Terms of Use

The short version

Woodwiki is a free woodworking education site. You can read everything at no cost. We ask that you use the information responsibly, credit us if you republish our work, and understand that woodworking involves inherent risks we can't control. The full terms below are binding, so please read them.

1. Acceptance of terms

By accessing or using woodwiki.com ("the Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Site. "Woodwiki," "we," "us," and "our" refer to the operators of the Site. "You" and "your" refer to the individual accessing the Site.

2. Eligibility and age

The Site is intended for users aged 18 and older. If you are between 13 and 17, you may use the Site only with the involvement and supervision of a parent or legal guardian who agrees to these Terms on your behalf. Users under 13 may not use the Site.

Many techniques and tools described on Woodwiki can cause serious injury. Age requirements for operating specific equipment vary by jurisdiction — follow your local laws and manufacturer guidelines regardless of what is described here.

3. Educational purpose only

All content on the Site — guides, articles, reference material, illustrations, and recommendations — is provided strictly for general educational and informational purposes. It is not a substitute for:

• Hands-on instruction from a qualified teacher or mentor
• Professional engineering, architectural, or structural advice
• Manufacturer safety manuals and operating instructions for your specific tools
• Medical guidance regarding dust exposure, chemical sensitivity, or ergonomic injury
• Local building codes, permit requirements, or workplace safety regulations

If you are building anything load-bearing, structural, or intended for use by children, consult a qualified professional before relying on information from this Site.

4. Safety disclaimer and assumption of risk

Woodworking is an inherently dangerous activity. By using the Site, you acknowledge and accept the following risks, which include but are not limited to:

Physical injury

Power tools (table saws, routers, jointers, planers, band saws, lathes) and hand tools (chisels, hand planes, marking knives, saws) can cause lacerations, amputations, eye injuries, and other serious bodily harm. Techniques described on the Site may involve blades, cutters, and high-speed rotating equipment.

Health hazards

Wood dust is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Certain species (e.g., western red cedar, cocobolo, purpleheart) are known sensitizers and can cause severe allergic reactions. Finishes, adhesives, solvents, and strippers contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful with prolonged exposure. Noise from power tools can cause permanent hearing damage.

Fire and environmental hazards

Oil-soaked rags (particularly those with linseed oil, tung oil, or Danish oil) can spontaneously combust. Fine wood dust is explosive in confined spaces. Solvents and finishes are flammable. The Site may describe the use of such materials without repeating every safety precaution in every context.

Structural and material risks

Wood is a natural material that moves with changes in humidity and temperature. Joints can fail. Adhesives can degrade. The Site may describe construction methods that produce acceptable results under typical conditions, but we cannot guarantee structural integrity, longevity, or fitness for any specific load or application.

You assume full and sole responsibility for your personal safety, health, and the safety of others in your workspace when applying any information obtained from the Site.

5. Disclaimer of warranties

The Site and all content are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
• Any warranty that the content is accurate, complete, current, reliable, or error-free
• Any warranty that techniques described will produce a particular result or level of quality
• Any warranty that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or free of viruses or harmful components

We make reasonable efforts to research and fact-check our guides. Errors happen. Specifications change. Techniques that are standard practice today may be superseded. Do not treat any content as a definitive or final authority.

6. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Woodwiki, its owners, operators, contributors, editors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages — including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, loss of use, loss of income, or emotional distress — arising out of or in connection with:

• Your use of or inability to use the Site
• Any content, techniques, recommendations, or instructions on the Site
• Any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the content
• Any products, tools, or materials purchased based on information from the Site
• Any third-party content, products, or services linked from the Site

This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise), even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

In jurisdictions that do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, our liability is limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

7. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Woodwiki, its owners, operators, contributors, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use of the Site or any content obtained from it
• Your woodworking activities, whether or not influenced by information on the Site
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Any claim by a third party related to your use of the Site's content

8. Product and tool recommendations

Guides may recommend specific tools, materials, finishes, or products. These recommendations reflect the editorial judgment of our contributors at the time of writing. They are not endorsements, certifications, or guarantees of safety, performance, or suitability for your situation.

Always verify that a recommended product is appropriate for your skill level, your specific tools, and your intended use. Manufacturer instructions and safety ratings supersede anything written on the Site.

Where we include links to retailers or product pages, these may be affiliate links. If so, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial recommendations. We will clearly disclose affiliate relationships where they exist.

9. Intellectual property

All original text, illustrations, photographs, design elements, logos, and trademarks on the Site are the property of Woodwiki or its licensors and are protected by copyright and trademark laws.

What you may do

• Link to any page on the Site
• Quote brief excerpts with clear attribution and a link back to the original guide
• Share links on social media and in forums
• Print content for personal, non-commercial use

What you may not do

• Reproduce, republish, or redistribute entire guides or substantial portions without written permission
• Use our content to train machine learning or AI models without written permission
• Frame or mirror the Site or any portion of it
• Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or attribution notices
• Use Woodwiki's name, logo, or branding to imply endorsement or affiliation

Product names, logos, and brands mentioned in guides belong to their respective owners and are used for identification and commentary purposes only.

10. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site or its infrastructure
• Scrape, crawl, or harvest content through automated means beyond what is permitted by our robots.txt
• Interfere with or disrupt the Site's operation or the servers and networks that host it
• Impersonate Woodwiki or misrepresent your affiliation with us

11. Third-party links and content

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, products, or services. These links are provided for convenience and reference. We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, practices, or availability of any third-party site. Your interactions with third-party sites are governed by their own terms and policies.

The inclusion of a link does not imply a recommendation or endorsement unless explicitly stated in the accompanying guide text.

12. Site availability and modifications

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Site (or any part of it) at any time, with or without notice. We may also update, revise, or remove content at our discretion. We are not liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Site.

13. Changes to these terms

We may revise these Terms at any time by updating this page. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect the most recent revision. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically. For material changes that significantly affect your rights, we will make reasonable efforts to provide notice (such as a banner on the Site).

14. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Delaware.

15. Dispute resolution

Before filing any formal legal proceeding, you agree to first contact us at hello@woodwiki.com and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least thirty (30) days. Most concerns can be resolved without litigation.

16. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

17. Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by us to be effective.

18. Entire agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Woodwiki regarding your use of the Site and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

19. Contact

Questions or concerns about these Terms should be directed to: hello@woodwiki.com.