Wood Species
January 15, 2026
Texas Mountain Cedar: The Wood Nobody Wants (But Should)
Austin's most hated tree — technically not even a cedar — makes some of the most beautiful, aromatic, and underrated wood in Central Texas.
Read →6 min read
Notes from the shop
From the Shop
Technique breakdowns, gear reviews, and honest reflections from the workshop floor.
Latest · Story
I Broke My Brand New Planer on Day One
I'd been saving for months. Unboxed it, fed the first board through, got cocky. By board two, I'd sheared the sprocket.
Read →January 8, 2026 · 5 min read
Technique
January 22, 2026
How to Fix an Imperfectly Flat Surface (Without a Drum Sander)
My panel felt flat, looked flat, and was completely not flat. Here are the three methods I used to fix it — no drum sander required.
Read →7 min read
Project
January 29, 2026
Building a Whiskey Smoker Lid on the Router Table: What I Got Wrong First
A routed white oak lid for smoking whisky. Simple concept, three mistakes, one afternoon too many — here's what I learned.
Read →6 min read
Technique
February 5, 2026
Why Your Glue-Up Is Probably Crooked (And How to Fix It)
Perfect dry fit. Careful glue spread. Clamps on. Next morning: twisted like a propeller. Here's why it keeps happening and how to stop it.
Read →6 min read
Project
February 12, 2026
Building a Walnut Dog Bed: What My Dog Thought vs What Actually Mattered
Three weeks of hand-cut castle joints, careful grain selection, and a Rubio Monocoat finish. My dog walked over, sniffed it, and went back to the blanket on the floor.
Read →7 min read
Technique
January 15, 2026
Why I Failed at Joinery (And What I Learned)
Three months into woodworking, I thought I could cut dovetails by hand. I was wrong. Here's what that failure taught me.
Read →6 min read
Beginner Guide
December 28, 2025
The Best Wood for Beginner Cutting Boards
Hard maple, walnut, cherry — not all woods are created equal. Here's what I'd tell my past self before making my first board.
Read →5 min read
Story
November 10, 2025
From Amazon to Sawdust: My First Year
I left a comfortable tech career to make things with my hands. This is what that first year actually looked like.
Read →8 min read