Skyrim cosplay set I'm working on.

Outdoor workbench (first project)

Best product for stripping older finish?

Our house was built around 1910, and we'd like to refinish the stairwell. Are there any good products, that are hopefully not very messy, that we could used to take the finish line off?

Spoiled little kitties get a new catio

Yeah yeah I still need to trim the chicken wire. They were pawing at the window to get out.

Face jointing resulting in convex boards?

Hi all, using the Porter Cable 6” benchtop jointer pictured here, and for face jointing the first few boards it worked magnificently. However, now I’m running some slightly twisted poplar through it and the faces I’m running through are turning out convex. I’m barely using any downward pressure and am only registering on the outfeed table. As far as I can tell my tables are parallel. Any ideas as to why this might happen?

How did I do for my first project?

This was my first project (aside from small projects like baseboards). Not my original idea…I adapted some plans from Pinterest. Any feedback is appreciated!! And any recommendations on paint color for legs/shelf would be helpful as well (I’m thinking navy?). TYIA

Bifold Doors

Here to talk two things: Painting these doors, and something I could do to “modern” them up. Painting- I’d like a smooth factory finish with brush strokes. What has everyone done in the past when painting their products? I’m not a fan of brush strokes, roller dimpling, or spackled unsmooth spray jobs. Is it because I’ve been using cheap rollers and brushes this whole time? Modernization- I think painting them white will help, but was wondering about adding some trim pieces to make them look like barn doors or something?

Which one?

Looking for opinions/recommendations on whether to start out with a jointer or a planer for squaring up rough cut wood. I am really starting to get rolling on some building projects I have always wanted to try which will require multiple glue ups with different types/species of wood. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated on where to start. Thank you! Picture of first project completed with outrageously expensive Douglas Fir.

Guitar lamp

Made with broken guitar head

Just installed the mantle last night. Is that something I have to topcoat/seal? See comment for more explanation.

The mantle is made from solid cypress. It’s only sanded right now but love the color as is for our house. I tried several finishes on the backside of the beam for tests but they all darkened the cypress drastically and I didn’t like the look of it. Is it okay to leave as is? Thanks

Saw this comment on ATSV “Imma do my own thing” and it hasn’t left my mind since