Carpentry Skills

The art of toenailing is easy to learn. With a little practice you can drive an angled nail perfectly every time.

Pro-quality finish work is a lot easier with the right tools—and they don't have to be expensive. Check out a master carpenter's list of…

We asked professional carpenters to pass along some of the tricks and tips they've learned after years of pounding thousands of nails into just…

Learn better ways to cut and install casing, baseboard and crown molding, tricks for hanging doors and avoiding bad transitions, and other…

Sawhorses are an essential construction tool, and this article highlights 5 of the best—3 DIY designs, with complete plans, and two…

There are really just three steps involved in replacing a broken spindle: remove the old one, find a replacement, and fit it in. These tips will…

The secret for a glove-tight fit for trim corners is a coped joint. With this technique you can even make complex crown moldings fit without…

Coped joints for baseboard look great, but can be time-consuming. Instead of using a coping saw, learn to cope baseboard with a miter saw. It's…

Most trim carpenters don't even use a tape to trim windows. It's all done by eye, with a sharp pencil, a miter saw and an 18-gauge nailer.…

Carpenters always talk about 16d common nails or 8d finish nails or 10d sinkers, but nobody ever explains what the heck ‘d’ means.…

This article will show how to fix a common door hang-up. The solution to loose hinges is simple and foolproof—bigger screws! You'll…

These DIY tips will help you get tight-fitting joints on doors, windows and base moldings, even if your walls are less than perfect. We'll…

With these five easy-to-make accessories, your portable table saw can rip long boards safely, crosscut wide boards accurately, make repetitive…

Learn how to get the best cutting results from your hacksaw. Hacksaws are designed to cut in one direction, and reversing the blade will…

Drive screws with a drill/driver more simply and easily by adjusting the clutch, predrilling, using a bit holder, using good bits, and other…

Learn how to use a circular saw safely and effectively. These pro tips and techniques will help you build everything from a few shelves to a…

Whether you're hanging a picture or framing a house, getting things plumb and level is essential. Learn the best ways to use a level to get…

An expert tells you how to drill large holes in wood and metal faster and better with carbon steel or bi-metal hole saws. Choose the correct…

Modern router bits with carbide cutters and guide bearings make forming wood edges almost foolproof. But there are a few tips and tricks that'll…

Make furniture-quality miter cuts with these pro tips for measuring and cutting. Learn how to tweak cuts in door and window trim so that joints…