Our “Affiliate” Recommendations

As a professional craftsman, I’m often asked about the tools and materials I use in my projects. This section of my web site is a curated list of those items I trust. Whether you're a beginner looking to start your woodworking journey or a seasoned pro seeking reliable sources, you'll find some good stuff here. Each tool or material listed has been carefully tested. In many cases, I’ve used them in my shop for years!

When you click on the links in these pages, you'll be directed to Amazon. There you can learn more about each item and purchase it if you choose. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a small amount from each qualifying purchase. This helps support my channel, and I thank you sincerely for that. Your purchases through these Affiliate pages help me to create educational woodworking videos, plans, and information -- and share my passion for this amazing craft.

Featured In Current Videos!

These are a few of the most popular tools and materials that are shown in our recent videos. Click on any tool or material to learn more. In many cases, there will be links to our videos where you can see them in action.

Latest In Our Shop

WEN 9-Inch Band Saw

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Our bandsaw projects have been extremely popular, but many viewers have commented that they didn't think they could afford a bandsaw.…

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POWERTEC Bandsaw Blades Assortment

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Assortment of 3 (59 1/2") blades for the Wen 9" Band Saw.

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Featured in our "Hardwax Finishes Overexplained" video

Nuvia Organic Carnauba Wax

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Carnauba wax is usually the hardest wax in most paste wax formulas, and has the highest melting temperature. This makes these formulas more durable, as explained in “Paste Wax Mix-up”.…

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Stackich Beeswax Pellets

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Beeswax may be the oldest of all finishing materials, and is still preferred by many craftsman as the best way to rub out and preserve a finish.…

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Hope’s 100% Tung Oil

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Raw tung oil penetrates the wood deeply, highlighting the grain. It does not build up on the wood surface, but multiple coats will create a pleasant sheen.…

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Sunnyside Raw Linseed Oil

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Raw linseed oil penetrates the wood surface, highlights the wood grain, and helps protect the surface. But unlike "boiled" linseed oil, it is not partially polymerized nor does it have…

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MG Chemicals d-Limonene Solvent

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d-Limonene is often used in wood finishes as a less toxic and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional solvents such as turpentine or mineral spirits.…

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One-Pint Paint Cans

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Eight one-pint (500 ml) tinplate cans with traditional triple-lock sealing metal lids, each 3.27" diameter and 4.13" tall.

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General Finish Hardwax Oil

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Hardwax finish, 475 ml (16 oz). Covers 60 square feet, dries to a clear matte finish. Available in several colors. Contains urethane resins.

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Tried & True Original Finish

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Hardwax finish, 475 ml (16 oz). Covers up to 125 square feet and dries toa clear matte finish. (The specs say "glossy," but it is nowhere near a gloss finish.) Food safe, made from…

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Odie's Oil

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Hardwax finish and polish, 266 ml (9 oz). Food safe, contains no solvents or driers. Dries to a clear matte finish on wood; can be used on other surfaces including leather, vinyl, and…

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Rubio Monocoat Plus 2C

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Two-part hardwax finish, 350 ml (11.8 oz) including oil and accelerator. One coat covers 175 square feet and dries to a clear matte finish. Linseed oil base, available in other colors.

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Natura Wood Oil

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Two-part hardwax finish, 360 ml (12.2 oz) including oil and accelerator. One coat cover 215 square feet and dries to a clear matte finish. Available in other colors.…

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Osmo Polyx-Oil

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0.75 l (25.3 oz) of hardwax oil, dries to a clear matter finish. Covers 190 square feet. Contains sunflower oil, soy oil, thistle oil, carnauba, and candelilla wax.

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Featured in our "Band Sawn Elves" video

1/4" Birch Balls - Pack of 100

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1/4" (6 mm) solid birch balls. We used these as noses on some of the elves we made. We drilled a 1/4" (6mm) hole, lined the rim with glue, and pressed the ball part way into the hole.…

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3/8" Birch Balls - Pack of 100

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3/8" (10 mm) solid birch balls. We preferred this size ball for the poms on the elves' hats. We also used them for some of the noses -- especially Santa's nose.…

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GOXAWEE Rotary Tool Kit

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The Goxawee is small rotary tool rotary tool with big capabilities. We found it useful for sanding the tighter curves on the elves, but it will do a lot more -- drilling, grinding,…

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LINE10 Tools Drum Sander Set

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Includes four 2-inch (50 mm) long drum sanders -- 1/2", 3/4", 1", and 1-1/2" (13, 19, 25, 38 mm) in diameter, plus 12 sanding sleeves of various grits.…

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Starrett Band Saw Blades

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An important part of setting up a band saw is choosing the right blade for the task at hand. So far, the best blades that I have found for most jobs are Starrett blades.…

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Featured in our "Halloween Lantern" video

1/8" (3 mm) Baltic Birch Plywood

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Six 12" x 24" (305 mm x 610 mm) sheets of Baltic Birch Plywood, 1/8" (3 mm) thick. This is what we used to make the lantrn faces shown in “Making a Halloween Lantern”.…

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Pumpkin Lights with Remote Control

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Two "Pumpkin Lights" with a remote control to turn them on and off without having to reach into the lantern. There are also settings to make the light flicker or shine steadily, make them…

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Lamp Pipe 3/8" Dia x 36" Long

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This is the "lamp pipe" we used like a long bolt to hold the Halloween Lantern together. It's 3/8" in diameter, 36" long (enough for two lanterns), and has a standard 1/8 IP thread.…

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3/8" Eye Nuts with 1" dia rings

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These are the eye nuts we used hold the Halloween Lantern together. They will also enable you to hang it, if you so wish. Each nut has a 1" diameter ring and standard standard 1/8 IP…

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Keda Aniline Dyes (5 Colors)

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Five colors of water-based aniline dyes -- black, brown, blue, red, and yellow -- enough to make one quart of each color. This is what we used to color the lantern parts shown in “Making…

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Olson Scroll Saw Blades 12 tpi

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Six precision-ground scroll saw blades, 12 teeth per inch with the bottom 9 teeth reversed. I've found these to cut reasonably fast and leave a smooth surface in hardwoods and hardwood…

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Bosch 20 tpi U-shank Jig Saw Blades

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Five 3/16" wide by 3-1/4" long jig saw blades with a (fairly) universal U-shank. If you're going to cut the faces in the Halloween Lantern (see “Making a Halloween Lantern”) this is what…

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Twidec Heavy Duty Foot Switch

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If you plan to make and use the saber saw table I show in “Making a Halloween Lantern”, you're going to need one of these. It will safely turn the saber saw on and off without reaching…

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Other Featured Products

Kreg Pocket Hole Jig 320

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I’ve tested a lot of pocket hole jigs, and Kreg makes some of the best. This is the one I use in my work. Kreg has bigger sets filled with interesting

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3/8” x 12” Aircraft Drill

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Yes, there really is such a thing as an “aircraft drill,” and no, I haven’t a clue as to why they are so named. It’s just what the tool industry calls long drill bits.

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Irwin 1/8” x 6” Aircraft Drill

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This is the drill bit that every pocket hole jig manufacturer leaves out of their kits and sets. You use it to make pilot holes in the adjoining wood part.…

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Power Twist (Link) Belt

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There’s no faster way to reduce the vibration that plagues many belt-driven tools than to replace the V-belt with a "link belt" such as this Power Twist belt.…

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Nicholson 12” Second-Cut Mill File

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In case you’re confused about the specifications for this tool, “single cut” refers to the file tooth pattern. A single-cut describes parallel rows of teeth; a double-cut refers to…

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Jorgensen Bench Plane

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Novice woodworkers ask me to recommend a hand plane that works well and won’t break the bank. Up until now, I have recommended than they search for a pre-1970 Stanley and restore it.

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Jorgensen Low-Angle Block Plane

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The low-angle block plane is the most used plane in my shop. It is essential for trimming and finessing the parts of an assembly, and the low-angle configuration lets you cut long grain

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