Whether you’re the new kid on the job site or an old hand, it’s never a bad idea to bone up on basic building skills. Working with wood is a great place to start, so we’ve assembled a handy collection of articles covering the right way to cut plywood, pull stubborn nails, lay out a rafter, hone a chisel and sharpen your handsaw skills.
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Every trade has its own secrets for cutting big plywood panels down to size, but we’ll show you how to get precise cuts with nothing more than a stable platform, a circular saw and a good straightedge.
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If you spend any time on a jobsite, you’re going to have to pull a few nails. How much time you spend on this tedious task depends on how many tricks you know.
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Learn how to lay out a common rafter, and you’ll have mastered the basic building block of roof framing.
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Sharp tools make carpentry easier and safer, and they produce better results. Here’s how to give your chisels a professional-quality edge using diamond stones and a combination-grit water stone.
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Make quick cuts with a handsaw
When you have only a few boards to cut, reaching for a handsaw can be faster than taking the time to run an extension cord and set up a power saw—but only if you know how to use it.
