New to woodworking? This glossary defines more than 50 essential terms you'll encounter, from joints and grain direction to finishes and tools. Each definition links to a deeper guide where we have one.
An angled surface cut along the edge or end of a board.
Opening two consecutive veneer or board slices like a book for a mirrored pattern. Learn more.
A rounded growth on a tree producing highly figured, prized wood.
The simplest joint, where the end of one board meets the face or edge of another. Weak on its own; usually reinforced with screws, dowels, or biscuits. Learn more.
Shaping wood by cutting away material with knives, gouges, or chisels. Learn more.
A symmetrical 45-degree bevel cut along an edge to soften it.
A hand tool with a sharpened edge for paring and chopping wood, essential for joinery. Learn more.
A device that holds parts together under pressure during gluing or machining.
A board distortion where the edges rise relative to the center, caused by uneven moisture.
A list of all parts and dimensions needed to build a project.
A square-bottomed channel cut across the grain, commonly used to house shelves in cabinets and bookcases.
An interlocking joint with fan-shaped pins and tails, prized for strength and beauty in drawer and box construction. Learn more.
A joint reinforced with cylindrical wooden pegs (dowels) for alignment and strength. Learn more.
The grain exposed when wood is cut across the fibers; absorbs glue and finish quickly.
The broad surface grain of a board, typically the most visible.
A safety device that holds stock against a fence or table while keeping hands clear of the blade. Learn more.
Distinctive patterns in wood such as burl, curl, or bird's-eye, valued for decorative work.
The direction, size, and arrangement of wood fibers, which affects strength, appearance, and how the wood machines. Learn more.
The coarseness rating of sandpaper; lower numbers are coarser, higher are finer.
A penetrating finish blending oils and waxes for a natural, repairable surface.
Wood from broadleaf, deciduous trees like oak, maple, and walnut; generally denser and more durable. Learn more.
Setting contrasting material into a recess in the wood surface for decoration. Learn more.
A mosaic-like technique fitting shaped wood pieces of varying thickness into an image. Learn more.
A standardized scale measuring a wood species' resistance to denting and wear.
A custom or commercial guide that holds work or tools to produce repeatable, accurate cuts.
Flattening one face and one edge of a board as part of milling, creating a reference surface.
The width of material removed by a saw blade during a cut. Always account for it when measuring. Learn more.
Lumber dried in a controlled kiln to a low, stable moisture level.
A machine that spins wood so it can be shaped with chisels, used in turning. Learn more.
A board that retains the natural, irregular edge of the tree. Learn more.
The art of creating pictures or patterns from pieces of wood veneer. Learn more.
Processing rough lumber into flat, square, dimensioned stock ready for joinery.
An angled joint, typically 45 degrees, where two pieces meet to form a corner such as a picture frame. Learn more.
The amount of water in wood, expressed as a percentage; critical for stability.
A classic strong joint where a projecting tenon fits into a matching mortise cavity. Learn more.
Smoothing and reducing the thickness of wood with a hand or powered plane. Learn more.
A durable synthetic film finish available in oil- and water-based forms.
A safety tool for guiding narrow stock past a blade, keeping fingers away from danger. Learn more.
The art of decorating wood by burning designs into the surface with a heated tool. Learn more.
A step-shaped recess cut along the edge of a board, often used for joining backs to cabinets or glass to frames.
Shaping, grooving, or trimming wood with a router and various bits. Learn more.
Smoothing a surface with progressively finer abrasive grits before finishing.
A coat applied to prepare wood for finishing or to lock in stain.
Drying lumber to a stable moisture content before use.
A traditional finish made from secreted lac resin dissolved in alcohol.
Wood from coniferous trees like pine, cedar, and fir; lighter and easier to work. Learn more.
A measuring tool for marking and checking right angles. Learn more.
A coloring agent that penetrates wood to change its hue while showing the grain. Learn more.
A stick marked with a project's key dimensions, used instead of repeated tape measurements. Learn more.
A pattern used with a bearing-guided bit to reproduce identical shaped parts. Learn more.
The protective outer finish layer such as polyurethane, lacquer, or varnish. Learn more.
Shaping wood on a lathe to create round forms like bowls, spindles, and legs. Learn more.
A thin slice of wood applied over a stable substrate to show fine figure economically. Learn more.
General distortion of a board from uneven drying or moisture changes.
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