Get Inspired

Hello there! My name is Jack Sander. I am a guitar player with a deep passion for blogging, building stuff and improving my home every single day. The story of HowToSpecialist started in November of 2011. I just finished college back then and like any young men I was going to accomplish great things in life… except I had no idea what to do. The Phd I was pursuing wasn’t fulfilling enough for my soul, but the DIY bug hit me hard since my teens. Therefore, after a quick brainstorming with my brother I bought “HowToSpecialist.com” and the rest is history!

I post here quite often, as I love to share my design ideas and all the projects I am involved into. Besides the “woodworking plans” section of the blog, I like to document all the projects built by me or built for me. I am not an expert in all fields, but I learn quickly and I’ve seen a lot in constructions. Here’s a summary of what I do…

What topics do I blog about?

I blog about DIY projects and I try to come up with a new tutorial every single week. I also design step by step plans with 3D diagrams, detailed instructions, cut and shopping lists. You can see a selection of the topics I write about here: Furniture plans, Outdoor plans, Home Improvement and Money saving tips.

On HowToSpecialist you can find one of the most detailed plans on the internet. The best part of this blog is that all the plans are free, print-friendly and come with a detailed list of the materials required for each project. To learn how you can Print of PDF save my plans, please read the FAQs.

Brag posts from the community…

If you want more DIY inspiration for you home, you don’t want to miss a gallery with the projects submitted by DIY-ers all over the world. In addition, you can easily add your project so that everyone else see your skills.

Premium Plans

If you followed HowToSpecialist for some time and you want to bring things to the next level, check out my Store, where you can find Premium Woodworking Plans, so you can starting building projects, have fun and save tons of money. The Premium Plans come in a PDF Download format and provide more benefits compared to the regular ones, including cut diagrams and cost estimates.

Wood Recommendations

If you are a beginner woodworker, you should buy lumber from the home improvement stores. Search for the common pine that is also called white wood. There is nothing fancy about it, except it provides the best ration between cost and quality. It is easy to work with it and it makes the best material for farmhouse / rustic furniture projects. For outdoor projects I recommend pressure treated lumber. If you afford you can go into the hardwood, such as oak, cedar or redwood.

Another aspect you should pay attention to when buying lumber, is the Nominal vs Actual wood size. I have compiled a quick table so you can have a reference when planning for a project. All projects on this blog are designed using the actual size of lumber.

Nominal	Actual – Imperial	Actual – Metric
1×2	3/4″ x 1-1/2″	19 x 38 mm
1×3	3/4″ x 2-1/2″	19 x 64 mm
1×4	3/4″ x 3-1/2″	19 x 89 mm
1×6	3/4″ x 5-1/2″	19 x 140 mm
1×8	3/4″ x 7-1/4″	19 x 184 mm
1×10	3/4″ x 9-1/4″	19 x 235 mm
1×12	3/4″ x 11-1/4″	19 x 286 mm
2×2	1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″	38 x 38 mm
2×4	1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″	38 x 89 mm
2×6	1-1/2″ x 5-1/2″	38 x 140 mm
2×8	1-1/2″ x 7-1/4″	38 x 184 mm
2×10	1-1/2″ x 9-1/4″	38 x 235 mm
2×12	1-1/2″ x 11-1/4″	38 x 286 mm
4×4	3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″	89 x 89 mm

As a general rule, lumber with greater density is stronger but also more likely to split and wrap. On the other side, lower density wood is weaker but less likely to split and warp. Low density wood acts like a sponge, absorbing moisture when the weather is wet and drying when the sun comes out. Dense wood doesn’t adapt so good at the weather conditions so it may split and wrap easier.

Pressure-treated lumber is the most affordable lumber for outdoor use. The lumber is saturated with water-borne copper salts under extreme pressure. However, the main drawback is its color: light green or light brown. Since it can be stained or painted to a brighter color, it makes a good choice for an outdoor project.
Redwood is commonly associated with outdoor furniture, as it is soft and easy to work with. However, the main drawback of redwood is that it tends to splinter.
Another wood that is mostly used in outdoor projects is cedar. There are several species, but the two that are ideal for outdoor woodworking projects are incense cedar and Wstern red cedar. Both species are soft and easy to work with, making them ideal for furniture projects. The main drawbacks are that these species are weak in resistance and in strength.
Teak is resistant to decay, straight grained, very stable and it feels kind of waxy. However, teak is an expensive wood due to its great resistance to water damage. In addition, it dulls tools quickly, as it contains silica.
Mahogany is mainly used by boat builders. The following species are the most used: African, Philippine and Honduran. All three species are used for outdoor projects, but Honduran mahogany is the most decay resistant.
White oak was used for barrels and for casks, being more resistant than red oak. However, white oak absorbs moisture, so you need to seal it with varnish before using the outdoor furniture.

Wood Glues

Similar to some types of lumber that are well-suited for outdoor use, there are some adhesives that work in moisture. Make sure you choose the most appropriate product for your needs and budget before starting the woodworking project.

The traditional white, yellow and hide glues don’t work well outside. These adhesives aren’t designed to stand up against Mother Nature.
Plastic resin is an adhesive that is water resistant and cheap glue that can be used outdoor. It comes in a powder form, so you need to mix it with water, before using it. The glue sets up quickly (5-10 minutes), so you need to apply it fast or it will dry out.
Epoxy glue create very strong bonds and it is waterproof. Epoxy needs to be mixed before using it. It has two parts: a resin and a hardener. It is important to remove the excess before it dries out. After the epoxy hardens, it is impossible to remove it.
Polyurethane glue is available in bottles. However, you need to spay water on the pieces of wood before applying the glue, as it reacts with the moisture. This glue expands as it cures, making it ideal for fillings. Use a plastic scraper to spread the glue evenly. This type of glue takes about half an hour to dry out.
Construction adhesive can be used outdoor and it has a good price. It comes in tubes and it can be found at any DIY store. As the parts are clamped together, the adhesive will spread out. Let it dry out and then remove the excess with a utility knife.

Wood Finishes

When selecting the finish for your outdoor project, we recommend you to consider the level of protection, the appearance of the product and the level of maintenance it requires on the long run.

The oil that is formulated for outdoor use is the easiest product to apply. The oil penetrates the wood and provides protection for the components. The finish won’t crack up or peel. However, this product requires close maintenance, as the oil will lose its shine and ability to protect against moisture in several months.
If you are looking for more protection against decay, while still preserving the natural beauty of the wood, spar varnish is the right choice. Make sure you select a product that has ultra-violet (UV) filers. These filters prevent the sun from damaging the finish. It is a lot more durable than the oil, but you have to apply the finish at least once a year for proper results
Paint is the best choice if you want to obtain maximum protection against moisture and sunlight. You have a lot of color options and the coats of paint will last for several years..

Tools for Woodworking

You don’t need fancy tools for weekend projects. You need a good drill to make pilot holes and an impact driver for inserting the screws accurately and without damaging the wood. In addition, you need a miter saw for making regular cuts, as well as angle cuts. A circular saw will help you have more mobility when making the straight cuts, while a jigsaw is ideal for making curved cuts.

Next, you will need nail guns for speeding up inserting the nails. The nails are ideal for large outdoor projects (sheds, benches, fences) or for finishing nails. If you buy the nail guns you also need the compressor. You will also need a sander to even out surfaces and to smooth the edges. The router will help you make rabbets and mortises, as well as rounding the edges.

If you have these tools in your shop, you will be able to build almost anything. As you can see you don’t need expensive tools or investing thousands of dollars in your hobby. With under 500 dollars you will be able to have the basic tools and be ready for any woodworking challenge. All in all, the minimum tools you need to start building wood projects are: a circular saw, a drill and a sander. The rest of the tools will help you build with more precision and get nice finishing touches.

Safety Tips

I have compiled a few tips for your safety. Working with power tools has its risks, but you can keep everything under control with a few basic rules. I have a full page with woodworking safety tips, so you should consider taking a look. However, you can see below an excerpt of those:

Always verify and respect the local building codes when planning new construction projects.
Never use a power tool on an workpiece that is not properly fixed.
Always read the manufacturer’s instructions and product labels, when using power tools, paints, solvents or any other product. Pay attention especially to the warnings.
Always wear a face mask when working with tools that create dust (sander, saw, etc.). When working with toxic chemicals, always wear a face mask with a respirator filter.
Always were safety glasses, especially when working with power tools or preparing concrete.
Never use power tools or hand tools when you are tired. Never drink alcohol or use drugs before working with tools.
Always be prepared for unexpected events. Be attentive as to react quickly in case something occurs, as safety is the priority.

Build a Workbench

Maybe the #1 project you need to build is a sturdy workbench. I have lots of workbench plans on my blog, but I recommend you the design I built for myself. It is sturdy and cheap to build. The workbench features a shelf for storing tools, so you have everything organized. I added caster wheels to the legs so I can move it in and out the garage. I love working outside and I’m sure you will too…

My very favorite posts…

How to build a pizza oven, How to build a wheelbarrow planter, How to build a birdhouse, How to tile a concrete floor, How to fix a hole in drywall, Simple gazebo plans, Barn greenhouse plans, Trestle table plans, Garage plans, Carport plans, Front porch plans

Even more plans…

Bed frame plans, Table plans, Desk plans, Pergola plans, Shed plans, Animals plans, Greenhouse plans, Planter plans and a lot more…

See a list with all my Outdoor Plans ordered by category
See a list with all my Indoor Plans ordered by category

Series

Some of my projects are really complex so I split them into episodes, so you can follow through easily. You can see the main Series that I have on the blog here:

Thanks for checking out HowToSpecialist. Get yourself comfortable and read my tutorials for a while… because I have lots of them! If you like what you see or you have questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I read everything and I reply as quickly as possible. Feel free to share my plans with your loved ones.