In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Protect yourself from the dust and possible wood shards released during the cutting process. If you can, work outdoors to further reduce the amount of dust you have to contend with. Also, avoid wearing a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, or jewelry that could get caught by the saw. If you can't work outdoors, select a well-ventilated spot like a workspace with a strong ventilation fan. Open up nearby doors and windows to direct more of the dust out. Keep other people and pets out of the area until you are done and have had a chance to clean up. These rail boards fit between the table legs, creating an apron. Flip the table over, then rough fit the legs near the table corners. Place the boards between them, measuring the length and size you need them to be. Plan on cutting 4 boards so you have 1 that fits between each leg. Measure the distance between the middle part of each leg to figure out how long the apron rails need to be. The exact size the boards need to be will vary depending on where you place the legs. Normally, they are easiest to fashion when the legs are placed right near the table corners, but they don't have to be put there. If your table already has an apron attached, you will see wood panels attached to the underside. Skip this part and screw the legs to the apron rails or remove the rails to cut mortise and tenon joints. A mortise and tenon joint is a secure way to connect pieces of wood by making them fit together. A mortise is a slot, which is often cut into table legs. A tenon is a same-sized projection that fits into a mortise. The mortise and tenon technique is a classic way to create stable tables. It's often used for big tables that require plenty of stability, such as picnic or dining room tables. It can also be done for metal. Plan on cutting mortise slots into the table legs and matching tenons on the apron rails to plug into them. These slots can vary as needed depending on the table you're working with. For a simple table, you might measure about 58in (1.6cm) from the edge of each leg, and then another 12in (1.3cm) to make a mortise of the same size. Remember to fit the leg and apron rails together in order to get an accurate fit. The pieces have to line up so the tenons plug into the mortises once they are cut. The router is a mobile tool you push along wood to cut smooth, consistent shapes. It's perfect for cutting a mortise in the center of each leg. After marking the cuts you need to make, lower the router and carefully move around the outlines. Note the thickness of the table legs, taking care not to cut more than of the way through them. Using a router can be dangerous if you're not careful. Keep a firm grip on it with both hands and keep your fingers up on the safety guards. Move it slowly and shut it off when you're done. One way to make the cutting process easier is to drill holes at the ends of each mortise outline, then follow up with the router. Doing this can make the router glide a little more smoothly over the wood. Each leg will have a pair of mortises for the apron rails connecting it to adjacent legs. Make sure the mortise cuts look smooth. If you don't have a router, you could also use a dowel jig to drill holes into each leg and rail. Then, fit wood dowels into the holes. The dowels will allow you to push the pieces together just like with a mortise and tenon design. Use the router to make matching tenons that fit into the mortise slots. Make one on the end of each rail, centering it according to your outline. The tenon sticks out from the rest of the rail, which rests against the uncut portion of each leg. The tenons can be tough to cut to the correct size, so work slowly. Keep them a little bigger if needed, since you can always chip off the excess material later. Position the legs near the corners of the tables, aligning the mortises. Then, plug all of the apron rails into them. When they are cut to the right size, the tenons will join perfectly to the mortises. You won't be able to see the tenons at all. You may need to trim the pieces a little more to get them to fit. If you need to shave them down a little bit, try using a chisel to gradually reduce them. Take apart the mortise and tenon joints, then coat them with a layer of wood glue. Use something strong, such as carpenter's glue, PVA, or epoxy. If you're not using wood, make sure you choose something compatible with the type of material you're using. When you're done, fit the pieces back together and clamp them in place for about 24 hours to dry. Let the pieces dry completely before turning the table back over. Use some effective bar clamps or a similar tool to keep the rails and legs pushed together until the glue solidifies. Another option is to screw the rails and legs together. Getting the screws in the right place is tough, so it can easily make your table uneven. To do it, drill the screws diagonally down through the table legs and into the rails.
Summary: Put on a dust mask and safety glasses before cutting the table. Cut boards into rails for the table's underside if there isn't an attached apron. Mark spots to cut the mortise and tenons in the boards. Cut mortises in the table legs with a router. Trim tenons on each of the apron rails. Fit the apron rails into the legs to make sure they fit. Use wood glue to secure all of the pieces together.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If you feel like you're in a rut or can't improve a certain skill, changing the way you practice can help you approach your weaknesses through a unique lens. Focus your practicing sessions on your specific weakness, and try a variety of different exercises to strengthen your abilities. If you're learning to write poetry, for example, you could practice annotating poetry for a few sessions instead of freewriting. Meeting other people who are learning a new task could help you find new ways of approaching a topic and strengthening weaknesses. Find a practice group or club at your school or community center, or ask others practicing the same skill if they know of any groups. You could, for example, join a community basketball team if you're having trouble learning to dunk. If you can't find any groups in your area, you can always make your own instead. Sometimes, changing the way you evaluate your abilities can help you spot weaknesses and improve your strengths. You might focus on your accuracy or strength, for example, instead of speed or dexterity. Instead of measuring your painting abilities by how many pieces you make a day, for example, you could focus on how you're improving your shading techniques. If you're having a hard time improving, keep practicing and learning more about it every day. Focus on what you're doing well and, as you make progress in your weaknesses, celebrate your strengths to improve your motivation. Even if the skill doesn't come naturally to you, you may be able to develop and strengthen the skill over time. Try not to beat yourself up about mistakes you make. Mistakes can help you learn more about your technique and avoid issues in the future.
Summary:
Change your practicing habits if you feel stuck. Join a study or practice group. Evaluate your improvement by a new measurement. Don't give up if you struggle with a specific skill.