Expertise
Home Restoration, Remodeling, DIY
- Rob completely restored and remodeled a 1906 American Foursquare house in South Minneapolis.
- He started one of the first DIY-focused online newsletters in 2000, the award-winning Woodworker's Journal eZine — now called The Weekly.
- Rob is a master woodworker with decades of experience building furniture and other fine woodworking projects.
Experience
Rob has had an eclectic career building everything from cement silos to stringed instruments. He began his publishing career when his mother started a hometown newspaper, the Eden Prairie News, where he was the sports reporter. He later became the editor of the Woodworker's Journal magazine, focusing on furniture design, power tool reviews, and finishing techniques. Through that, he is a nationally known woodworking expert. Rob was the President of the MMPA (Minnesota Media Publishing Association), an association focused on promoting publishing of all kinds in his home state of Minnesota.
Education
Rob graduated from Minnesota State University, Red Wing, with a degree in Lutherie.
Hunker uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding home improvement and design, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert takes and tutorials from our talented team.
As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
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It makes sense that hummingbirds love hummingbird feeders. Unfortunately, so do bees. Luckily, these pollinator-friendly plants and flowers can draw bees away.
By Rob Johnstone
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Home Improvement
By Rob Johnstone
There's a kitchen design color trend that's starting to get popular, and it might be a shade you don't expect. But this comforting paint color is here to stay.
By Rob Johnstone
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If you're looking for extra space in your kitchen cabinets, one way to do that is with this easy DIY that can help organize and store all your pots and pans.
By Rob Johnstone
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Many people may think this insect is harmless, but it can hurt and kill hummingbirds. You don't want to see this well-known bug anywhere near your feeder.
By Rob Johnstone
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Home Improvement
By Rob Johnstone
Need more storage in your kitchen? Stop letting the empty space go to waste: With a little wood and some cleats, you can DIY the perfect solution.
By Rob Johnstone
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Considering a finish (or refinish) for the wooden flooring in your home? Use the right kind of wood polyurethane finish for best results. Here's how to choose.
By Rob Johnstone
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Many of us wait for the return of hummingbirds each year. One way to see more of them in your yard is using by using specific colors in strategic garden areas.
By Rob Johnstone
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There's a gardening hack you may want to know about to get a lawn free of weeds -- and it involves an ingredient you probably already have on hand.
By Rob Johnstone
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There's a lot to love about the noise level of electric lawn mowers, but do they live up to the hype? Here's what's good (& bad) about actually owning one.
By Rob Johnstone
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Want the look of a fancier garage door without putting down money for a remodel? There's a way to achieve this result for less than $20 & it takes 10 minutes.
By Rob Johnstone
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Cleaning
By Rob Johnstone
Garage door getting awfully noisy lately? Grab a can of WD-40 and spray down each part of the garage door in this sequence (& don't forget the first step).
By Rob Johnstone
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Ready to build the DIY shed of your dreams? Your yard is the perfect spot, with a little leveling, the right plan, & the right materials. Here's what you need.
By Rob Johnstone
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Cleaning
By Rob Johnstone
Hardwood floors are durable, but the wrong cleaning products can do real damage. Instead, you can just use a fun product right from your pantry.
By Rob Johnstone
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Cleaning
By Rob Johnstone
You likely want to keep your marble flooring in the best possible shape. With these cleaning tips, those floors will be sparkling, shining, and streak-free.
By Rob Johnstone
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Wooden furniture holds up amazingly over time ... if you take care of it properly. Here are three key maintenance tips from our expert woodworker.
By Rob Johnstone
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Cleaning
By Rob Johnstone
Hardwood floors are sturdy, durable, and last forever ... if you take care of them. And a lot of the ways people clean their hardwood floors can be problematic.
By Rob Johnstone
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Cleaning
By Rob Johnstone
Water stains on your wooden furniture, walls, doors, floors, or countertops? Don't panic. Remove unwanted marks and refresh the wood using some household items.
By Rob Johnstone
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If your kitchen cabinets look dull and outdated, you don't have to do a complete renovation and spend thousands to fix the issue. These simple fixes can help.
By Rob Johnstone
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Dull wood kitchen cabinetry? There's a DIY that any homeowner can pull off for a bright, colorful refresh. And the best part is that it's affordable, too.
By Rob Johnstone
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Home Improvement
By Rob Johnstone
Your cabinet doors get a lot of use (and overuse) and have to hold up, but sometimes, their alignment slips. How can you fix this? It's all in the hinges.
By Rob Johnstone
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Want your woodworking projects to be colorful but don't want to lose the beautiful wood grain? Skip paints and stains: It's time to learn about dyes.
By Rob Johnstone
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Avoid this Easter flower in your home if you have pets, especially cats. There are potential issues with this popular springtime houseplant or bouquet option.
By Rob Johnstone
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Trying to decide between a wood fence or a vinyl one? There are some great things about PVC, but also some pretty terrible ones. Let's take a closer look.
By Rob Johnstone
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Melamine, MDF board, and plywood have things in common, but are very different. Our master woodworker will explain how all 3 can be used in your DIY projects.
By Rob Johnstone
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Toss out that plastic cutting board and make one out of pine with help from our expert woodworker, because a wooden cutting board is superior. It's an easy DIY!
By Rob Johnstone
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That orange honey-toned stain on your old furniture looks hopelessly out of date, but don't paint it a flat color: Try this tip from our expert woodworker.
By Rob Johnstone
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This simple DIY demonstrates how you can create a simple, effective built-in storage rack for the cabinet or pantry door in your kitchen to maximize space.
By Rob Johnstone
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