The Wood Doctor also answers questions on the red in red oak, controlling carpenter bees, and cracks in Eastern white pine.

Some defects show up in the living tree; others are from processing wood; identify the difference.

Some simple checks and adjustments is often all it takes to return your machine to square.

1 Get a firsthand user review.Visit an existing user and get a firsthand account of the machine.2 See it complete a job from start to finish.This is the best way to understand how the machine works.3 Plan for the adoption process.Make sure you have someone who is trained to operate the machinery and is able to complete a job.

1. Mortise before tenonIt’s the quintessential order of operations in woodworking, and it’s nearly always true. Usually, you’ll cut the mortise first, then size the tenon to fit. There are good reasons for this rule too. If you’re making the mortise with a hollow chisel mortiser or router, the bit will be a nominal size. If you’re using a 3/8-inch bit, it’s easier to cut a 3/8-inch wide mortise. Cutting the tenon on a table saw with a dado blade is much easier, rather than adjusting the tenon thickness to fit the mortise.

Dovetail joints are commonly used in constructing drawers, cabinets, furniture, and other fine woodworking projects.

Whether you use a pinless or pin type, a wood moisture meter will allow you to get your wood to the right moisture content so that it’s stable before you build.

Troubleshooting tips to help ensure quality cuts of lumber.

Gene Wengert, the Wood Doctor, also answers questions and gives tips for bending wood and measuring core and shell moisture content.

Gene Wengert, the "Wood Doctor," also answers questions about the value of flooded lumber and dealing with brittle pine.