Think you know everything there is about woodworking? Most woodworkers are up to date on the latest woodworking news, but here are some interesting and obscure facts about woodworking even the most seasoned workers might now know!

The Biscuit Joiner, still stronger than dowels!

Invented by a carpenter by the name of Herman Steiner in the 1950s Switzerland, his type of joint gave woodworkers a new method for joining pieces of wood together. Using this specialized tool, slots are made in pieces of wood, and then joined together using a wooden disk known as a biscuit. The two pieces are then glued together – when dry the biscuit joint is stronger than traditional dowels.

Ancient Woodworkers: Who started it all?

Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Chinese were the first cultures to practice woodworking, developing many of the techniques still in use by modern day woodworkers. Utilizing various types of wood and techniques, ancient people were able to produce wheels, carts, shelters, toys and beautiful carved art!

Darkest and Lightest Woods: What are they used for?

The blackest, darkest wood known to man is ebony – it’s even dense enough to sink in water! Modern-day woodworkers use ebony for a variety of projects, though it’s most commonly used for small ornamental pieces such as piano keys, decorative crucifixes and chess pieces.

On the other side of the light spectrum, the whitest wood you can find comes from the silver striped holly. By cutting this tree down in the wintertime when sap levels are lowest and drying by summertime. Another wood used primarily for decorative purposes, holly is used in inlays, piano keys, tool handles and small arts and crafts.