Michelle Burns

Michelle Burns writes and maintains Builderology, a free reference site for the job site and the workshop: 70 construction and woodworking calculators, a 192-species wood database, thread and fastener charts, and building-code guides. Every tool shows its formula and its sources, so you can check the arithmetic yourself.

Michelle has been making things for as long as she can remember and grew up in a house that always seemed to be “under construction”. When she was about 12, her parents remodeled their house and put on an addition, and she gained hands-on experience in everything from putting up studs to drywalling and painting. With her husband she has built shelves, furniture and a deck at their house. Read her story on the About page.

Questions or corrections: hello@builderology.com or the contact page.

Everything Michelle has written (40 articles)

• Wood Corner Joints: 15 Ways to Join Boards at a Corner
• Metric Fine Thread Tap Drill Chart (M2 to M30)
• 1/4-20 Tap Drill Size: Drill Chart, Clearance Hole and Hole Depth
• How to Connect Cardboard: 9 Cardboard Joinery Techniques
• How to Paint Cardboard
• Free Car SVG Cutting File
• Free Star SVG Cut File + Printable Template
• Free Dog Bone SVG Cutting Files
• Free Shamrock SVG Cut Files
• Free Tangram Puzzle SVG Cut File
• Free Heart SVG Cutting Files
• How to Easily Resize and Customize SVG Files
• How to Get Free Cardboard For Almost Any Project
• How to Cut Cardboard Safely and Easily
• Cardboard: An Affordable Building Material
• 10 Tips for Starting a Library Makerspace
• 12 Fun and Easy Makerspace Fundraising Ideas
• Makerspace Make + Take Project Ideas
• 8 Benefits of Makerspaces in the Community and Classroom
• Creating a Makerspace in a Tiny Space
• Why Your Makerspace Should Have a Textiles Department
• Types of Machines You Might Find at a Makerspace
• Common Woodworking Terms Glossary
• The Big List of Makerspace Materials Ideas
• Free Woodworking Business Startup Checklist
• Creative Woodworking Business Name Ideas – 121 Words to Mix and Match
• 59 Marketing Ideas for Your Woodworking Business
• How to Price Your Woodworking Projects to Sell
• 27 Types of Saws and What They Are Used for
• Types of Woodcarving Tools and Their Uses
• 25 Wood Turning Project Ideas To Make With a Wood Lathe
• Afraid of Power Tools? Here’s How I Overcame My Fear to Start Building More!
• 5 Awesome Woodworking Design Apps + Software Programs to Create Your Own Plans
• Wood Joinery Techniques: 18 Types of Wood Joints & How to Make Them
• 15 Woodworking Business Opportunities + Ideas: Find Your Niche
• How to Start a Successful Woodworking Business
• 65 Profitable Woodworking Projects to Sell
• 22 Woodworking Safety Tips & Guidelines to Follow
• Different Types of Wood & Their Uses
• Woodworking Basics for Beginners: How to Get Started Building With Wood

Calculators, charts and guides

• All construction and woodworking calculators
• Wood species database (192 woods)
• Janka hardness chart
• Thread and fastener charts
• Tap drill chart
• Building code and safety guides
• Concrete slab calculator
• Board foot calculator
• How we build and check our calculators and data
• Editorial policy