The Wood Whisperer Guild

Editor’s Note:This article was originally published in 2011, but the message still rings true. Over the years, readers have shared thoughtful comments and personal experiences that echo the same struggles and lessons discussed here. I’ve updated this piece to include a few of those voices as well as running everything through a 2026 filter. I’m nearing the end of the Adirondack Chair project, and I constantly need to remind myself to slow down. Even after doing this woodworking thing since...

Parallel clamps are one of the most commonly used clamping tools in a woodworking shop. They’re versatile, strong, and ideal for panels, casework, and glue-ups of all sizes. In spite of how much I rely on them, they aren’t perfect. The Problems Parallel clamps feature hard plastic faces. While durable, that material creates two common problems that nearly every woodworker has experienced. First, the hard jaws can dent the workpiece when excessive pressure is applied, especially on softer...

Hey there, Nicole here! Sorry if the welcome email caught you off guard. If you’d rather not receive the Weekly Tip Newsletter, just click Manage My Profile at the bottom of this email and uncheck The Wood Whisperer Weekly Tip. But if you decide to stick around (and we hope you do!), you can grab Marc’s Finishing eBook for free, just use the code EBOOKFREE at checkout. We’ve got some great topics lined up each week, and we’d love for you to join us! Hey gang, Marc here. If this week’s Arctic...

Hey folks, When you’re deciding what to work on next, I think it helps to shift the question a little. Instead of “What should I build?”, try asking, “What do I want to learn?” Woodworking rewards repetition and intention. The biggest gains usually come from slowing down and doing the fundamentals really well. Here are just a few areas worth spending time on. • Work with characterful lumber: Boards with knots and wild grain force better layout, grain reading, and problem solving• Build...

Looking to grab some of that sweet Woodworker Fuel Coffee? Get it while you can! As a kid, I loved rearranging my bedroom. It wasn’t about buying new furniture or adding more stuff, it was about seeing how small changes could completely change how the room felt and how I used it. That same instinct has followed me into the shop, especially when it comes to shop layout. Over the years, I’ve learned that shop efficiency rarely comes from major overhauls. More often, it comes from stepping back...

Welcome back, and happy new year! We’re excited to kick things off with our first Watch Along Wednesday of the year tonight at 8pm Eastern! If you’re new, or just need a reminder, Watch Along Wednesdays are meant to be a casual, low-pressure, “water cooler” way for the community to come together. We tend to watch older woodworking videos, chat, share ideas, and enjoy some shop talk together for about 45 to 60 minutes. No prep work, no pressure, just a relaxed way to connect with fellow Guild...

Before we close out the year, we just want to say thank you. Your support throughout the year on thewoodwhisperer.com and twwguild.com means more to us than we can ever properly put into words. Whether you’ve been watching videos, building projects, joining courses, or just cheering us on, we truly appreciate you. If you didn’t quite get what you wanted under the tree, or you’re still hunting for a meaningful last-minute gift, here are two very clear ways to make your woodworking dollars go...