Glossary
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Glossary of Woodworking Terms (Woodturner's Resource)
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- 1. Air Cleaner
- 2. Air Dried
- 3. Aliphatic Resin
- 4. Allen Wrench
- 5. All-Purpose Blade
- 6. Alternate Top Bevel (ATB)
- 7. Aluminum Oxide
- 8. Aniline Dye
- 9. Annual Growth Rings
- 10. Anti Kickback Pawl
- 11. Apron
- 12. Arbor
- 13. Awl
- 14. Backsaw
- 15. Band Clamp
- 16. Band Saw
- 17. Bar Clamp
- 18. Barrel Hinge
- 19. Base Plate
- 20. Batten
- 21. Beading Tool
- 22. Bearing
- 23. Belt Sander
- 24. Bench Dog
- 25. Bench Grinder
- 26. Bench Knife
- 27. Bench Plane
- 28. Benchtop
- 29. Bevel
- 30. Bird's-Eye
- 31. Biscuit
- 32. Biscuit Joiner
- 33. Bit
- 34. Blade Guard
- 35. Blade Plate
- 36. Blade Rim
- 37. Blade Stabilizer
- 38. Blank
- 39. Blast Gate
- 40. Block Plane
- 41. Blushing
- 42. Board Foot
- 43. Book Match
- 44. Bore
- 45. Bow
- 46. Box Joint
- 47. Box Nail
- 48. Brace
- 49. Brad
- 50. Brad Point
- 51. Bridle Joint
- 52. British Standard Whitworth (BSW)
- 53. Bullnose
- 54. Burl
- 55. Burnish
- 56. Bushing
- 57. Butt Hinge
- 58. Butt Joint
- 59. Butt Matched
- 60. Butterfly Hinge
- 61. Cabinet Saw
- 62. Cabinet Scraper
- 63. Caliper
- 64. Cap Iron
- 65. Carbide
- 66. Carcass
- 67. Carving in the Round
- 68. Case-Hardened Lumber
- 69. Casework
- 70. Casing
- 71. Caul
- 72. C-clamp
- 73. CFM
- 74. Chamfer
- 75. Check
- 76. Chip Carving
- 77. Chuck
- 78. Clear
- 79. Cleat
- 80. Closed Coat
- 81. Close-Grained
- 82. Clutch
- 83. Coarse-Grained
- 84. Coated Abrasives
- 85. Collet
- 86. Color Rendering Index
- 87. Combination Blade
- 88. Combination Machine
- 89. Common
- 90. Common Nail
- 91. Compound Miter
- 92. Compression Wood
- 93. Contractor's Saw
- 94. Cope
- 95. Cope-and-Stick
- 96. Corner Clamp
- 97. Counterbore
- 98. Countersink
- 99. Cove
- 100. Crossbearer
- 101. Crosscut
- 102. Crosscut Blade
- 103. Crotch Lumber
- 104. Crowning
- 105. Cupping
- 106. Curly
- 107. Cutoff
- 108. Cutoff Blade
- 109. Cutoff Saw
- 110. Cutter
- 111. Cutterhead
- 112. Cyanoacrylic
- 113. Cyclone
- 114. d
- 115. Dado
- 116. Dado Head (or Cutter)
- 117. Danish Oil
- 118. Dead-Blow Mallet
- 119. Deck Screw
- 120. Denatured Alcohol
- 121. Detent
- 122. Dewaxed Shellac
- 123. D-handle
- 124. Dial Indicator
- 125. Diamond Dresser
- 126. Dimensional Lumber
- 127. Direct Drive
- 128. Disk Sander
- 129. Double-Stick Tape
- 130. Dovetail
- 131. Dowel
- 132. Dowel Center
- 133. Downdraft Table
- 134. Dozuki
- 135. Drawer Slide
- 136. Drawknife
- 137. Driver Bit
- 138. Drum Sander
- 139. Dry Fit
- 140. Drying Oil
- 141. Drywall Screw
- 142. Dual Bevel
- 143. Dust Collector
- 144. Dust Nibs
- 145. Dust Port
- 146. Earlywood
- 147. Edge Band
- 148. Edge Grain
- 149. Edge-Banding Tape
- 150. Edge-Belt Sander
- 151. Elbow
- 152. End Grain
- 153. Epoxy
- 154. Equilibrium Moisture Content
- 155. Extension Table
- 156. Face
- 157. Face Frame
- 158. Faceplate
- 159. Feather Board
- 160. Feed Rate
- 161. Feeler Gauge
- 162. Fence
- 163. Fiddleback
- 164. Figure
- 165. Filler
- 166. Film Finish
- 167. Finger Joint
- 168. Finial
- 169. Firsts and Seconds (FAS)
- 170. Fishtail
- 171. Fixed-Base
- 172. Fixture
- 173. Flat Sawn
- 174. Flattening Agent
- 175. Flat-Top Tooth
- 176. Flint
- 177. Flitch
- 178. Flush-Trim Bit
- 179. Forstner Bit
- 180. Frameless Cabinet
- 181. Framing Lumber
- 182. Framing Nail
- 183. Framing Nailer
- 184. Fret Saw
- 185. Fretwork
- 186. Friction Polish
- 187. Frog
- 188. Full-Extension Slide
- 189. Garnet
- 190. Gib Screws
- 191. Gingerbread
- 192. Glue Line
- 193. Gouge
- 194. Grain
- 195. Grain Reversal
- 196. Green
- 197. Green Woodturning
- 198. Grit
- 199. Groove
- 200. Growth Ring
- 201. Guard
- 202. Guide Blocks
- 203. Guide Collar
- 204. Gullet
- 205. Half-Blind Dovetail
- 206. Hand Screw
- 207. Handwheel
- 208. Hardboard
- 209. Hardwood
- 210. Haunched Mortise-and-Tenon
- 211. Heartwood
- 212. Hide Glue
- 213. High-Speed Steel (HSS)
- 214. Hinge Mortise
- 215. Hole Saw
- 216. Hollow Grind
- 217. Hollow Vessel
- 218. Hollowing Tool
- 219. Hone
- 220. Honing Guide
- 221. Hook
- 222. Hot-Melt Glue
- 223. Hybrid Table Saw
- 224. Impact Driver
- 225. Induction Motor
- 226. Infeed
- 227. Insert
- 228. Insert Cutter
- 229. Iron
- 230. Jig
- 231. Jointer
- 232. Kerf
- 233. Kickback
- 234. Kiln
- 235. Knife
- 236. Knife Hinge
- 237. Knot
- 238. Lac Bug
- 239. Lacquer
- 240. Lag Screw
- 241. Laminate (noun)
- 242. Laminate (verb)
- 243. Laminate Trimmer
- 244. Lap Joint
- 245. Lapping Plate
- 246. Latewood
- 247. Leg Set
- 248. Linseed Oil
- 249. Live Center
- 250. Loose Knot
- 251. Loose Side
- 252. Luthier
- 253. Machine Screw
- 254. Mallet
- 255. Mandrel
- 256. Marking Gauge
- 257. Marquetry
- 258. Mechanical Compressor
- 259. Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)
- 260. Milk Paint
- 261. Mineral Spirits
- 262. Mission
- 263. Miter Box
- 264. Miter Gauge
- 265. Miter Joint
- 266. Miter Slot
- 267. Miter Square
- 268. Moisture Content
- 269. Molding
- 270. Morse Taper (MT)
- 271. Mortise
- 272. Mortise-and-Tenon
- 273. Mortiser
- 274. Mullion
- 275. Nail Set
- 276. Natural-Edge Turning
- 277. Newel
- 278. NGR
- 279. Nondrying Oil
- 280. Ogee
- 281. One-By (1-by)
- 282. One-Off
- 283. Open Coat
- 284. Open Time
- 285. Open-Grained
- 286. Orbital
- 287. Oriented Strand Board
- 288. Oscillating Drum Sander
- 289. Outboard Turning
- 290. Outfeed
- 291. Overlay Door
- 292. Paint Thinner
- 293. Painter's Tape
- 294. Palm Sander
- 295. Panel
- 296. Panel Saw
- 297. Particleboard
- 298. Parting Tool
- 299. Pawl
- 300. Pegboard
- 301. Pen Lathe
- 302. Penny
- 303. Phillips
- 304. Piano Hinge
- 305. Pigment
- 306. Pigtail Scratches
- 307. Pilaster
- 308. Pilot Bearing
- 309. Pin
- 310. Pin Nailer
- 311. Pin Router
- 312. Pipe Clamp
- 313. Pitch (blades)
- 314. Pitch (lumber)
- 315. Pith
- 316. Pivot Block
- 317. Pivot Hinge
- 318. Plain Sawn
- 319. Platen
- 320. Plug
- 321. Plunge Router
- 322. Plywood
- 323. Pneumatic
- 324. Pocket Hole
- 325. Polyurethane
- 326. Polyvinyl Acetate
- 327. Positive Stop
- 328. Pot Life
- 329. Primary Wood
- 330. Proud
- 331. PSA
- 332. PSI
- 333. Pumice
- 334. Push Stick
- 335. PVA
- 336. Quartersawn
- 337. Queen Anne
- 338. Rabbet
- 339. Rack
- 340. Rail
- 341. Raised Grain
- 342. Raised Panel
- 343. Rake
- 344. Raker
- 345. Random Orbit
- 346. Ray Flecking
- 347. Reaction Wood
- 348. Reciprocating
- 349. Relief Carving
- 350. Relief Cut
- 351. Resaw
- 352. Resin
- 353. Rift Sawn
- 354. Right Side
- 355. Rip
- 356. Rip Blade
- 357. Riving Knife
- 358. Robertson Head
- 359. Rotary Cut
- 360. Rotary Tool
- 361. Rottenstone
- 362. Rough Sawn
- 363. Rough Turn
- 364. Roughing Gouge
- 365. Roundover
- 366. Router
- 367. Rubbing Compound
- 368. Rubbing Out a Finish
- 369. Runout
- 370. S2S
- 371. S4S
- 372. Sacrificial Fence
- 373. Sanding Drum
- 374. Sapwood
- 375. Sawyer
- 376. Scarf Joint
- 377. Scorp
- 378. Scraper
- 379. Scroller
- 380. Scuff Sand
- 381. Sealer Coat
- 382. Secondary Bevel
- 383. Secondary Wood
- 384. Select
- 385. Self-Indexing
- 386. Self-Sealing Finishes
- 387. Set
- 388. Set Screw
- 389. Shank
- 390. Shaper
- 391. Shaving Horse
- 392. Sheen
- 393. Sheet Goods
- 394. Sheet-Metal Screw
- 395. Shellac
- 396. Shim
- 397. Shooting
- 398. Shooting Board
- 399. Shoulder
- 400. Shoulder
- 401. Silicon Carbide
- 402. Skew
- 403. Skip
- 404. Skip Tooth
- 405. Sled
- 406. Sliding Bevel
- 407. Sliding Dovetail
- 408. Sliding Table
- 409. Slip Match
- 410. Slip Stone
- 411. Slot Mortiser
- 412. Slurry
- 413. Snipe
- 414. Soft Start
- 415. Softwood
- 416. Sole
- 417. Solid Surface
- 418. Soss Hinge
- 419. Spade Bit
- 420. Spalted
- 421. Specific Gravity
- 422. Spindle
- 423. Spindle
- 424. Spindle Sander
- 425. Spline
- 426. Split Point
- 427. Splitter
- 428. Splotching
- 429. Spokeshave
- 430. Tack Cloth
- 431. Tack Time
- 432. Tail
- 433. Tailstock
- 434. Taper
- 435. T-bolt
- 436. Tear-Out
- 437. TEFC
- 438. Tempering
- 439. Template
- 440. Tenon
- 441. Tension Wood
- 442. Tensioning
- 443. Threaded Insert
- 444. Through
- 445. Thrust Bearings
- 446. Tiger Figuring
- 447. Tipping Off
- 448. T-nut
- 449. Toe-Nail
- 450. Toggle Clamp
- 451. Tongue-and-Groove
- 452. Tool Rest
- 453. Torque
- 454. Torx Head
- 455. TPI
- 456. Treenware
- 457. Triple Chip
- 458. Trunnion
- 459. Try Square
- 460. T-slot
- 461. Tung Oil
- 462. Tungsten Carbide
- 463. Turn Between Centers
- 464. Twist
- 465. Twist Bit
- 466. Two-By (2-By)
- 467. UHMW
- 468. Universal Motor
- 469. Urethane
- 470. Vacuum Press
- 471. Vapor Respirator
- 472. Varnish
- 473. Veiner
- 474. Veneer
- 475. Veneer Press
- 476. Veneer Roller
- 477. Veneer Tape
- 478. Veneer-Core Plywood
- 479. V-tool
- 480. Wane
- 481. Warp
- 482. Wash Coat
- 483. Washboarding
- 484. Water Stone
- 485. Ways
- 486. Web Clamp
- 487. White Glue
- 488. Wide-Belt Sander
- 489. Winding Sticks
- 490. Wire Edge
- 491. Witness Lines
- 492. Wobble Dado
- 493. Wood Conditioner
- 494. Woodcut
- 495. Working Life
- 496. Worm Drive
- 497. Wormy
- 498. x
- 499. Yellow Glue
- 500. Zero-Clearance Insert
1. Air Cleaner
A ceiling or wall-mounted vacuum source with filtration that removes airborne dust from a shop; sometimes called an ambient air cleaner or air scrubber
2. Air Dried
Wood that has been cured by natural air-drying
3. Aliphatic Resin
The adhesive ingredient in yellow wood glue
4. Allen Wrench
A six-sided bar, usually L- shaped, used to turn screws with recessed hexagonal heads; sometimes called an Allen key
5. All-Purpose Blade
Circular saw blade with a tooth configuration designed to perform both crosscutting and ripping operations; also called a combination blade
6. Alternate Top Bevel (ATB)
Teeth angled in alternated opposite directions on a saw blade
7. Aluminum Oxide
A type of abrasive material used in sandpaper
8. Aniline Dye
Water-soluble dye used for coloring wood
9. Annual Growth Rings
Rings visible in wood end grain separating early wood from latewood; also called growth rings
10. Anti Kickback Pawl
A table-saw attachment that allows cutting stock to move freely forward but whose teeth dig into the material to prevent it from ejecting backward toward the operator; also called antikickback spur
11. Apron
Rails around the base of a table to which the top and legs are joined
12. Arbor
The mounting shaft for a saw blade
13. Awl
A sharp-pointed tool for piercing small holes in wood or other material
14. Backsaw
Handsaw with a thin rectangular blade that is stiffened with a reinforcing spine along its length on the side opposite the teeth; used primarily for mitering and cutting dovetails
15. Band Clamp
A flexible strap connected to a ratcheting mechanism used to tighten it around irregularly shaped objects; also called a web clamp
16. Band Saw
Powered saw that cuts by means of a thin metal blade running in a continuous loop around two or more large drive wheels, used for making tight- radius curved cuts or for resawing wood
17. Bar Clamp
A clamp composed of a metal bar with a fixed jaw on one end paired to an adjustable jaw, usually tightened with a screw together with a ratchet mechanism
18. Barrel Hinge
A jointed device used to connect two components such as a box and its lid and consisting of two small cylinders that are recessed into holes drilled into those components in order to make the connection nearly invisible
19. Base Plate
The flat underside of a portable power tool; sometimes called a sole plate
20. Batten
A thin, flat board or strip of wood often used to cover the joint between two parallel boards or as a caul to apply even clamping pressure
21. Beading Tool
A hand tool that creates a small, molded detail on the edge of a workpiece; can create single or multiple beads; also called scratch stock
22. Bearing
A wheel mounted on a router bit shank that guides a router bit through a cut; sometimes called a rub bearing. A bearing can also be mounted on a fixture or jig to guide a tool or workpiece through a cut.
23. Belt Sander
Handheld electric sander using an abrasive belt; used for rapid stock removal and for leveling panels
24. Bench Dog
A round or square peg fitted to matching holes in a workbench surface; used as a stop to hold a workpiece in place
25. Bench Grinder
A machine consisting of a motor and a shaft with a spinning wheel on one or both ends. Most commonly the wheel is an abrasive disk used to sharpen tools, but it can also be a wire wheel for cleaning or a cloth wheel for buffing.
26. Bench Knife
A handled cutting and marking tool with a generally short, pointed blade, sharpened only on one side
27. Bench Plane
Flat-bottomed hand tool consisting of a sharp blade called an iron and a mating cover called a chip breaker, which protrude through a slot in the tool's sole plate, used to smooth and flatten wooden stock. Other common features are a handle at the rear of the tool, a knob for grasping the front of the tool, and a mechanism to adjust the depth and position of the blade
28. Benchtop
A description applied to a woodworking machine designed without its own stand and intended for use on a table or bench surface; benchtop machines are often considered portable
29. Bevel
An angle measurement; can apply to lumber cuts, or to the angle of the cutting edge on chisels and other tools
30. Bird's-Eye
A type of wood figuring that resembles dots or small eyes; most commonly found in maple
31. Biscuit
Small, flat, football-shaped pieces of compressed wood glued into slots on opposing workpieces to align and strengthen joints
32. Biscuit Joiner
Portable power tool used to cut slots for biscuits; sometimes called a plate joiner
33. Bit
Any cutter designed to work while spinning, such as a router bit or drill bit; bits are mounted in a tool's chuck or collet
34. Blade Guard
A protective shield covering the portion of a table saw blade or other cutter that protrudes through a table top, or a similar shield on a portable power tool
35. Blade Plate
The flat disk that forms the body of a circular saw blade
36. Blade Rim
The periphery of a circular saw blade where the teeth are located
37. Blade Stabilizer
Thin plates that mount on the sides of a saw blade to help minimize vibration
38. Blank
A square or rectangular piece of wood intended for carving or turning
39. Blast Gate
On a dust collection system, a sliding door mounted in ductwork that allows airflow to be opened or restricted depending on need
40. Block Plane
A small utility plane usually used one-handed
41. Blushing
Milky discoloration of a wood finish caused when moisture is trapped in the curing finish
42. Board Foot
A measurement of lumber equal to a board 1' long, 1' wide, and 1" thick; usually abbreviated bf when combined with a numeral
43. Book Match
The pattern created when adjoining pieces of veneer or resawn wood are opened like a book, resulting in grain that is mirror-imaged
44. Bore
The hole in a circular saw blade, sized to fit the saw arbor
45. Bow
Wood defect where a board bends from end to end along its flat axis
46. Box Joint
A corner joint made of interlocking square cuts on the ends of workpieces
47. Box Nail
A wire nail with a sharp point and flat head similar to a common nail but with a thinner shaft and a slightly dulled point to prevent splitting thin wood
48. Brace
Sometimes called bit and brace, a manual drilling tool consisting of an articulated crank-style handle and a chuck into which an auger bit is mounted
49. Brad
A nail with a very small head designed to be driven flat with, or slightly below, the surface
50. Brad Point
A wood boring bit similar to a twist drill but with a sharp spur at its point to lead the shaft into the hole
51. Bridle Joint
A connection between two woodworking components similar to a tongue-and-groove joint but made on the narrow rather than the wide dimension of the material
52. British Standard Whitworth (BSW)
Specification for the number and spacing of threads on screws and bolts, devised by 19th-century British engineer Joseph Whitworth
53. Bullnose
The rounded-over edge of a piece of material used as a finish detail; also, a hand plane or router bit used to create such an edge in wood
54. Burl
A rounded, often gnarled, protrusion on a tree trunk usually the result of disease; the highly figured wood cut from such a growth, often used for veneer
55. Burnish
To firmly rub a surface in order to polish it or to adhere a glued surface treatment, often done with a rounded tool. Also, to treat the edge of a cutting tool to slightly roll the edge after sharpening.
56. Bushing
In woodturning, small metal tubes used as guides to turn pen parts to the correct diameter for a finished pen
57. Butt Hinge
Hinge consisting of two rectangular plates connected by a pin used to attach a door to a fixed component
58. Butt Joint
Joint formed by placing two flat mating surfaces squarely against each other
59. Butt Matched
The pattern created when two resawn pieces of wood are arranged end to end, resulting in grain that is mirror-imaged along the shorter dimension
60. Butterfly Hinge
Type of butt hinge with its plates cut in a decorative winglike pattern
61. Cabinet Saw
Heavy-duty professional table saw, generally equipped with a large cast-iron top, accurate fence, and powerful motor and blade mounted on a trunnion assembly attached directly to the cabinet, not the visible-m-inlineop, facilitating precision adjustment
62. Cabinet Scraper
A flat piece of metal used to smooth a wood surface
63. Caliper
Compasslike hand tool for measuring inside and outside diameters
64. Cap Iron
The metal structure on a plane that holds the cutting iron in place; its curved edge creates the curled shaving common to hand planing
65. Carbide
An extremely hard alloy used to create extra sharp and durable cutting surfaces on blades, bits, and other tools
66. Carcass
The basic structure of a cabinet or other generally rectangular construct; sometimes spelled carcase
67. Carving in the Round
A fully three- dimensional style of carving, as in sculpture
68. Case-Hardened Lumber
Wood that has been improperly kiln dried such that the outer portion is dry but the inner portion retains moisture, resulting in internal stresses that cause the material to deform in an undesirable way
69. Casework
Cabinets or other generally rectangular constructs
70. Casing
Wooden trim around wall openings
71. Caul
A piece of material, often scrap wood, placed between clamp and workpiece to provide even clamping pressure and prevent marring of the surface
72. C-clamp
A clamp in a shape resembling the letter C and with a screw mechanism to tighten onto the workpiece
73. CFM
Cubic feet per minute, generally used to measure airflow
74. Chamfer
A 45° bevel cut to ease the sharp edge of a workpiece
75. Check
Cracks in a piece of lumber cheek The wide face of a tenon
76. Chip Carving
Style of carving in which numerous small pyramid-shaped bits of wood are removed from a workpiece by means of a series of shallow knife cuts
77. Chuck
A cylindrical metal apparatus on a drill or other tool that can be tightened to hold a bit
78. Clear
Description for a piece of lumber that is free of defects
79. Cleat
A strip of wood or other material used to support or reinforce the surface to which it is attached
80. Closed Coat
Type of sandpaper in which the abrasive grains are tightly distributed, used when clogging of the paper is not an issue
81. Close-Grained
Any wood with narrow, inconspicuous growth rings, small pores, and a smooth surface texture, such as maple, cherry, and poplar
82. Clutch
Apparatus on an electric drill that can control the amount of torque applied to a bit
83. Coarse-Grained
Any wood with wide, conspicuous growth rings, large pores, and a grainy surface texture, such as oak, ash, and walnut; also called open-grained
84. Coated Abrasives
Products such as sandpaper in which gritty material is adhered to a flexible backing
85. Collet
The mounting collar of a router or rotary tool that holds a bit
86. Color Rendering Index
A measure of how well a fluorescent light accurately renders true color, an important factor when gauging finishing and wood color; often abbreviated CRI on packaging
87. Combination Blade
A circular saw blade with a tooth configuration designed to perform both crosscutting and ripping operations; sometimes called an all- purpose blade
88. Combination Machine
A stationary woodworking machine, usually European-made, that combines a table saw, jointer, planer, and/or other machines into a single unit; sometimes called simply combo machine
89. Common
The lowest grade of lumber, further broken down into #1, #2, and #3
90. Common Nail
A fastener made from steel wire with a sharpened point on one end and a flat head on the other, generally available untreated (bright) or coated with zinc for rust resistance (galvanized)
91. Compound Miter
An angled cut to both the edge and face of a board
92. Compression Wood
A condition of lumber in which the tree was subject to mechanical stress, most often occurring below the stress point
93. Contractor's Saw
A sturdy but somewhat portable table saw, often equipped with a cast-iron top and extension wings, an accurate fence, and a fairly powerful motor that can operate on standard house current, enabling it to be transported to a job site
94. Cope
To cut a piece of wood so that it exactly matches the profile of another workpiece
95. Cope-and-Stick
Joinery where complementary profiles, sometimes very intricate in shape, are glued together
96. Corner Clamp
Clamp designed to hold corner joinery at 90°
97. Counterbore
A cylindrical depression drilled into the surface of a workpiece in order to recess a screw or bolt head or nut
98. Countersink
A conical depression drilled into the surface of a workpiece in order to recess a screw head
99. Cove
A concave edge profile crook Wood defect where a board bends from side to side along its flat axis
100. Crossbearer
A wooden caul, occasionally convex shaped, used to apply even clamping pressure to a glued-up assembly; sometimes called a batten
101. Crosscut
To cut wood across the grain
102. Crosscut Blade
Table-saw or handsaw blade designed for cutting across the grain
103. Crotch Lumber
Wood obtained from the intersection of two major limbs of a tree, often yielding a desirable grain pattern
104. Crowning
A deformed condition in lumber in which the edges bend away from the center, resulting in a convex shape
105. Cupping
A deformed condition in lumber in which the edges bend away from the center, resulting in a concave shape
106. Curly
A desirable rippled grain pattern in certain woods; often referred to as tiger, and sometimes called fiddleback
107. Cutoff
The waste resulting from cutting a piece of lumber; sometimes call an offcut
108. Cutoff Blade
For wood, a circular saw blade designed especially for crosscutting; for metal, a circular saw blade with an abrasive surface in place of cutting teeth
109. Cutoff Saw
A powered crosscutting or miter saw, with models available for wood and for metal; sometimes called a chop saw
110. Cutter
The sharpened component of a tool that makes contact with and slices, surfaces, trims, or otherwise shapes the workpiece
111. Cutterhead
The spinning drum in which the knives (blades) of a powered wood surfacing tool such as a jointer or planer are mounted
112. Cyanoacrylic
A fast-bonding glue; sometimes called "super" glue, or simply CA glue
113. Cyclone
A type of dust collector that directs airflow in a circular motion to separate dust particles by size
114. d
The abbreviation used to indicate the nail specification "pennyweight" (see penny); for example, 10d finish nails
115. Dado
A rectangular groove cut across the grain
116. Dado Head (or Cutter)
System of individual saw blades that are stacked to create dadoes of specific sizes; used in a table saw or radial arm saw
117. Danish Oil
A type of penetrating wood finish, generally either clear or with a darker tint
118. Dead-Blow Mallet
Striking tool with loose lead shot contained within its head to concentrate all its energy into a single, nonbouncing blow, and a soft face to prevent marring the workpiece
119. Deck Screw
A coarse-threaded wood fastener, similar to a drywall screw but with a thicker, less brittle shaft
120. Denatured Alcohol
Clear, colorless liquid used as a cleaner and solvent, as well as a fast-drying vehicle for finishes such as shellac
121. Detent
A preset adjustment on a tool, usually set for common angles such as 45° or 90°; also called a positive stop
122. Dewaxed Shellac
A natural wood finish derived from excretions of the lac beetle and further processed to separate out its naturally occurring wax component in order to prevent the cured finish from interfering with the bonding ability of subsequent finish coats
123. D-handle
Part of a tool, shaped like the capital letter D, that allows the user to firmly grasp it
124. Dial Indicator
An instrument for measuring short distances to very precise tolerances; sometimes called a dial gauge
125. Diamond Dresser
A rough scraping tool used to clean debris from the surface of a grinding wheel
126. Dimensional Lumber
Wood building material cut to standard sizes, both in width and thickness, such as a 2 x 4, and sold in various lengths
127. Direct Drive
A motor shaft attached directly to a cutter or blade; sometimes called in-line
128. Disk Sander
A powered surfacing tool, either handheld or stationary, that operates by spinning a circular abrasive disk
129. Double-Stick Tape
Tape with adhesive on both sides, often used to temporarily attach components and jigs; sometimes called carpet tape
130. Dovetail
Attractive and very strong joint formed by mating one or more angled, fan-shaped "pins" to correspondingly sized and shaped notches, called "tails." The joinery can be visible from both sides (through), from only one side (half blind), or invisible (blind).
131. Dowel
A cylindrical length of wood, often used as a pin to reinforce a joint
132. Dowel Center
A metal disk that slips into a dowel hole to mark drilling position on a mating workpiece
133. Downdraft Table
A flat, perforated surface attached to a vacuum source used to remove dust during sanding
134. Dozuki
Thin-bladed Japanese saw that cuts on the pull stroke
135. Drawer Slide
A system of tracks and rollers that attaches to the outsides of a drawer box and the insides of the drawer opening enabling the drawer to be opened and closed and maintain its alignment within the carcass; also called a drawer glide
136. Drawknife
A chairmaking tool with a straight blade with perpendicular wooden handles
137. Driver Bit
A screwdriver tip that is installed in a drill in place of a drill bit to facilitate powered screw driving
138. Drum Sander
Surfacing machine consisting of a spinning cylinder wrapped with a flexible abrasive sheet. Machines with smaller vertical cylinders are used for sanding curved surfaces and contours; machines with larger horizontal cylinders, sometimes called wide-belt sanders, are generally equipped with a conveyor belt and are often used to size pieces and panels to precise thickness.
139. Dry Fit
To test-fit components without glue or fasteners
140. Drying Oil
When used on wood, any oil- based finish that penetrates the surface and hardens when exposed to air; linseed and tung oil are drying oils
141. Drywall Screw
Coarse-threaded wood fastener commonly used as an all-purpose wood screw, similar to a deck screw but with a thinner, more brittle shaft
142. Dual Bevel
Describes a miter saw that can cut both left and right bevels
143. Dust Collector
A system of ducts and hoses connected to a vacuum device for the removal of sawdust, wood chips, and other debris generated during woodworking operations
144. Dust Nibs
Tiny specks of airborne particles that settle on a workpiece before the finish has dried, leaving a rough texture on the surface that must be sanded away before the next coat is applied
145. Dust Port
An accessory attached to a power tool to connect it to a dust collection system
146. Earlywood
Young, flexible timber that forms early in the spring and lies directly beneath the bark; also called springwood
147. Edge Band
To apply a decorative veneer or other treatment to the exposed edges of plywood or other undesirable wood surface
148. Edge Grain
Boards cut from the tree such that the growth rings run perpendicular to the face and parallel to the edges; also called vertical grain. Quartersawn wood displays edge grain.
149. Edge-Banding Tape
Narrow, thin material, generally either wood veneer or plastic laminate, sold in rolls and used to conceal the exposed edges of plywood or other unattractive surfaces. Often supplied with pressure-sensitive or heat-activated adhesive applied to the back.
150. Edge-Belt Sander
Surfacing machine consisting of an abrasive belt that both oscillates vertically and revolves and is mounted perpendicular to a horizontal table to achieve precise 90° edges; often combined in a single machine with a spindle sander
151. Elbow
In a dust collection system, an angled connector joining two air ducts
152. End Grain
Growth-ring pattern of wood as seen in cross section relative to the tree
153. Epoxy
An adhesive capable of joining dissimilar materials and sometimes of filling voids, usually consisting of two parts, a resin and a hardener, which must be mixed together to activate
154. Equilibrium Moisture Content
When a board's moisture content equals that of the surrounding air
155. Extension Table
An accessory, often constructed of cast iron or pressed steel, designed to increase the effective width of a table saw or other power tool; sometimes called a wing
156. Face
The outward (visible) surface of a cabinet or other piece of furniture or of a piece of wood
157. Face Frame
The front of a cabinet consisting of vertical stiles and horizontal rails, to which the doors and drawers are attached
158. Faceplate
A metal disk used to attach wood blanks to a lathe for turning bowls or similar projects that cannot be secured simultaneously by the headstock and tailstock
159. Feather Board
Comblike accessory with flexible teeth that is attached to a cutting tool in order to hold the workpiece tight to the bit or blade and allowing it to move only in the direction of the cut, thus preventing kickback
160. Feed Rate
The speed at which material is fed into a woodworking machine
161. Feeler Gauge
Measuring tool consisting of several precisely sized strips of steel designed to achieve an accurate measurement of small gaps. Although commonly an automotive tool, it finds many applications in the wood shop.
162. Fence
Fixture attached to a stationary machine or tool that guides the workpiece in a straight line against the tool, or guides a portable tool in a straight line against a workpiece
163. Fiddleback
An attractive rippled grain pattern in wood often seen on the backs of violins; also referred to as curly or tiger
164. Figure
A desirable pattern that sometimes occurs in a wood grain
165. Filler
Material used to pack, stuff, or shim generally unseen voids or gaps
166. Film Finish
Transparent outer protective surface of a piece of furniture or cabinetry that has been treated with a product such as lacquer or varnish
167. Finger Joint
A method of connecting pieces of wood, either perpendicularly or end to end, by means of interlocking parallel cuts; sometimes used to describe a box joint
168. Finial
Decorative cap most often placed atop a thin vertical object such as a newel post, flagpole, weathervane, or hinge pin
169. Firsts and Seconds (FAS)
A designation for the two highest grades of hardwood lumber, followed by "selects" and "no. 1 common"
170. Fishtail
A type of chisel used in wood carving, named for the shape if its blade
171. Fixed-Base
A type of router in which the bit must be set at a single depth that is not adjustable during the cutting process
172. Fixture
An auxiliary device secured to a tool to guide workpieces through the tool in a consistent and repeatable fashion
173. Flat Sawn
Lumber cut in parallel slices from a log so that the grain pattern is partially or entirely parallel to the face of the board; also called plain sawn
174. Flattening Agent
A chemical compound added to wood finish to reduce gloss; sometimes called flatting agent
175. Flat-Top Tooth
Circular-saw tooth with 0° of bevel ground in the top, most often used for ripping wood; also called flat- top grind
176. Flint
A low-grade abrasive used in inexpensive sandpaper
177. Flitch
A thin slice of wood shaved or peeled from a log, most often made into veneer
178. Flush-Trim Bit
Straight-sided cutter for use in a router, normally with an integral guide bearing that follows the shape of a pattern or workpiece, resulting in a cut that exactly conforms to that shape
179. Forstner Bit
A drill bit used for making flat-bottomed holes, often in larger diameters than standard twist drills make
180. Frameless Cabinet
Cabinet in which the top, bottom, sides, and sometimes fixed shelves form the structure without the need for a face frame; if doors are present they are attached directly to the sides by means of special hinges
181. Framing Lumber
Lumber used primarily in the building trades, usually a nominal 2" thick (2x4, 2x6, etc.)
182. Framing Nail
A large common nail or spike most often used in building construction
183. Framing Nailer
A portable tool, most often powered by compressed air, used to drive large nails in building construction
184. Fret Saw
A thin-bladed cutting tool similar to a coping saw but with a deeper frame; used to make the same types of cuts as a powered scroll saw
185. Fretwork
Intricate decorative patterns cut from flat stock with a fret saw or scroll saw; often called gingerbread
186. Friction Polish
Any finish that is cured by heat generated through friction; commonly used in woodturning applications
187. Frog
Angled section of a hand plane body that supports the blade
188. Full-Extension Slide
Type of drawer glide designed to bear the weight of a drawer box pulled all the way out of its opening
189. Garnet
A medium-grade abrasive (a step above flint) used as the grit in sandpaper
190. Gib Screws
Screws used to hold blades in place in a cutterhead
191. Gingerbread
Intricate decorative patterns cut from flat stock with a fret saw or scroll saw; often called fretwork
192. Glue Line
A smooth, flat surface on the edge of a board, suitable for joining to a similarly prepared board with no gaps; the appearance created by such a joint
193. Gouge
A chisel having a curved cutting edge
194. Grain
The pattern in wood resulting from the arrangement of the tree's growth rings
195. Grain Reversal
In staining, when pigment adheres more thickly to the lighter areas of wood and not to denser dark areas, resulting in the reversal of light and dark grain areas
196. Green
Freshly cut timber that has not yet been dried
197. Green Woodturning
The practice of using uncured wood for turning blanks
198. Grit
The abrasive material adhered to a backing to produce sandpaper and similar abrasive products
199. Groove
Rectangular channel cut in the direction of the grain, usually along the long dimension of a board; similar to a dado, which is cut across the grain
200. Growth Ring
A pattern of alternating light and dark wood created by seasonal changes during a single year of a tree's life cycle
201. Guard
Any device designed to prevent hands from coming into contact with a cutting edge
202. Guide Blocks
On a band saw, small metal, ceramic or phenolic blocks that mount on each side of the blade to keep it from twisting and flexing from side-to-side during cuts
203. Guide Collar
A metal bushing attached to the base plate of a router through which the bit protrudes and which follows a pattern to produce a precisely shaped cut
204. Gullet
The deep spaces between teeth on a saw blade
205. Half-Blind Dovetail
Dovetails that are visible only on one side
206. Hand Screw
A type of clamp with jaws that are tightened by twisting opposing threaded shafts
207. Handwheel
An adjustment wheel on a piece of woodworking machinery
208. Hardboard
A thin, hard-surfaced building material made from compressed wood fibers; often referred to as Masonite, a well-known brand name of hardboard
209. Hardwood
Any lumber from a deciduous tree
210. Haunched Mortise-and-Tenon
Like a standard mortise-and-tenon joint except the tenon has an additional stub or shoulder on the top that fits into a matching recess in the mortise
211. Heartwood
Lumber taken from the center, dead portion of a tree
212. Hide Glue
Adhesive made from collagen extracted from the skins of animals
213. High-Speed Steel (HSS)
Heat-resistant metal alloy used to make cutting tools
214. Hinge Mortise
A small recess cut in a door or frame to facilitate the flush mounting of a hinge
215. Hole Saw
A circular cutting tool mounted in a drill with a pilot bit in the center and teeth around the perimeter, designed to create larger-diameter holes than are generally practical with standard drill bits
216. Hollow Grind
A concave appearance of a bevel formed on a grinding wheel
217. Hollow Vessel
A generally vase-shaped woodturning, often with an opening that is smaller than the diameter of the turning
218. Hollowing Tool
A small-ended scraper, sometimes with a curved shaft, designed for making hollow vessels on a lathe
219. Hone
A small stone used to give a fine edge to cutting tools
220. Honing Guide
A jig designed to hold a chisel or plane iron at the correct angle for sharpening
221. Hook
The amount of forward (positive) or backward (negative) lean of a tooth on a circular saw blade relative to the blade's circumference
222. Hot-Melt Glue
A cylindrical plastic adhesive that is heated to melting temperature in a special glue gun/ applicator and bonds nearly instantly upon cooling to room temperature
223. Hybrid Table Saw
A power tool that is similar in power and cost to a contractor's saw but sharing many design features of a cabinet saw, such as motor and blade mounting configuration
224. Impact Driver
Power tool similar to an electric drill that combines rotary drilling motion with a back-and-forth tapping motion to secure screws, nuts, and bolts more efficiently
225. Induction Motor
A heavy-duty electrical motor of the type found on most stationary woodworking machinery
226. Infeed
The side of a stationary tool from which the workpiece is fed into a cutter
227. Insert
A removable, often replaceable, part of a tool such as the throat plate on a table saw
228. Insert Cutter
An accessory for a saw, router, shaper, molding machine, or other cutting tool, consisting of a heavy circular base into which two or more matching knives can be installed to create detailed profiles in wood. Knives with different patterns can be installed in the same base, helping to control tooling costs
229. Iron
The cutting blade of a hand plane
230. Jig
An auxiliary device most often secured to a workpiece to guide it through a tool (or a tool through the workpiece), or to make multiple measurements in a consistent and repeatable fashion
231. Jointer
A machine that mills a straight, flat surface on lumber
232. Kerf
The thickness of a saw blade; also the cut made by that blade
233. Kickback
A highly dangerous situation in which a spinning blade snags a workpiece and hurls it back at the operator at high velocity
234. Kiln
A heated container or small building used to dry lumber
235. Knife
The replaceable cutting edge in a woodworking tool; also called a cutter or a blade
236. Knife Hinge
A door-mounting device that opens and closes by means of a stack of interlocking flat metal bars, rather than a pin as in a standard hinge
237. Knot
Defect in lumber created where a branch was attached to the tree
238. Lac Bug
Insect (Laccifera lacca) whose secreted resinous shell is used for the creation of shellac finish
239. Lacquer
A clear, fast-drying, solvent-based wood finish
240. Lag Screw
A large, heavy-duty fastener most often used to anchor heavy components directly into a structure's wood framing; also called a lag bolt
241. Laminate (noun)
A thin plastic layer attached to sheet material to create a smooth, colorful, and durable surface
242. Laminate (verb)
(1) to attach laminate to sheet material; (2) the process of gluing up a larger workpiece from several smaller pieces
243. Laminate Trimmer
A small router used primarily to trim the overhanging edge of applied laminate
244. Lap Joint
A method of connecting two pieces of wood of equal thickness by removing half the material from the top surface of one piece and half from the bottom surface of the other and securing the two mating surfaces with glue or fasteners
245. Lapping Plate
A smooth, perfectly flat plate of any hard material used for sharpening
246. Latewood
Harder wood that is produced during the latter part of the growing season; also called summerwood
247. Leg Set
An optional stand that converts a bench-based tool into a floor-standing machine
248. Linseed Oil
A substance extracted from the seeds of the flax plant and used as a wood finish; available both boiled (referred to as BLO) and raw
249. Live Center
One of two mounting points on a lathe for spindle turning, it spins on its own bearings and is installed at the nondriven, tailstock end
250. Loose Knot
A knot that is detached from the surrounding wood, but frequently held in place within a board by its shape
251. Loose Side
The rough side of a piece of veneer
252. Luthier
Woodworker who specializes in making stringed instruments
253. Machine Screw
Threaded fastener similar to a small bolt but with a slotted or Phillips head like a screw, used with a nut or in a tapped hole; sometimes called a stove bolt
254. Mallet
A generally wooden, large-headed striking tool
255. Mandrel
A mounting rod used to turn hollow cylindrical blanks on a lathe, as for pen parts
256. Marking Gauge
A device that uses a knife or other sharp point to transfer measured lines to a workpiece
257. Marquetry
Technique using veneer of contrasting woods cut into pieces and arranged to form a pattern
258. Mechanical Compressor
Device that creates and stores compressed air to power pneumatic tools
259. Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)
An engineered wood product made from compressed wood fibers, sawdust, resins, and waxes and generally available in 4'x 8' sheets
260. Milk Paint
A milk-based (casein) furniture paint
261. Mineral Spirits
A standard solvent for oil-based paint and varnishes; also called paint thinner
262. Mission
Furniture style with predominantly straight lines and minimal ornamentation
263. Miter Box
A tool used for cutting moldings and other narrow stock at precise angles, particularly 45° to achieve mitered corners; can be manual, used in conjunction with a backsaw, or powered with its own circular saw blade
264. Miter Gauge
An accessory with an adjustable fence enabling angled cuts; has a rectangular runner on the underside that allows it to be used on any woodworking machine equipped with a miter slot
265. Miter Joint
A joint created by joining two pieces of wood cut at complementary angles
266. Miter Slot
A shallow slot on a woodworking machine that guides a miter gauge or other device equipped with a runner sized to fit to the slot
267. Miter Square
A square used to measure or mark angles
268. Moisture Content
The amount of water contained in a piece of lumber
269. Molding
A length of wood into which a decorative profile has been milled, often used as transition between two walls or surfaces
270. Morse Taper (MT)
A standard for mounting shafts used on drill presses, chuck components, and lathe centers manufactured with a slightly conical shape to facilitate quick bit changes and accurate centering
271. Mortise
A generally rectangular cavity cut into a framing member to accept a mating tenon or a piece of hardware, such as a hinge
272. Mortise-and-Tenon
A strong form of joinery in which a generally rectangular stub (tenon) cut on one piece of stock is inserted into a matching cavity (mortise) cut into another and secured with glue or pegs
273. Mortiser
A machine similar to a drill press but with a hollow, square chisel surrounding the drill bit, used to cut square or rectangular cavities, known as mortises, in wood
274. Mullion
A thin divider strip used to separate panes of glass or mirror within a multiple arrangement; sometimes called a muntin
275. Nail Set
A metal tool similar to a punch used to recess the heads of finishing nails below the surface
276. Natural-Edge Turning
A woodturning, usually a bowl or goblet, which features remnants of bark along the rim
277. Newel
The upright post at the top or bottom of a staircase into which the banister assembly is mounted
278. NGR
A non-grain-raising wood finish
279. Nondrying Oil
When used on wood, any oil-based finish that penetrates the surface but does not harden when exposed to air; mineral oil and most vegetable oils are nondrying
280. Ogee
An S-shaped decorative molding or edge profile consisting of a concave arc flowing into a convex arc; sometimes called a Roman ogee
281. One-By (1-by)
Dimensional lumber nominally 1" thick
282. One-Off
A one-of-a-kind project, usually a piece of furniture made to a customer's specifications
283. Open Coat
Type of sandpaper that has abrasive grains spaced to cover only 50–70% of its surface in order to prevent clogging
284. Open Time
The amount of time that glue can be exposed to the air and still be workable; also called working life or pot life
285. Open-Grained
Any wood with wide, conspicuous growth ring, large pores, and a grainy surface texture, such as oak, ash, and walnut; also called coarse-grained
286. Orbital
An eccentric, somewhat circular motion used by some powered cutting and sanding tools
287. Oriented Strand Board
Type of building panel similar to plywood, made up of small, flat wood chips glued together to form large sheets; often abbreviated OSB
288. Oscillating Drum Sander
A powered surfacing tool in which an abrasive cylinder simultaneously rotates and moves up and down for sanding complex shapes
289. Outboard Turning
To pivot a lathe's headstock away from the lathe bed, increasing the machine's capacity for turning large bowls
290. Outfeed
The side of a cutting tool where the processed material exits
291. Overlay Door
A cabinet door that completely covers the front face of the box
292. Paint Thinner
A standard solvent for oil-based paint and varnishes; also called mineral spirits
293. Painter's Tape
Adhesive paper tape (usually blue) used to mask areas adjacent to surfaces being painted and then be easily removed without leaving any residue
294. Palm Sander
A small, handheld power tool used to smooth wooden surfaces
295. Panel
A flat rectangle of wood often constructed by gluing several boards together side by side
296. Panel Saw
A woodworking machine used for cutting large sheets of material to a more manageable size
297. Particleboard
A building or substrate material made by compressing tiny wood chips with adhesive and forming them into sheets
298. Parting Tool
A chisel with a V-shaped cutting edge; also called a V-tool
299. Pawl
The toothed component in a ratchet or a table saw's antikickback device
300. Pegboard
A sheet of hardboard perforated with evenly spaced holes, most often used as a mounting surface for specialized brackets and hangers
301. Pen Lathe
A very small lathe, usually weighing less than 12 pounds, used for small turnings such as pens and jewelry
302. Penny
The specification designating sizes of nails; also called pennyweight. Abbreviated with the letter d; for example, 10d finish nails.
303. Phillips
A type of screw invented by Henry Phillips in the 1930s, with a cross- shaped indentation in the head; also the cross-shaped screwdriver head used to turn it
304. Piano Hinge
A long, narrow hinge with attachment points at short-spaced intervals and a connecting pin running its entire length
305. Pigment
The component in paint, stain, or other finish that provides the color
306. Pigtail Scratches
The curlicue scratches sometimes caused by handheld electric sanders; sometimes called swirling
307. Pilaster
A flat, pillar-shaped detail added to the upper portion of furniture for decoration
308. Pilot Bearing
A bearing mounted on a bit that guides the bit during a cut
309. Pin
In a dovetail joint, that portion of the wood that fits between the tails
310. Pin Nailer
A powered tool that drives tiny, sharp, nearly invisible pins into small moldings and other thin furniture components to provide mechanical fastening to supplement gluing
311. Pin Router
A power tool with a router bit protruding from a horizontal surface similar to a router table but with an overhead locating pin that follows a pattern to guide the material over the bit in order to create multiple identical pieces
312. Pipe Clamp
A clamp made by attaching a fixed jaw on one end of a length of steel pipe and an adjustable jaw at the other end
313. Pitch (blades)
In saw blades, refers to the number of teeth per inch
314. Pitch (lumber)
For lumber, refers to thick sap or resin deposits in the wood
315. Pith
The central core of a log or tree branch
316. Pivot Block
A guide used for resawing that allows the workpiece to be pivoted to follow a cut line; sometimes called a point fence
317. Pivot Hinge
A type of hinge that enables a door or window to swing open around a single point
318. Plain Sawn
The most common type of cut lumber; shows pronounced growth rings running almost parallel to the board's face
319. Platen
A flat plate or caul often part of an assembly used to adhere veneer to a substrate
320. Plug
A round piece of wood glued in place over a countersunk screw to hide the screw head
321. Plunge Router
A router with the motor mounted on spring-loaded columns
322. Plywood
Wood sheet made of individual layers of thinner wood, glued together with the grain of each layer running 90° to the adjoining layers
323. Pneumatic
Air-powered; used to describe air-driven tools
324. Pocket Hole
An elliptical slot bored at an angle in the face of a board, through which a screw is driven to secure that board to an adjacent piece of wood; sometimes called screw pocket
325. Polyurethane
A type of flexible plastic used in sheeting, expanding foam insulation, and glues; often called simply poly
326. Polyvinyl Acetate
The adhesive ingredient in white glue; often called PVA glue
327. Positive Stop
A preset adjustment on a tool, usually set for common angles such as 45° or 90°; also called a detent
328. Pot Life
The amount of time that glue can be exposed to the air and still be workable; also called working life or open time
329. Primary Wood
The main wood used in project construction that is generally seen, such as tops, sides, doors, and drawer fronts
330. Proud
Protruding slightly above the wood's surface
331. PSA
Pressure sensitive adhesive; a peel-off backing on some sanding disks
332. PSI
Pounds per square inch
333. Pumice
A porous volcanic stone formed from cooled lava used to make a mild abrasive
334. Push Stick
An accessory used to push a workpiece through a cutting edge, keeping hands a safe distance away
335. PVA
Polyvinyl acetate; adhesive ingredient in white glue
336. Quartersawn
Lumber cut with growth rings almost parallel to the board's edges
337. Queen Anne
English furniture design based on the Baroque style developed during the reign of Queen Anne, 1702–1714
338. Rabbet
A shelflike joint sized to match the workpiece that fits into it; European form is "rebate"
339. Rack
A twisting action of a frame that can loosen joints
340. Rail
The horizontal component of a frame
341. Raised Grain
A lifting of grain on the surface of a board usually caused by the application of water or a water-based finish
342. Raised Panel
A construction in which the thinned edges of a wooden panel are inserted into a channel formed on the inside edges of the stiles and rails; the panel used in such construction
343. Rake
The angle of a cutting surface relative to the center line of the tool
344. Raker
The flat-topped tooth in an alternate top bevel (ATB) circular saw blade that cleans out the material at the bottom of the cut to flatten it
345. Random Orbit
The eccentric, swirling motion of a tool such as a disk sander designed to minimize the visible pattern of sanding scratches
346. Ray Flecking
A desirable pattern on the surface of quartersawn lumber
347. Reaction Wood
A condition of lumber in which the tree was subject to mechanical stress during its growth; see "compression wood" and "tension wood"
348. Reciprocating
A back-and-forth motion as with the blade of a reciprocating saw
349. Relief Carving
Carving style that is partially three-dimensional as seen from the front
350. Relief Cut
A kerf cut on the hidden side of a board used to relieve internal stress on the visible side to prevent splitting or cracking
351. Resaw
To cut wood into thinner multiple, often matching, pieces
352. Resin
Thick sap or pitch deposits sometimes found in lumber
353. Rift Sawn
A variation of quartersawn lumber sawn at 30° to 60° to the board's surface, producing vertical grain but no ray flecking
354. Right Side
The side of a board that will be visible in the finished piece; the smooth side of a sheet of veneer
355. Rip
To cut wood with the grain
356. Rip Blade
Table saw or handsaw blade designed for cutting with the grain
357. Riving Knife
A thin piece of metal behind a saw blade that prevents wood from touching the rear of the blade and possibly causing a kickback; unlike a splitter, which is fixed, a riving knife moves to always keep the same orientation with the saw blade
358. Robertson Head
A type of square-drive screw
359. Rotary Cut
Veneer cut by "peeling" thin layers off a turning log
360. Rotary Tool
Small handheld electric tool that spins a variety of cutting, grinding, sanding, polishing, and other specialty tips; often used for hobby crafts
361. Rottenstone
An extremely fine, gritty abrasive used for polishing
362. Rough Sawn
Unsurfaced cut lumber
363. Rough Turn
To bring a rough blank into a balanced, round shape on the lathe
364. Roughing Gouge
A large gouge used to remove a lot of material quickly
365. Roundover
A convex edge profile
366. Router
Power tool used primarily for cutting edge profiles and mortises
367. Rubbing Compound
Mild abrasive used to remove oxidization from the topmost layers of finish, thereby restoring its shine
368. Rubbing Out a Finish
The process of using ultrafine abrasives to produce a highly polished surface
369. Runout
The degree to which a rotating tool wobbles as it spins; an undesirable characteristic
370. S2S
Lumber that has been surfaced on two sides
371. S4S
Lumber that has been surfaced on all four sides
372. Sacrificial Fence
A temporary fence attached to a main fence that is often damaged during the cutting process, then discarded
373. Sanding Drum
A spinning cylinder wrapped with a flexible abrasive sheet
374. Sapwood
Lumber taken from the outer, living portion of a tree
375. Sawyer
A person who operates a saw; commonly used to describe someone who works in a sawmill
376. Scarf Joint
An angled joint used to join wood end to end
377. Scorp
Drawknife with a curved blade used for hollowing bowls and chair seats
378. Scraper
A lathe chisel having a flat but rounded cutting edge
379. Scroller
One who uses a scroll saw
380. Scuff Sand
Light sanding given to wood finishes between multiple coats to improve adhesion of successive coats
381. Sealer Coat
The first application of finish, designed to seal wood pores and fibers
382. Secondary Bevel
An additional sharpening step performed on the cutting edge of a blade, chisel, or plane iron that creates a bevel a few degrees off from the primary bevel
383. Secondary Wood
Wood used in project construction that is generally not seen, such as drawer boxes and interior cabinet shelves
384. Select
The second-highest grade of hardwood lumber, which is at least 83% clear on one face
385. Self-Indexing
Cutter knives in a woodworking machine that are notched or otherwise indexed so that they automatically seat in the correct position
386. Self-Sealing Finishes
Any wood finish that seals the wood on the first coat
387. Set
To drive a fastener, usually a nail, slightly below the wood surface
388. Set Screw
A small screw commonly used to adjust a machine component, such as the level of the throat plate on a table saw, or the guide blocks on a band saw
389. Shank
The portion of a bit or other cutter that mounts into a machine
390. Shaper
A heavy-duty woodworking machine similar to a router designed to mill profiles on workpiece edges
391. Shaving Horse
A combination bench and seat for carving; a movable end piece is held with the foot to clamp a workpiece in place, freeing both hands
392. Sheen
Description of the amount of gloss in a wood finish.
393. Sheet Goods
Plywood, MDF, or other materials usually sold in sheets, with 4' x 8' being the most common size
394. Sheet-Metal Screw
A sharp-pointed, self-tapping threaded fastener most often used to attach pieces of thin metal to each other or some other material
395. Shellac
A clear wood finish made from alcohol and the shell of the lac beetle
396. Shim
Thin piece of wood or metal slipped into a gap to tighten it
397. Shooting
The act of putting a straight edge on a workpiece
398. Shooting Board
A perfectly straight piece of wood used as a guide for planing or cutting
399. Shoulder
On a saw blade, a raised portion of metal behind each tooth that adds strength to the blade and helps prevent kickback
400. Shoulder
On a wooden workpiece, the area that surrounds or abuts a projection; for example, the end of a board from which a tenon projects.
401. Silicon Carbide
A very hard, uniform, fast- cutting abrasive material used in high- quality sandpapers and on the cutting edges of tools
402. Skew
A straight chisel with an angled cutting edge
403. Skip
To run a rough-sawn board through a planer just enough to reveal the wood's characteristics
404. Skip Tooth
A saw blade with regularly spaced gaps between teeth
405. Sled
Device to guide a workpiece squarely and safely through the cutting edge of a woodworking machine, usually a table saw
406. Sliding Bevel
An adjustable square used to measure or mark angles; sometimes called a bevel gauge
407. Sliding Dovetail
A form of joinery similar to a dado but with angled rather than vertical sides and a mating piece with grooves cut along its width at a corresponding angle
408. Sliding Table
On a table saw, a movable portion of the table used to feed a workpiece squarely through the blade
409. Slip Match
A veneer pattern created by aligning successive pieces side by side vertically but offsetting them horizontally
410. Slip Stone
A generally handheld stone used to hone the inside curve of a gouge's cutting edge
411. Slot Mortiser
A horizontal boring machine that cuts elongated slots
412. Slurry
Pastelike mix of sawdust, abrasive, and liquid as the result of wet sanding
413. Snipe
A slight concave that can occur on the ends of boards during milling
414. Soft Start
An electronic control for an electric motor that eases the motor up to full speed when turned on
415. Softwood
Any lumber from a conifer
416. Sole
The bottom of a woodworking tool; often called the base
417. Solid Surface
A very hard plastic material used for countertops
418. Soss Hinge
A fully concealed knife-style hinge in which one side is mortised into the door and the other side is mortised into the door frame
419. Spade Bit
Drill bit with a wide, spade- shaped cutting edge used to drill large-diameter holes
420. Spalted
Lumber where natural decay has caused unique and attractive grain patterns
421. Specific Gravity
A measurement of the density of wood
422. Spindle
In machinery, the mounting post of a power tool
423. Spindle
In woodturning, a cylindrical turning on the lathe
424. Spindle Sander
Machine with a round, oscillating sanding drum that protrudes at 90° through a metal work table
425. Spline
A thin strip of wood set into opposing slots of wood being joined; when used on the outside corner of a miter joint, it is called a miter key
426. Split Point
Type of drill bit with pilot point at the tip for accurate hole location
427. Splitter
A thin piece of metal or plastic behind a saw blade that prevents wood from touching the rear of the blade and possibly causing a kickback
428. Splotching
An area on wood surface where stain has been absorbed unevenly; also called blotching
429. Spokeshave
A hand tool with a thin blade used to create rounded workpieces
430. Tack Cloth
A sticky cloth used to remove dust from freshly sanded wood before staining or finishing
431. Tack Time
The time it takes glue to begin to hold
432. Tail
The cutout portion of a dovetail joint, designed to accept a matching pin
433. Tailstock
The apparatus on the unpowered side of a lathe that holds a workpiece for spindle turning
434. Taper
Any cut that gradually decreases a workpiece's dimension toward its end
435. T-bolt
Bolt with a T-shaped head, designed to slide into a slot before being tightened; often used for temporary tightening or attachment of jigs, fixtures, and fences
436. Tear-Out
Splintering caused on the underside or end of a workpiece when a saw blade, router bit, or other cutter exits the wood
437. TEFC
Totally enclosed fan-cooled; describes a sealed motor with an internal impeller designed to lower the operating temperature
438. Tempering
Process of using heat to harden a blade or knife to better accept a sharpened edge
439. Template
A pattern used to guide a router or other cutting tool
440. Tenon
The stub cut on the end of a workpiece intended to be inserted and secured into a matching cavity, or mortise, cut into another workpiece
441. Tension Wood
A condition of lumber in which the tree was subject to mechanical stress, most often occurring in deciduous trees above the stress point
442. Tensioning
Describes the amount of tautness applied to a band saw blade by adjusting the upper support wheel
443. Threaded Insert
A small metal cylinder threaded both inside and out, designed to be screwed into a workpiece and left there as an anchoring point for a bolt or other fastener
444. Through
Any cut that goes completely through a workpiece, such as a through mortise
445. Thrust Bearings
Metals wheels mounted behind a band saw blade that support the blade during cuts to prevent flexing
446. Tiger Figuring
A type of wood figuring that resembles a tiger's stripes
447. Tipping Off
The practice of smoothing out a wet finish by holding the brush at 45° to the surface as it is swept the length of a workpiece
448. T-nut
T-shaped mounting hardware driven into a workpiece and left there as an anchoring point for a bolt or other fastener
449. Toe-Nail
To drive nails at an angle to the workpiece
450. Toggle Clamp
A clamp with set open and closed positions, usually adjustable to a specific dimension
451. Tongue-and-Groove
A variation on a mortise-and-tenon joint, formed by mating a groove cut along the length of a board's edge with a tenon formed along the mating piece
452. Tool Rest
A horizontal metal bar on a lathe that holds a chisel steady while cutting
453. Torque
A measure of the amount of force used to rotate a shaft
454. Torx Head
Type of screw head that resembles a star pattern
455. TPI
Teeth per inch
456. Treenware
Carved woodenware, such as eating or cooking utensils
457. Triple Chip
Flat-top teeth on a saw blade that have been chamfered 45° on the corners of the cutting edge
458. Trunnion
Metal mounting brackets that hold a motor
459. Try Square
A hand tool used to measure, confirm, and mark right angles
460. T-slot
A slot of metal or wood in an inverted T shape, used as a guide for accessories
461. Tung Oil
An oil finish made from tung nuts; the term is often used generically to describe any penetrating oil finish
462. Tungsten Carbide
An allow of tungsten and carbon used to harden edges
463. Turn Between Centers
Spindle turning on the lathe with the workpiece held between the headstock and tailstock
464. Twist
Lumber defect where the board is twisted along its length
465. Twist Bit
Drill bit featuring a recessed spiral cut along the length of the bit
466. Two-By (2-By)
Dimensional lumber nominally 2" thick
467. UHMW
Ultrahigh molecular weight plastic; commonly used to create sliding jigs
468. Universal Motor
A small electrical motor with a high power-to-weight ratio, used primarily on portable woodworking tools
469. Urethane
A plastic binder used in a coating that cures very hard, imparting high durability to finished wood
470. Vacuum Press
A plastic bag that holds a glued-up veneered workpiece and that, once air has been evacuated, presses the veneer in place until dry
471. Vapor Respirator
A facemask used to protect against dust inhalation
472. Varnish
Any of a number of hard-curing film finishes used on wood
473. Veiner
A small gouge used to carve thin grooves or lines
474. Veneer
An extremely thin sheet of wood, generally adhered to a thicker piece of secondary wood called a substrate
475. Veneer Press
Method of clamping an entire sheet of veneer to a substrate. Small veneer presses may have a handwheel and screw that tightens as a single unit on a workpiece; large presses consist of multiple clamps that spread pressure through a system of cauls and platens
476. Veneer Roller
A roller used to smooth freshly glued veneer to its substrate
477. Veneer Tape
Thin, removable paper tape applied to the face side of veneer to join separate pieces together while they are being glued to a substrate; it is removed after the glue has dried
478. Veneer-Core Plywood
Plywood made by gluing multiple sheets of veneer with grain alternating at 90° in each layer
479. V-tool
A chisel with a V-shaped cutting edge; also called a parting tool
480. Wane
A natural edge on lumber, often with bark still attached
481. Warp
Any defect in lumber that deforms a board's shape
482. Wash Coat
A very thin coat of finish, often used as a seal coat
483. Washboarding
Describes the ridges formed when veneer is improperly glued to its substrate
484. Water Stone
A flat abrasive stone used for sharpening cutting edges; lubricated with water in use
485. Ways
The bed rails on a lathe
486. Web Clamp
A flexible strap connected to a ratcheting mechanism used to tighten it around irregularly shaped objects; also called a band clamp
487. White Glue
Wood glue based on polyvinyl acetate with woodworking properties similar to yellow glue but offering a longer working time; sometimes called PVA glue
488. Wide-Belt Sander
A stationary sanding machine that uses a sanding belt larger than 12" in width
489. Winding Sticks
Perfectly straight pieces of wood set on a board in pairs to determine the amount of twist by sighting along the board's length and noting the difference in orientation between the two sticks
490. Wire Edge
The thin burr that forms on a cutting edge during sharpening
491. Witness Lines
A shape or series of lines drawn over multiple workpieces to indicate assembly orientation; sometimes called witness marks
492. Wobble Dado
A dado cutter composed of a single blade that is angled to widen the cut made as the blade spins
493. Wood Conditioner
Solution applied to wood prior to staining to prevent uneven stain absorption; sometimes called stain controller
494. Woodcut
A type of relief carving where an image is created by removing waste below the surface of the wood
495. Working Life
The amount of time that glue can be exposed to the air and still be workable; also called open time or pot life
496. Worm Drive
A driveshaft with a spiral groove that transfers rotation at a 90° angle to the motor; used most commonly in circular saws
497. Wormy
Wood with channels and tunnels caused by insect damage; often an attractive and desirable trait
498. x
Signifies "by" when used to connect two dimensions, such as 8" x 10"
499. Yellow Glue
Common woodworking glue based on aliphatic resin
500. Zero-Clearance Insert
A plate mounted into a saw table that surrounds the blade such that there is virtually no clearance at the sides of the blade, used to minimize tear-out