Recommend me a preferably UK-based wooden engagement ring seller. [more inside]
posted by Nufkin on Nov 2, 2009 - 8 answers

How can I easily darken already varnished wood? [more inside]
posted by hulahulagirl on Oct 11, 2009 - 8 answers

Which woods are good for making a salad bowl, and what preparation would the newly-made bowl need before being used? [more inside]
posted by vogel on Oct 2, 2009 - 7 answers

I have a two part question about fires and making firewood. The two parts are related so I assume this is fine... [more inside]
posted by dance on Sep 17, 2009 - 14 answers

Woodworking - What's the best way to strip and polish a piece of wood cut from a grape vine? [more inside]
posted by boosh on Sep 9, 2009 - 3 answers

Where can I find woodworking plans or guides for creating outdoor furniture with a minimum of fasteners? [more inside]
posted by odinsdream on Sep 8, 2009 - 13 answers

How can I limit damage to my virtually-unfinished hardwood floors without the trouble/expense of refinishing? [more inside]
posted by aabbbiee on Aug 25, 2009 - 14 answers

Repainting already painted wood paneling - can I just slap on a new coat? [more inside]
posted by Lesser Shrew on Aug 24, 2009 - 9 answers

Carpentry-Filter: Can you help me identify this butcher block style wood, and figure out how to best cut, sand, and finish it for my project? Pics inside. [more inside]
posted by wfrgms on Jul 24, 2009 - 13 answers

we are looking for any information on wood from the Mexico/Belize/Guatemala area. Local, sustainable, tough wood suitable for furniture making. Is anyone familiar with types; sources; properties; suppliers; or anyone who has worked with wood from the area? Organizations working on these issues? Woodworkers with knowledge? Want to be informed and responsible here; not contribute to the problem. [more inside]
posted by ebesan on Jul 16, 2009 - 6 answers

How do I put casters on the bottom of this bookshelf? The bottom looks like this. The bookshelf itself is of some kind of MDF or high density particleboard, i.e. not pure wood. I want to put casters on the bottom of the bookshelf, but the strip of wood that touches the floor is too narrow for a plate caster like this. Can I somehow put a screw into the end of the particle board to fit a caster like this? How? Details inside. [more inside]
posted by barnone on Jul 3, 2009 - 21 answers

Dining room table + open grain wood + real life = :( Please help me to not destroy my one nice piece of furniture. [more inside]
posted by peachfuzz on Jun 17, 2009 - 18 answers

Woodworkers of MeFi, what reference books about wood do you recommend? Please note that I'm not looking for books on the craft of woodworking so much as for reference books on the varieties of wood and their properties. [more inside]
posted by orange swan on May 18, 2009 - 11 answers

How can I get an awesome engraved diploma? [more inside]
posted by mhz on May 9, 2009 - 1 answer

We are in the process of selling off a piece of land for development. There are several nice, tall Black Walnut trees on the property (40 feet) and we would like to know if there is any place or person who might buy them in or around the Chicagoland area. Anybody have experience with similar tree sales? [more inside]
posted by bobbyno on May 5, 2009 - 5 answers

I have recently put up some wooden shelves (pine shelves on hardwood brackets) in my living room that I will use to hold records and books. I have a new can of white satin-finish latex paint. Can I use the paint on the shelves. (i.e. Will it look decent and not stick to the books and records?) What would be the reasons not to use this paint and instead get some other more appropriate paint? What might that more appropriate paint be? [more inside]
posted by OmieWise on Apr 30, 2009 - 16 answers

I'm going to be making this Parsons side table of poplar and MDF soon (Popular Mechanics link). How can I get the painted finish like the one in the picture? [more inside]
posted by jroybal on Apr 24, 2009 - 10 answers

I am making my newest child (6 months) a custom set of blocks. Please suggest an AWESOME font for me to carve the letters into them as. They will be various colors, each block one solid color, with the letter different colored, or possibly just black lettering (haven't decided yet, feel free to put this along with your suggestion). [more inside]
posted by JonnyRotten on Apr 10, 2009 - 22 answers

What woods can be use to make lids for pickling? [more inside]
posted by GeneticFreek on Mar 23, 2009 - 24 answers

Is there an 'ask metafilter' on the internet for home/yard projects? Not that I'm disputing the collective mind here, but I'm looking to build something in my backyard and it seems to me there must be some group of contractors who all get together somewhere on the internet to tell amateurs that they're doing it wrong. Of course if you KNOW how to install a yard retaining wall, then, by all means, speak up. [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Mar 23, 2009 - 24 answers

I'm looking for a box shelf - one foot by one foot square - that's wall mounted. Black brown wood. I've been looking the length of google but clearly I'm not doing it right. Help. [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Mar 3, 2009 - 5 answers

What exactly does it mean for paint to be formulated "for metal substrates only"? Can I use it on wood? [more inside]
posted by torticat on Feb 24, 2009 - 7 answers

How best to "repurpose" a dead peach tree to smoking wood for the grill? [more inside]
posted by schmoppa on Feb 12, 2009 - 9 answers

Can I burn wet wood? I have a woodpile outdoors, uncovered and it's been snowing/raining. Is it possible to dry it off and burn it this weekend? [more inside]
posted by Melsky on Dec 24, 2008 - 18 answers

Can anyone recommend a reliable, affordable handy(wo)man in Brooklyn / NYC? [more inside]
posted by Dr. Wu on Dec 8, 2008 - 2 answers

I'm a not-too-handy college student who needs a final project for a required woodshop course. Suggestions? [more inside]
posted by mccarty.tim on Oct 9, 2008 - 13 answers

How big a wood stove should I get? [more inside]
posted by geos on Sep 17, 2008 - 6 answers

SQUEAKY Floor Filter. How can I stop the floor squeaks in random locations in the 2nd story of my house? [more inside]
posted by emjay on Sep 17, 2008 - 10 answers

Woodworkingfilter! How do I square a piece of wood without a jointer or planer? [more inside]
posted by WinnipegDragon on Sep 12, 2008 - 13 answers

Tell me, how the hell do a paint a sign in a font? Examples inside. [more inside]
posted by damnjezebel on Aug 31, 2008 - 17 answers

I am trying to recreate some intricate wood molding on a piece of furniture. I have a mirrored piece to cast from, but dont know what to cast it with. [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Aug 24, 2008 - 3 answers

Should I choose ceramic tile or wood floors? Is it weird to have the same tile floor throughout the entire house? [more inside]
posted by kristymcj on Aug 12, 2008 - 14 answers

Shopping filter: Seeking a very simple maple or oak bar stool, about 30" high, with a square or rectangular top. Preferably solid wood, but good quality composite material is ok. Must have flat top... we plan to use it as a bedside table. This stool at target.com is the perfect shape and size, but the wrong color. I need a warm-toned maple, oak, ash. I've already looked at many retail sites... ikea, overstock, pottery bran, west elm. Any suggestions? We would prefer to order within the U.S. to save on shipping.
posted by valannc on Aug 7, 2008 - 8 answers

DIY Woodworking - The step for my kitchen door was totally rotted through, so I chiselled out all the bad wood. Now what? [more inside]
posted by boosh on Jun 23, 2008 - 14 answers

I got black ink on a birch wood bookshelf from Ikea. Help me get it out. [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Jun 7, 2008 - 9 answers

My daughter is beginning to learn to build furniture and has a particular interest in learning how to identify exotic and really any furniture-quality woods. She is a visual learner so pictures rather than wordy descriptions work best for her. [more inside]
posted by mumstheword on May 25, 2008 - 9 answers

I've always been fascinated by this book cover for Gödel, Escher, Bach. Anybody know how the woodcarving was designed, how it was made and how I could perhaps make one myself? [more inside]
posted by cog_nate on May 16, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm planning to use bamboo plywood for a section of kitchen countertop. How should I treat it to make it both water and stain resistant and food-safe? [more inside]
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy on May 7, 2008 - 8 answers

Unfortunately (for both of us), my girlfriend has charged me with fixing the stair. What kind of tool am I looking for? [more inside]
posted by kbanas on May 4, 2008 - 15 answers

I'm thinking about designing and making my own eating utensils, because I am that food obsessed. But I'm unsure of what materials to use. [more inside]
posted by thread_makimaki on May 1, 2008 - 6 answers

How do I take care of my (possibly antique) Ethiopian wood chair? [more inside]
posted by Bunglegirl on Apr 24, 2008 - 4 answers

How does one get body grease off a wooden table? [more inside]
posted by Skyanth on Apr 20, 2008 - 11 answers

I'm trying to help a friend clean up a bad situation with cats and wood floors; I'm looking for suggestions (Icky cat-related stuff inside) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 15, 2008 - 7 answers

Where might one find dimensioned hardwood lumber in Chicago? [more inside]
posted by Plug Dub In on Feb 27, 2008 - 3 answers

Which makes more sense environmentally, heating with our waste paper or recycling it? [more inside]
posted by Toekneesan on Feb 24, 2008 - 20 answers

Any wood floor refinishing experts in the house? I am in the midst of having the floors of a studio apartment refinished. And right now? I am not happy. Does the guy I hired know what he's doing? [more inside]
posted by kimdog on Feb 11, 2008 - 30 answers

I would like to build an outdoor wood fired oven similar to the one Jamie Oliver uses on his cooking shows. Can anyone suggest how/where I could find plans for this sort of structure? I know there are safety concerns involved and want to be aware of all the issues before I go ahead.
posted by frizelli on Feb 4, 2008 - 9 answers

Where can I find a site dedicated to modern or classic home mechanisms... [more inside]
posted by matthelm on Jan 23, 2008 - 9 answers

Help me retain my sanity. Those of you who have a workshop in your house, please help me find a system. [more inside]
posted by stormygrey on Jan 21, 2008 - 7 answers

Need a smoker for both salmon and pork shoulder. [more inside]
posted by charlesv on Jan 13, 2008 - 6 answers