Articles
Tips, project walkthroughs, and woodworking advice from Paul Sellers and team.
MAKING YOUR FIRST WORKBENCH
You're learning the basics of woodworking but what more do you need to know to make your first workbench? Below are the 6 basic skills you need to have learnt and the 12 tools you should have and f...
How to Make a Wall Shelf: Episode 3
Two things Paul has always noticed to be intimidating to woodworkers are recessed or mortised hinge setting and applying finish. Following these steps will give you the confidence and success you want.
How to Make a Wall Shelf: Episode 2
Two things Paul has always noticed to be intimidating to woodworkers are recessed or mortised hinge setting and applying finish. Following these steps will give you the confidence and success you want.
How to Make a Wall Shelf: Episode 1
Two things Paul has always noticed to be intimidating to woodworkers are recessed or mortised hinge setting and applying finish. Following these steps will give you the confidence and success you want.
How to Make a Shaker Candle Box: Episode 3
Two things Paul has always noticed to be intimidating to woodworkers are recessed or mortised hinge setting and applying finish. Following these steps will give you the confidence and success you want.
How to Make a Shaker Candle Box: Episode 2
Many new to woodworking find the concept of hand-cutting dovetails intimidating, and yet it is one of the most fundamental joints used in the craft. Dovetails are the joints we use for making all kinds of boxes, large and small.
How to Make a Shaker Candle Box: Episode 1
Many new to woodworking find the concept of hand-cutting dovetails intimidating, and yet it is one of the most fundamental joints used in the craft. Dovetails are the joints we use for making all kinds of boxes, large and small.
"They're just like the Aldi Chisels!"
Paul first tried out a set of chisels bought from the supermarket chain, Aldi 9 year ago. Paul was so impressed with them he bought enough sets for students to use in his woodworking school.
Paul's Top Woodworking Tips: Part 3
In this blog we are continuing to share some of Paul's favourite woodworking tips he has collected over the years. You can catch up with part 1 and part 2 here.
Paul’s Top Woodworking Tips: Part 2
In this blog we are continuing to share some of Paul's favourite woodworking tips he has collected over the years. You can catch up with Part 1 here.
Paul’s Top Woodworking Tips: Part 1
Having worked with hand tools for over 50 years, Paul adopted many tips and tricks to help him in his everyday woodworking. In this blog post we’ve shared some of his favourites in the hope you fin...
Have Your Say!
Is there a tool you can’t quite get sharp enough? A technique you keep trying but can’t master? Are your joints not coming together as you had hoped?
Woodworking in Small Spaces
Paul’s studio and workshop is the size of a single car garage, this is because we did a survey a few years ago asking what space you work in. Most people came back letting us know it was a double o...
10 Free Beginner Woodworking Projects
Simple projects make for a great learning opportunity. Putting the joinery you have practised into a practical project can really help you understand the need for accuracy and square stock.
Reading the Grain: A Beginners Guide
If you can understand what’s going to affect the hand tool that you work the wood with, you can shorten the time spent working against the grain. In this guide you will learn all you need to know a...
Dovetail Troubleshooting- Part 2
We opened up our postbox for beginners to send in one of their first dovetail to get advice as to why it may not be the standard they had hoped for.
Your First Woodworking Project
For someone getting started in woodworking, tools and skills may both be lacking so to get you started, we recommend starting with a project which doesn't require many tools.
Sharpening Your Hand Tools: A Beginners Guide
Learning to sharpen your tools is a useful skill to have and one which we recommend you learn early on. It will save you lots of time if you're using well sharpened tools and you will get cleaner r...
Paul Sellers- The Lifestyle Woodworker
For those of you who don't know, Paul Sellers is one of the best known hand tool woodworkers in the world. His knowledge and experience has allowed him to become a well respected figure in the worl...
Tips for a Beginner Woodworker
Getting started in woodworking? These top tips for a beginner show the importance of getting into good habits right from the start of your woodworking journey.
Buying a Gent's Saw
Paul recommends the 10" (25cm) with 15-17 PPI. There are many different names on the saw plate but only one chief maker. They usually come in different lengths, but the 10" is the ideal length. Al...
Get Started in Woodworking for under £100 ($121)
Starting a new hobby can be expensive, however with our buying guides, Paul advises you on buying the right tools for your beginners toolbox to help you get started in woodworking.
Dovetail Troubleshooting- Part 1
We opened up our postbox for beginners to send in one of their first dovetail to get advice as to why it may not be the standard they had hoped for.
Woodworking Masterclasses or Common Woodworking?
With so much woodworking information out there, it is overwhelming for a beginner to get started. The aim of our site is to help new woodworkers learn the basics and to build skills which will enab...
How to do Woodworking Without a Workbench
Our recent survey found that over 30% of the Common Woodworking audience didn't have any kind of workbench. To many, this will be the obstacle standing between them and practical woodworking. Howev...
Want Feedback on Your Dovetail Joinery?
We have created our step-by-step courses to suit beginner woodworkers, they have visuals accompanying each step along with a written description breaking down the process. However, you might find t...
What Level Woodworker Are You?
We recently put out a survey to find out a bit more about our sites users. We asked what level each user considered themselves and what projects they have made, if any.
Where to Start
With a new year comes new resolutions and we hope woodworking is one of yours! It can be daunting starting a new hobby, especially with all the information on the internet, it can be difficult to k...
New Year, New Projects
As the new year approaches we have been reflecting on everything we've done these past few months.
What's New?
Since our launch date we have published many more free guides, exercises and courses. We really appreciate anyone who has got in touch over the last few months, your feedback has been used to help ...
Launching Common Woodworking
The day has finally arrived to launch Common Woodworking! Over the last year we have been working to create content which will guide and encourage beginners to get into woodworking, regardless of t...
How To Make a Rounded Card Scraper
This is known as a ‘curved’ or ‘round’ scraper and is mainly used for refining a bowl shape carved into wood.
Buying a Coping saw
When buying a coping saw, look for a frame which is lightweight, rigid and strong, as this will hold the blade securely and taut. Paul Sellers finds the wooden handles are more comfortable. The han...
Buying a Dovetail Saw
When buying a dovetail saw you need to ensure that it has good, resharpenable steel and has a strong back. Like tenon saws, these can be brass or steel-backed. The main difference is that the steel...
Buying a Panel Saw
When choosing a saw, a second hand one can last you years, if it has been well looked after. However, you should be prepared to sharpen them, as they often will arrive dull. If a saw has more than ...
Buying a Tenon Saw
Paul Sellers recommends a 12” tenon saw with 14-16 PPI. You can get brass-backed or steel-backed ones. The steel-backed saws are slightly lighter in weight, so it is down to personal preference. Ho...