Witty, insightful, and packed with woodworking wisdom. Rob Brown is one of Canada’s foremost studio woodworkers and the editor of Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement. Since 2021, he’s been sharing his expertise, experiences, and behind-the-scenes stories in his weekly blog, Behind the Bench.

Stay in the loop! Sign up for the free shopNEWS newsletter and get Rob’s latest blog delivered straight to your inbox every Friday morning — because your weekend woodworking inspiration starts here.

Trigger clamps: Beauty over function?

My love/hate relationship with Baltic birch

Saving scraps: a rare success story

The ugliest piece of furniture I ever made

Solid wood vs. veneer: why veneer is simply better

More from the anti-splinter front

Project articles vs technique articles and free chisels

Installation from hell: the grand finale

Hammer time!

Drawing blood

Our Free live webinars are specifically geared to novice woodworkers and DIY. They provide practical woodworking and home improvement information and advice.

To view our list of upcoming Free webinars click here.

To view our list of member-only webinars click here.

Past Webinars:

• Rob Browns’ top 5 gifts to make
• Marking and measuring tools
• Easy to make gift items
• Start woodworking with only 3 tools (sponsored by Craftsman)
• Stains and finishes
• Tips and techniques when using epoxy (sponsored by Walrus Oil)
• Selecting lumber for your next project (sponsored by Exotic Woods)
• Working with live edge with Lara Finley & Special Guest (sponsored by Exotic Woods)

Rob Browns’ top 5 gifts to make

Marking and measuring tools

Easy to make gift items

Start woodworking with only 3 tools (sponsored by Craftsman).

Stains and finishes

Tips and techniques when using epoxy (sponsored by Walrus Oil)

Selecting lumber for your next project (sponsored by Exotic Woods)

Working with live edge with Lara Finley & Special Guest (sponsored by Exotic Woods)

Behind the Bench webinars are an exclusive free benefit for Canadian Woodworking members.

If you are not a member and would like to participate in future webinars join now.

To view our list of upcoming webinars click here.

Past Webinars:

• Webinar 1: Solvent based and water based polyurethane
• Webinar 2: Shellac and hardwax oil
• Webinar 3: Introduction to routers and router bits
• Webinar 4: Tips and techniques for using a router
• Webinar 5: Router tables
• Webinar 6: Router accessories
• Webinar 7: Sanding techniques
• Webinar 8: Shop safety (sponsored by Walrus Oil)
• Webinar 9: How to add texture to wood (sponsored by Record Power)
• Webinar 10: Power carving (sponsored by Arbortech)
• Webinar 11: Eight great table saw jigs
• Webinar 12: Seven factors when selecting a joint
• Webinar 13: 4 must-have jigs for small shops

Webinar 1: Solvent based and water based polyurethane

Resources

Finishing Touch: Film finishes
Finishing Touch: Waterborne finishes

Webinar 2: Shellac and Hardwax Oil

Resources

Shellac

Finishing Touch: Shellac – a no-fuss finish
Shellac mixing chart
Shellac: The best finish ever?
French polishing
How to apply a beautiful shellac finish (video)

Hardwax oil

Finishing Touch: Hardwax oil

General finishing

Finishing Touch: Introduction to wood finishing
Why apply a finish (video)
General Finishing Tips (video)
Brushes for applying a finish

Finishing products

WoodEssence.com (Shellac flakes)
Woodchuckers.com (Seal Lac and Royal Lac pre-mixed shellac)
Osmo.ca (HWO) source: LeeValley.com
Rubio Monocoat (HWO) source: WoodShedLumber.com

Webinar 3: Introduction to routers and router bits

Webinar 4: Tips and techniques for using a router

Webinar 5: Router tables

Webinar 6: Router Accessories

Resources

General articles

Routing Basics – Part 1
Routing Basics – Part 2: The Router 
Top 10 tips for using a router – Part 1
Top 10 ways to amp up your router game – Part 2
Mid-sized routers  
Know your tools: Fixed base routers
Know your tools: Trim routers

Router bits

Routing Basics – Part 3: Straight Bits 
Routing Basics – Part 4: Edge Profiling Bits 
Routing Basics – Part 5: Joinery Bits 
Routing Basics – Part 6: Specialty Bits

Router jigs

3 simple (yet essential) shop-made router jigs 
Template Routing
Dustless routing is at hand! 
Routing Bits, Jigs and Accessories 

Posters

Router Bits – Profile/Edge Treatment
Router Bits – Specialty
Router Bits – Straight

 Videos

Types of routers
Six essential router tips
Two shop made router jigs
Introduction to router bits
Router bit types – specialty bits
Router bit types – standard bits
Router table split fence

Webinar 7: Sanding Techniques

Resources:

• Finishing Touch: Hand sanding
• Hand Powered Sanding
• Benchtop sanding machines
• Sanding is a piece maker
• Net-backed abrasive sanding discs
• Oscillating Spindle Sanders
• 1/4 Sheet Finishing Sanders
• Belt sanders: tips for selecting
• Random Orbit Sanders
• Belt Sanders
• How to sand wood (video)

Webinar 8: Shop Safety

Resources:

• Top 10 Safety Items That Belong in Every Shop
• Top 10 Router Table Safety Tips
• Workshop safety
• Workshop safety (poster)

Webinar 9: How to add texture to wood

Resources:

• 12 ways to add texture with tools you already have
• Adding texture to woodwork (video)
• 6 tips for adding texture to wood (video)
• Build a textured wall shelf
• Create a set of textured ornaments
• Make a simple textured box
• Adding texture to wood
• Textured bowl

Webinar 10: Power Carving

Resources:

• Top 10 power carving tips
• Power Carving
• Power carve a Ginkgo serving platter
• Power carve a serving dish
• Power carving a dish (video)
• Power carving wheels for grinders (video)

Webinar 11: Eight great table saw jigs

Resources:

• Adjustable Crosscut Sled
• Build a removable outfeed table
• Ceiling-Mounted Adjustable Table Saw Guard
• Make a table saw mitre spline jig
• Make a table saw cut-off sled
• Ripping narrow strips on a table saw
• Top 10 ways to better use a table saw
• Top 10 Tips on How to Better Use a Table Saw – Part 2
• Table saw crosscut sled
• The ultimate table saw crosscut jig
• Universal Table Saw Sled
• Table saw crosscut sled (video)
• Table saw miter sled (video)

Webinar 12: Seven factors when selecting a joint

Webinar 13: 4 must have jigs for small shops