farmhouse Bed (plans here).

More Hand Tool Information, You Say?

When it comes to our Weekly readers, you folks never disappoint! Last week, I asked for your input about hand tool challenges, and the response has resulted in a steady stream of emails to my inbox over the days since. Thank you! We’ve compiled your answers in our “Feedback” section this week, and I think you’ll find the responses as interesting as I do. (If you haven’t written to me yet but are planning to, please do! I assure you that I’ll read it.) It seems many of us feel the urge to include

Top 7 Benefits Of Using Nail Gun [Update 2022]

Nail guns are worth buying for their speed, accuracy, and power. Yes, we agree that you can do nailing with just a hammer and some nails. But, if you consider the time that nailing work takes with the hammer, you would prefer a nail gun, for sure. However, if you are confused about whether you should buy a nail gun or not, this article is for you. In this article, I will tell you about some of the core Benefits Of Using Nail Gun in your professional and personal projects. Have a look and deci

Essential Drawer Bed or Daybed

Want to add some more storage to a bedroom, without taking up any more space?  Have you considered a bed with drawers or a captain's bed?   Storage beds can be expensive to buy - especially a quality one that is sturdy and can be moved. The good news is with just a few basic tools and some lumber, you can build this diy drawer bed! Video Tutorial for Building a Drawer Bed The steps for building this bed are pretty simple - build two 2x4 frames, add the ends, then the drawers and slat system. 

Essential Twin Bed Frame

It's hard to find an affordable, sturdy, nice looking kids bed.  If you go affordable, it may not make it through childhood.  But it's hard to spend the money for a quality bed, when you know they will outgrow it quickly. Have you thought about DIYing your own twin bed frame?   For about the cost of a boxspring, you can!   DIY Twin Bed Frame Features Very easy to build with basic tools (no pocket holes, simple cuts) No box spring or bed skirt needed Paint or stain any color - it's solid wood, s

Split-Turned Spoons

This article, “Simple and Useful Split-Turned Spoons,” is from the pages of American Woodturner and is brought to you by the America Association of Woodturners (AAW) in partnership with Woodworker’s Journal. Some years ago, I bought a carved wooden sugar spoon. I still use that spoon daily at breakfast and have often considered how to make such a spoon fully on the lathe. The problem I always encountered when trying to figure out a method of turning spoons was how to deal with the handle. When a

How About Hand Tools

I come to you with a request: Tell me what you want to know/learn about hand tools. This may sound like a bit of a silly request. “What’s to know, you use your hands to make them work — duh.” But having been around for a bit, I know that many woodworkers have only a passing acquaintance with hand planes, spokeshaves, backsaws, marking gauges — I think I’ve made my point. So I guess my real question is, would you like to learn how to use hand tools to better enhance your time in the shop? If so,

Taylor Console Table

FAQ What finish was used?  Please visit  Whitney from Shanty2Chic for more details Do I have to use caster wheels?  No, of course not.  If you skip the casters, just make the legs 28-1/2" long instead. Can I use 2x4s instead of 4x4s?  Yes!  It will affect the dimensions, so I'd advise cutting as you go.  

Small Rustic Bench

Are you looking for a simple wood bench that adds texture and beauty to your space? We need a bench beside our master bathroom tub, so we built this little guy out of scrap pine boards.   This little rustic bench adds tons of charm to our bathroom, and functionality.   The cross bracing adds both sturdiness and interest. You can build this cute little rustic bench with the free plans following.  The angles are a little tricky, so I marked this plan "Intermediate" but it is still a quick and e

Officially Fall

Despite what the calendar might say, Labor Day marks the beginning of fall in Johnstone Land. Sartorially, I’ve put away my white shoes and pulled my flannels out of the cedar closet. My mind turns to fall activities as soon as I get the back-to-school pictures of my grandkids. (Here in Minnesota the first day of school is traditionally the Tuesday after Labor Day.) Some of those activities are not my favorite. Raking up millions of bags worth of leaves and preparing the house for cold weather a

Low-cost Floor Joist Light Bracket

A trip to the deck hardware section of my local home center provided the base I was looking for to hang a magnetic task light. I found that a galvanized hurricane tie plate, nailed to the exposed floor joists in my workshop, allows me to mount the light just about anywhere I need it. It’s very handy and ended up costing me only a few dollars. – Thomas Marinelli Washington, Michigan The post Low-cost Floor Joist Light Bracket appeared first on Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To.

September/October 2022 What’s in Store Roundup

Rockler Branding Iron Alignment Jig Oneida Dust Deputy 2.5 Deluxe Kit Festool PHC 18 Mobile Charging Station Rockler Pneumatic Clamping Systems The post September/October 2022 What’s in Store Roundup appeared first on Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To.

A Color to Dye For

I’m building a small table for the December issue of Woodworker’s Journal. It has some nice features and techniques — through wedged tenons and clever use of butterfly keys are just a couple examples. But I am also going to use dye to color the legs and undercarriage. Dye is an underutilized means of adding color to wood. The scope of colors one can get from dyes is amazing. The depth of color it can provide, especially on close-grained wood, is wonderful. And another fun fact: you can glue dyed

Crosshairs on Router Table Zero in On Bit Center Points

I often need a reference to the exact center of a router bit on my router table. I usually had to resort to measuring, which was not always accurate. To solve the problem for good, I decided to mark “crosshairs” onto the table to indicate the precise center of any bit. I tightened a V-groove bit into my router collet, so that the point of the bit would indicate the center of the router shaft. Then, using a 90° triangle aligned with the table edges, I marked lines directly over the point of the

Favorite Gift Projects Shared

Following from his query about favorite kitchen projects, last week Rob wondered about other gifts you’ve made that have earned kudos. Several of you share these. – Editor “Last year I made charcuterie boards for my four sister-in-laws, and they were thrilled! One displays it in her living room, and another made a heavy cloth sack to store it. I don’t have any pictures of them, but they were simple maple and walnut glue-ups with wooden handles attached to the ends. In addition, each board had tw

25 Years

I was surprised when my boss told me the other day that I had been working at Woodworker’s Journal for 25 years. (As my brain continues to think of myself as 25 years old, this seemed impossible.) After a bit of research, I was able to confirm those 25 years of employment. I have to say this has been a great job for a lot of reasons, but chief among them are the woodworkers that I have been able to meet as a result. We are a quirky bunch in some ways, but there is no doubt that we are, in the ma

Washers Make Handy Radius Templates

Washers make great little radius templates for laying out corners on workpieces. There are regular washers and fender washers, so the size variations are abundant. Find the sizes with the radii you want, label them and save them with your measuring and marking tools so they’re readily accessible when you need them. – Bruce Kieffer Edina, Minnesota The post Washers Make Handy Radius Templates appeared first on Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To.