Woodworking Guides for Weekend Builders

Plain answers to the questions that stall first projects: real lumber sizes, the tools you need, what to build first and why parts don't fit.

1. 
   Lumber basics

   What Is the Actual Size of a 2x4? Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Sizes

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2. 
   Beginner projects

   Easy Woodworking Projects for Beginners: 8 Builds With a Saw, a Drill and a Square

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3. 
   Outdoor furniture

   How to Build an Adirondack Chair: Parts, Materials and the Cuts That Matter

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4. 
   Family projects

   Woodworking With Grandkids: Safe Projects and Jobs by Age

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5. 
   Tools

   Basic Woodworking Tools for Beginners: What You Need First (and What Can Wait)

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6. 
   Workshop mistakes

   Why Your Woodworking Project Doesn't Fit: 9 Common Plan Mistakes

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Wood moisture where you live

Outdoor wood shrinks and swells with the local climate. Our state-by-state pages show the average moisture content of outdoor wood for each month in cities across the country, from USDA Forest Products Laboratory data, and what it means for lumber, glue-ups and finishes.