On the surface, hammers and mallets appear to be quite similar. After all, both tools are used to strike blows or create impacts. However, there are some important differences as well. The most obvious is that a hammer’s head is made from metal, often steel, for durability. While a mallet normally has a wooden or … Read more
It can be easy to mistake a file for a rasp if you are not that familiar with either tool. Despite their similarities, there are definite differences between the two. Each one will perform a specific task that may seem similar to the other at first, but there are differences. The key difference between both … Read more
The Desert Ironwood (Olneya Tesota) is unlike any other tree you will find. Technically, it isn’t even a tree. Instead, it’s a leguminous tree part of the same Fabaceae family that has the more common peanut, soybean, and green bean. It retains the characteristic seed pod for germination and distribution. To make this tree even … Read more
If you are working on a project that uses both wood and plastic, most likely, you’ve wondered how to connect them. Unfortunately, drilling a few holes and attaching them mechanically with a nut, washer, and screw isn’t ideal in most applications. Further, it may not be practical if you create a finished product like floorboards, … Read more
Pergolas and gazebos are the structures that can add beauty as well as functionality to your outdoor garden. With these structures, you can build a seating area for a whole family or a place to gossip with your friends on weekends. These wooden outdoor structures are fairly simple to construct with few beams and pillars … Read more
Walnut is a domestic variety of wood, which most woodworkers and builders consider to be one of the most desirable types of wood to work within a variety of different capacities. Walnut trees are grown and harvested throughout the United States, which you’ll find in the North and South-Eastern US, the Mid-West states, California, and … Read more
Parquet is a unique style of wood flooring made by arranging “slats” or wood strips in distinct and interesting patterns. The geometrical patterns will often repeat, but any kind of design can be made. The original idea of Parquet came from 17th century France where artists would design and cut individual pieces of wood and … Read more
There are three basic types of miter saws, standard, sliding, and compound. While the standard version lets you make angled or mitered cuts into the material, the compound miter saw also lets you create bevels. The sliding miter saw allows the blade to slide out and will enable you to cut wider boards. Depending on … Read more
Bark mulch is the stock standard material used to cover gardens to create a better aesthetic. It also provides other benefits such as fighting off weeds, keeping moisture from escaping, providing insulation to your plants during colder months, keeping your topsoil in good condition, and it becomes food for your plants as it decomposes. One … Read more
Ladders, both for household and commercial usage, are manufactured from a number of different materials. But the most common ones include three, i.e., wood, aluminum, and fiberglass. Unlike traditional ladders that are usually made from timber, fiberglass material is lightweight and safer. Plus, they also last longer than wooden ladders. The only downside is fiberglass … Read more