No Nail Woodworking: 16 Wonders From a Grandpa Who Builds Without Nails or Glue

No nail woodworking sounds almost impossible until you watch Wang Dewen, the Chinese carpenter known online as Grandpa Amu, fit two pieces of wood together so tightly that they will never come apart. He uses old mortise and tenon joints, and his builds use no nails, no screws and no glue. His son and daughter-in-law film the videos, and his Grandpa Amu YouTube channel now has more than two million subscribers. Many of his projects start as toys for his grandson, which is why they feel so warm to watch. There is no shouting, no fancy studio, just a patient man, a pile of wood and a few hand tools. Here are his most loved builds, with the real view counts, plus a small, safe version of each that you can try at your own kitchen table..

No Nail Woodworking: Meet Grandpa Amu

Grandpa Amu calls himself an ordinary farmer, not an internet star, and that is part of the charm. In a 2020 news story he described himself that way, even with millions of views. Every piece he makes locks together like a puzzle, so the wood holds itself. That idea is thousands of years old in China, and watching it come back to life in a farmyard is strangely calming. If you love woodworking but hate the noise of power tools, his channel might become your new evening habit..

You will need: Square craft sticks, sandpaper, a pencil, a small ruler.

How to make it: 1. Watch one short build before you start, just to see how joints slide together. 2. Sand the ends of a few craft sticks so they are smooth. 3. Practice stacking and crossing them into a little square frame without any glue.

The No Nail Woodworking Arch Bridge With 59 Million Views

This is the video that made the world notice him. Grandpa Amu built a curved wooden arch bridge from straight beams that weave over and under each other, and the weight of the bridge itself holds it tight. The video has more than 59 million views, and people still argue in the comments about how it can stand. The design is based on old rainbow bridges once built over rivers in China. Would you have the nerve to walk across a bridge with no nails at all?

You will need: Twenty jumbo craft sticks, a few books, a ruler.

How to make it: 1. Lay three sticks side by side across two books like a bridge. 2. Weave three more sticks over and under them so the ends overlap. 3. Keep weaving short sections until you have a small arch, then press gently to feel how it locks.

A Bamboo Waterwheel That Runs on a Stream

With 17 million views, this one feels like a fairy tale. He split bamboo into paddles, pegged them into a wheel, and set it in a small stream so the water turns it all day. The wheel drives a little pounder, the way village mills worked long ago. Viewers love the sound of the water and the slow, steady turning. It is a gentle reminder that clever machines do not always need a plug. Could your garden use a tiny version beside a bird bath?

You will need: Clean plastic lids or paper cups, a wooden skewer, a cork, water.

How to make it: 1. With adult help, push the skewer through the center of the cork. 2. Cut small cup pieces and slot them into the cork as paddles. 3. Hold the ends of the skewer under a slow running tap and watch it spin.

The Folding Stool Made From One Piece

His folding stool has more than 12.7 million views because it looks like a magic trick. The stool is cut so the parts stay joined and fold flat, then open again into a sturdy seat. This style is linked to Lu Ban, a legendary carpenter from ancient China, and reporters have even called Grandpa Amu a modern Lu Ban. It is no nail woodworking at its cleverest, the kind of piece you want to hand to a friend just to see their face. Who would you show it to first?

You will need: A paper or cardstock sheet, scissors, a ruler, a pencil.

How to make it: 1. Draw a long rectangle and mark it into three equal panels. 2. Fold it into a little stand like a tent with a flat top. 3. Add slots so the legs lock in place, and you have a tiny folding stool model.

No Nail Woodworking Bamboo Boat for His Grandson

Grandpa Amu builds a lot of things with one little fan in mind: his grandson. This bamboo boat with a woven canopy pulled in almost 4.8 million views, and it looks like something from an old storybook. Bamboo poles form the hull, and split bamboo makes the arched roof. The best moments in these videos are not the tools but the smile of a child testing what grandpa made. What is something a grandparent made for you that you still remember?

You will need: Bamboo skewers or straws, string, a small rubber band, a tub of water.

How to make it: 1. Lay eight skewers side by side and tie them together at both ends with string. 2. Bend two more into an arch and tie them on as a roof frame. 3. Float it in a tub or bathtub and see if it stays level.

Bamboo Drinking Cups Straight From the Stalk

Bamboo grows in sections with a natural wall inside, so each section is already a cup waiting to happen. Grandpa Amu cut, shaped and smoothed a set of bamboo cups with little handles, and almost 4.6 million people watched. It is one of his simplest videos, which might be why it is so satisfying. The cups look fresh and green on the table, perfect for a summer lunch outside. Would you rather drink from bamboo or a plain glass?

You will need: Store bought bamboo cups or a bamboo planter, sandpaper, food safe oil.

How to make it: 1. Start with ready made bamboo cups so there is no cutting. 2. Lightly sand the rims until they feel smooth. 3. Rub on a little food safe oil and let them dry before use.

The Six Piece Puzzle Lock

This little puzzle lock has more than 4.3 million views, and it is the kind of thing that keeps people busy for hours. Six notched sticks slide together into a solid star shape with no glue at all. Once it is together, it looks like it can never come apart, until you find the one stick that moves. Puzzle locks are the classic starter project in no nail woodworking, and they make wonderful gifts for anyone who loves a brain teaser. Do you know someone who would solve it in five minutes?

You will need: A ready made wooden burr puzzle kit, fine sandpaper, a soft cloth.

How to make it: 1. Lay out all six pieces and look at the notches. 2. Build the first three in a cross, then slide in the rest one by one. 3. Wrap it in tissue as a stocking stuffer.

An Apple Puzzle That Comes Apart in Pieces

An apple made of wood is cute. An apple made of many curved pieces that lock together is something else. This build has about 4.2 million views, and watching the pieces slide back into a perfect round fruit is oddly relaxing. It sits on a shelf like a sculpture until someone picks it up and starts taking it apart. It would look lovely on a teacher’s desk. Who do you know who would love this?

You will need: A small wooden apple or ball, acrylic paint, a brush, a twig, green felt.

How to make it: 1. Paint a plain wooden ball red and let it dry. 2. With adult help, glue a short twig on top as the stem. 3. Cut a felt leaf and tuck it beside the stem.

No Nail Woodworking Taken to 129 Pieces

If six pieces sound hard, imagine 129. This giant puzzle lock has more than 3 million views, and each stick has to be cut exactly right or the whole ball will not close. It shows how far no nail woodworking can go with patience and careful measuring. The finished piece looks like a spiky wooden star you could hang from a beam. Are you a six piece person or a 129 piece person?

You will need: Jumbo craft sticks, rubber bands, a ruler.

How to make it: 1. Make a cross with two sticks and hold it with a rubber band. 2. Add more crossing sticks in layers, turning each layer a little. 3. Keep building until you have a round, star like shape.

Three Logs Locked in a Triangle

Nearly 2.8 million people watched Grandpa Amu lock three logs into a triangle that stands on its own. Each log is notched so it grabs the next one, and the three pull against each other. It is no nail woodworking on a big scale, the same idea used in old log cabins, only cleaner and more surprising. In a yard, it would make a beautiful frame for a hanging planter or a winter lantern with battery lights. Where would you put one?

You will need: Three thick sticks or dowels, a pencil, a craft knife for adults, sandpaper.

How to make it: 1. Mark a shallow notch near both ends of each stick. 2. Ask an adult to cut the notches carefully. 3. Fit the three sticks together into a triangle and sand any rough spots.

A Heart Shaped Box for Rings and Jewelry

This sweet heart shaped box has about 2.6 million views, and it is easy to picture it holding an engagement ring. Two woods are joined into one heart, and a hidden lid slides open to show a small space for rings. It is romantic without being fussy, and it would be a treasure to keep on a dresser for years. A handmade box always feels more personal than one from a store. Would you open your Christmas gift with a box like this?

You will need: A small heart shaped wooden box, wood stain or paint, a scrap of felt.

How to make it: 1. Paint or stain the box in two colors, top and bottom. 2. Cut felt to line the inside. 3. Tuck in a ring, a note or a small charm and wrap it with ribbon.

A Walking Wooden Pig Toy

Reporters said his grandson’s favorite toys include a walking pig, and this build shows why. The jointed wooden legs swing so the pig waddles down a slope on its own. It has more than 2.5 million views, and grown adults admit to watching it again and again. It proves no nail woodworking can be simple, silly and full of love, which is the best kind of toy. Did you ever have a toy that you would not let anyone else touch?

You will need: Wooden clothespins, a small wooden block, pink paint, small screw eyes or yarn.

How to make it: 1. Paint the block pink for the body. 2. Clip two clothespins on each side as legs. 3. Add a curly yarn tail and dot on little eyes with a marker.

A Bamboo Rocking Chair

His bamboo rocking chair, with more than 2.1 million views, looks like the most relaxing seat in the village. Curved runners give it a gentle rock, and woven bamboo makes the seat and back. Bamboo bends when it is warmed and shaped, which is how he gets those smooth curves. It is a perfect picture of slow living. Would you sit in it with a cup of tea, or would you be too nervous to use it?

You will need: A small doll or plant chair, twine, scrap fabric, a glue gun for adults.

How to make it: 1. Wrap the chair legs and back with twine for a woven look. 2. With adult help, secure the ends with a dab of glue. 3. Add a tiny fabric cushion and use it as a plant stand.

No Nail Woodworking Bubble Machine

Bubbles make everyone smile, and this hand crank bubble machine has more than 2.1 million views. A wheel with wands dips through soapy water as you turn the handle, and a cloud of bubbles floats away. It was another toy loved by his grandson, and it shows that no nail woodworking can be playful, not just serious. It would make any garden party feel like summer. Could you resist turning the crank?

You will need: Pipe cleaners, a wooden spoon, dish soap, water, a shallow tray.

How to make it: 1. Bend pipe cleaners into loops and twist them onto the spoon handle. 2. Mix a little dish soap and water in the tray. 3. Dip and wave the spoon slowly to make bubbles.

A Wooden Car With Every Detail

This wooden car, with about 2.1 million views, has turning wheels, a little steering wheel and doors, all made from wood. It is the kind of toy that gets passed down instead of thrown away. Watching it come together shows how much care goes into every small part. If you liked it, our DIY wooden Christmas gifts have more ideas for the woodworkers in your life. Which car would you build first?

You will need: A small wooden block, four wooden wheels, two dowels, acrylic paint.

How to make it: 1. Paint the block in a fun car color. 2. With adult help, glue the dowels under the block as axles. 3. Push on the wheels and add painted windows.

Try at Home: A Simple No Nail Woodworking Puzzle Knot

You do not need a workshop to enjoy no nail woodworking. A three piece puzzle knot is a great first project, and it makes a sweet stocking stuffer for kids and adults. Buy pre cut square sticks so there is no sawing at home. Once you see how the pieces hold each other, you will understand why Grandpa Amu has so many fans. Will you make one for each stocking this year?

You will need: Pre cut square craft sticks with notches, sandpaper, baker’s twine, a gift tag.

How to make it: 1. Sand each stick so the notches feel smooth. 2. Slide two sticks together at the notches, then push the third through the middle. 3. Tie the finished knot with twine and add a tag.