hobbyists' Projects

What on earth would bourbon taste like without it? Since the 19th century, charred white oak barrels have played an important part in the distinctive flavor of American whiskey.

Bring your model railroad to life by creating a backdrop that completes the environment. Using enlarged nature photos can set the scene for your locomotive, giving onlookers a sense of realism.

Chip carving is a great method for creating custom plaques and wayfinding signs. Download the provided border and decorative element templates to incorporate into your next project.

Let everyone know where the magic happens with these fun Santa’s Workshop Designs. Just click and print and you’re ready to start carving!

Use your carving skills for the holidays, and become a master pumpkin carver! Your woodworking tools will cut pumpkins like butter, and you will be the envy of the neighborhood with the intricate designs and effects you can create.

Get creative with your wood carving tools and get ready to play some games! The classic games you might have played as a child never go out style. Games like Chinese checkers, dominos and mancala are perfect examples.

Give this hobby a try with a great household tool you may already have in your arsenal—the utility knife.

Seeing a life size ship from the 1800s can be impressive. But shrink that same ship down to 1:24 scale, and it becomes almost impossible to look away. Miniature steering wheels.

Carving letters and words into wood can be one of the more challenging projects to tackle in woodworking, but with a little patience and practice, it can be a skill worth having.

Chip carving can be great skill to have for both beginnings and seasoned carvers. Chip carvings can be achieved with very few tools and a fairly simple technique. Chip carving is perfect for creating patterns and beautiful decorative designs on objects.

Adding detail and personalization to your model airplanes with the use of vinyl stencils or masking techniques can really make your project soar. You can create layers of colors and details when you pair it with your airbrush.

Mistakes happen. We all know it. We are supposed to learn and grow from them. But that can be deceptively harder than it sounds.

When contemplating creating a handmade gift, an heirloom box is an excellent option. It’s the perfect opportunity to commemorate a big occasion like a birth, wedding, or retirement.

We all love the sparkling lights adorning our homes during the holidays! But we don’t always love braving the cold and climbing up ladders to put them up.

Leaves are one of the most common decorative elements carved into ornamental wood pieces, and it is definitely a skill worth having from the beginning to master woodcarver.

Modeling railroading doesn’t end with crafting and building beautiful and elaborate train sets. A huge part of this hobby is building and designing the environment that surrounds your model train.

Every model train hobbyist can most likely remember their very first train they ever received. Toy trains became extremely popular in the 1950’s, and today the hobby still attracts a large community of model railway enthusiasts.

So, you have created the perfect model railroad, including a fully landscaped environment, and you want to take it a step further and create a visual backdrop to complete the whole scene.

If you are a woodworker, you know the satisfaction of creating and finishing a project. You can increase that satisfaction on your next project by inviting a young person to help you.

Dollhouses have been around for thousands of years. In fact, early examples have been found in Egyptian tombs.

Summer is in full swing! Get the kids involved and create a family-friendly woodworking project together.

Leather has proven to be a timeless and durable canvas. Detailed imagery and patterns can be worked into the soft canvas. You’ll find ornate leather art in anything from belts to book covers.

Sometimes a new wood project or a brand new piece of furniture can get an uplift by making it look old. Antiquing a piece of wood or furniture piece can instantly change the mood of a piece and add one-of-a-kind character.

Robot car, tank, or a wedge of cheese—anything goes in the pinewood derby! Building a derby car is the perfect-sized project to complete with children. Here are some things to keep in mind!

Have you ever considered model airplane building as a hobby? Building one from a kit might be a great way to start. With a little preparation, and a few tools you can be well on your way to a fun new hobby.

Applying stain to a wood carving is a great way to enhance the natural beauty of the wood. Here are some tips to avoid some common staining pitfalls.

Carving your own set of chess pieces can be a really fun and rewarding project.

A realistic finish can take a model to the next level. Using multiple references can help you achieve an authentic look.

The art of "weathering" your model trains and scenery is the process of making them distressed-looking or worn.

In the 1:12 scale world anyone can be an expert carpenter. With a little imagination, it’s possible to make some pretty believable dollhouse furniture.

Painting your wood carvings with opague colors might not always be the effect you are striving for.

Applying decals on your latest project can be the most satisfying part of completing your model airplane.

There are many techniques and ways to carve wood. One of the basic methods, and great for beginners is Chip carving.

Wooden spoon making has a history that is centuries old. The wooden spoon has been around since people realized they could carve into wood.