Maker Digest - February 12, 2026
Published
Kreg Tool has released three new products this February: a Door Hinge Routing Jig for precise hinge mortises, Trim Router accessories, and Edge Band Clamps for clean veneer application. The Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event arrives in Nashville February 20-21 at The Forge, offering hands-on demonstrations of their premium hand plane and chisel lineup. In the project space, 2026 woodworking trends are leaning heavily toward warm dark hardwoods (walnut, smoked oak), reclaimed wood upcycling, and a resurgence of 'Grandmacore' — nostalgic heirloom joinery featuring exposed dovetails and hand-carved keepsake boxes.
Kreg Tool Drops February Lineup: Door Hinge Jig, Trim Router Accessories, Edge Band Clamps
Kreg Tool has released three new products for February 2026. The Door Hinge Routing Jig enables precise hinge mortises without chiseling, the Trim Router accessory line extends their compact router ecosystem, and the new Edge Band Clamps provide even pressure for clean veneer and edge banding application on plywood projects.
Kreg continues their strategy of turning difficult woodworking operations into jig-guided processes. The Door Hinge Routing Jig is particularly clever — hanging a door is consistently ranked as one of the most frustrating DIY tasks, and the hinge mortise is where most people go wrong. A jig that templates the mortise for a trim router eliminates the need for careful chisel work. The Edge Band Clamps signal that Kreg sees plywood-based furniture building as a growing segment — which aligns with the Baltic birch and sheet goods trend in modern maker furniture.
💡What this means for you
Door Hinge Routing Jig: templates standard 3.5" and 4" butt hinges for trim router mortising. Edge Band Clamps: spring-loaded cam clamps for even pressure across veneer tape during adhesion. Trim Router accessories include edge guides and dust collection attachments compatible with most compact routers.
Market Position: Kreg competes with Rockler and Woodpeckers in the precision jig space. Their advantage is mass-market pricing and Home Depot distribution. The hinge jig fills a gap — Bosch and DeWalt offer door lock installation jigs but not dedicated hinge mortise templates.
- Compatibility with non-standard hinge sizes (European hinges, concealed hinges)
- Retail pricing for the hinge jig
- Whether Edge Band Clamps work with PVC and melamine edge banding
Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event Comes to Nashville, February 20-21
Lie-Nielsen Toolworks is bringing their traveling Hand Tool Event to The Forge in Nashville on February 20-21, 2026. Attendees can try out Lie-Nielsen's full range of premium hand planes, chisels, and saws with expert guidance. The events consistently draw hundreds of woodworkers and serve as both education and community gathering for the hand tool movement.
Lie-Nielsen's traveling events are the hand tool world's equivalent of an Apple product launch — they create real demand through hands-on experience. Once you've used a Lie-Nielsen No. 4 smoother on a piece of hard maple, your $30 Stanley from Home Depot feels like a toy. The Nashville location at The Forge (a maker space) is strategic — it targets the intersection of DIY culture and traditional craftsmanship that's driving the hand tool renaissance. The 'Grandmacore' heirloom trend is creating new demand for precisely the type of fine joinery that hand tools excel at.
💡What this means for you
Lie-Nielsen manufactures premium hand tools in Warren, Maine. Product range includes bench planes (No. 1-8), block planes, router planes, dovetail saws, and bench chisels. Materials: ductile iron bodies, A2 or O1 tool steel blades. Events feature hands-on stations with expert guidance on sharpening, tuning, and technique.
Market Position: Lie-Nielsen occupies the premium tier alongside Veritas (Lee Valley). Both compete against budget alternatives from Stanley, WoodRiver, and Narex. The traveling event format builds brand loyalty in a way that online marketing cannot replicate for tactile products.
- Whether Nashville event leads to a permanent Southern retail presence
- New product announcements at the event
- Attendance capacity and registration requirements
2026 Workshop Trends: Dark Hardwoods, Reclaimed Wood, and 'Grandmacore' Joinery
2026 woodworking trends are shifting toward warmer, darker aesthetics and heirloom craftsmanship. Walnut, smoked oak, and mahogany are replacing the light Scandinavian aesthetic that dominated the past decade. Reclaimed wood upcycling continues to grow, driven by sustainability values. The 'Grandmacore' movement — nostalgic, sentimental woodworking focused on heirloom-quality pieces with exposed dovetails, hand-carved keepsake boxes, and hand-hewn textures — is emerging as a significant design trend.
The pendulum swing from light woods (ash, maple, white oak) was inevitable, but the 'Grandmacore' trend is more interesting than a simple color shift. It represents a rejection of mass-market furniture disposability. When people are deliberately making hand-carved keepsake boxes with visible dovetails, they're investing time in objects meant to outlast them. This aligns perfectly with our maker audience — these are projects that laser cutters can enhance (precision inlays, engraved dedications) but not replace. The crafty angle: pairing traditional joinery with laser-engraved personalization is a product opportunity for maker businesses.
💡What this means for you
Key 2026 woodworking trends: (1) Dark hardwoods — walnut, thermally modified ash, smoked oak for rich tones. (2) Reclaimed wood upcycling — barn boards, pallet wood, salvaged timbers for rustic wall art, garden benches, and accent walls. (3) Expressive joinery — exposed dovetails, through-tenons, scalloped edges as decorative elements. (4) Biophilic designs — planters and plant stands integrating wood with greenery. (5) Grandmacore — heirloom-quality handmade items designed for generational transfer.
Market Position: These trends create opportunities for laser engraving businesses (personalized heirloom pieces), CNC routing (relief carvings in hardwood), and hybrid workshops combining power and hand tools. The reclaimed wood segment represents a low-cost-of-goods opportunity for maker businesses.
- Whether dark hardwood pricing will increase as demand shifts away from white oak
- Sustainability certifications for reclaimed wood products
- Commercial viability of 'Grandmacore' items at craft fairs and online marketplaces
Frequently Asked Questions
What new tools did Kreg release in February 2026?▼
Kreg Tool released three products in February 2026: a Door Hinge Routing Jig for precise trim-router-based hinge mortises, a Trim Router accessory line, and Edge Band Clamps for clean veneer and edge banding application on plywood projects.
What is the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event?▼
Lie-Nielsen Toolworks hosts traveling events where woodworkers can try their premium hand planes, chisels, and saws with expert guidance. The Nashville event is February 20-21, 2026, at The Forge. These events are free to attend and are excellent for experiencing high-quality hand tools firsthand.
What is 'Grandmacore' in woodworking?▼
Grandmacore is a 2026 design trend focused on nostalgic, heirloom-quality woodworking. It emphasizes handmade pieces with visible craftsmanship — exposed dovetails, hand-carved keepsake boxes, and items designed to be passed down through generations. It's a reaction against mass-market disposable furniture.