Woodworking & DIY Projects — April 18, 2026
This week in woodworking, Popular Woodworking's editors share a spicy new Splinter Report roundup plus a review of Milwaukee's latest vacuum tool accessories that woodworkers will appreciate. A new Harlem Spice Chest project offers a chance to practice traditional hand tool techniques, and Zen-Wu Toolworks' Y-2 Bench Chisels are earning well-deserved recognition in the hand tool community.
Woodworking & DIY Projects — April 18, 2026
Projects
Harlem Spice Chest — Inspired by period spice chests, this project from Brian DeJong offers an excellent opportunity to practice traditional hand tool techniques. The piece features challenging joinery work in a compact, elegant form.
Floating Top Entry Table — Featured this week on Popular Woodworking, this mitered case with a veneered top makes for an interesting challenge that combines precision casework with veneering skills. Written by Abdul Haseeb Ahmed, the project pushes builders to think carefully about wood movement and panel construction.
A Back-Saving Vise Extension — A quick shop trick from the Pop Wood Editors: while cutting dovetails for a jewelry box, one woodworker found relief from back pain by building a simple vise extension. A practical tip for anyone spending long hours at the bench.
Tool Review
Y-2 Bench Chisels from Zen-Wu Toolworks
Reviewed by Logan Wittmer at Popular Woodworking, the Y-2 chisels from Zen-Wu Toolworks are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Starting at $69+, these bench chisels represent a hand tool company that has been quietly producing quality work and is now breaking through to a wider audience. If you're in the market for new bench chisels, this is a name worth knowing.
Milwaukee Vacuum Tool Accessories — A.J. Hamler at Popular Woodworking covers Milwaukee's expanded "Air-Tip" vacuum accessory lineup, noting that several of the new offerings are particularly useful for woodworkers. The accessories extend the utility of existing vacuum tools, making cleanup in the shop more precise and effective.
Technique
AI in the Shop, Part 4: The Digital Shop Manager & Tool Builder
In the final installment of his four-part series, Yoav Liberman shares how artificial intelligence has found a permanent — and practical — place in his shop workflow. Rather than replacing traditional woodworking knowledge, the technology now serves as a digital assistant for shop management and tool-building tasks. It's a thoughtful look at how modern tools can augment, rather than disrupt, the craft. Worth reading for any woodworker curious about where AI fits (and doesn't fit) in the workshop.
Popular Woodworking Heads to Taiwan — Editor Collin Knoff announced this week that Popular Woodworking will be attending Wood Taiwan, a leading international trade show for the woodworking industry, taking place April 23–26 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1. Expect coverage of new tools, machinery, and innovations from this major global event.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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