What is the Real Value of Tree Burl?

If you are an outsider to woodworking, you might fail to understand the actual value of tree burl. Besides, you might shy away from buying burl wood, thinking it has little use in woodworking because of its irregular grain patterns. Yet, if you are a woodworking expert, you would feel you’ve acquired a nugget of … Read more

Does Wood Expand & Contract in Cold & Heat (Winter & Summer)?

Reason would tell you that hardwoods and softwoods are not everlasting and are susceptible to contraction and expansion due to their intrinsic property of being hygroscopic. Hygroscopy is a property wherein an object attracts and holds water molecules via absorption or adsorption at room or average temperature. Since wood is hygroscopic, it tends to absorb … Read more

What is Particle Board Made of?

Engineered Wood Products (EWPs) have become popular wood products nowadays because of the many advantages of their use. One such EWP is particleboard, which has grown in popularity recently because of its practical applications in woodworking. The history of particleboard began in Germany when in 1887, Hubbard created a type of artificial wood out of … Read more

12 Types of MDF Board

The woodworking world is replete with different types of materials you can fiddle with, some of which are engineered, while others are found in nature. Medium-density fiberboard, for example, is one of the engineered wood products you can work with. It has grown in popularity since it was first introduced large scale in the 1980s. … Read more

Block Board Vs Plywood

Engineered wood products have been around for several generations, and the manufacturing process of these products has dramatically improved at a rapid clip. Two popular types of engineered wood products (EWPs) are plywood and block boards, and often, many beginners in woodworking confuse block boards with plywood. If you want to dabble in woodworking for … Read more

Wood Drying Time Chart

A question I get asked more often by beginners in woodworking is why there is a need to dry wood before usage. Of course, the answer to this question is not straightforward because you first need to understand the natural properties of wood. One primary property of wood is its hygroscopic property. The term “hygroscopic” … Read more

Can Plywood Be Used Outdoors?

Plywood has many uses in carpentry and woodworking as they are easy to install and detach. It pays to know which type of plywood can serve its purpose for decades and the factors that influence its functionality. The right choice of plywood may impact the quality of your project. Keep reading and find out the … Read more

Rot-resistant Wood Chart

One of the most used building materials on Earth is wood, and the reason is quite apparent—it has several valuable properties like small bulk density, low heat conductivity, workability, relatively high strength, and many other properties. Despite its usefulness, it is fraught with one downside—its susceptibility to rot. This vulnerability to rot makes many construction stakeholders think twice … Read more

What Is Marine-Grade Plywood?

You may be desirous of using plywood for your outdoor projects but need to be more aware of its susceptibility to the effects of moisture. If such is the case, you can always go for marine-grade plywood. Yes, you heard it right. Plywood comes in different types, and one particular type of plywood gets referred … Read more

Advantages and Disadvantages of Acacia Wood

Acacia wood is one of the hardest hardwoods used in woodworking and furniture making. It is characterized by its high density and flexibility apart from its gorgeous grain and color. Their multidirectional wood structure makes them unique, which means the grains face each other. The sapwood could be light brown or yellow shade, while the … Read more