The art of working with wood has so much to offer. From the very skilled woodworkers who do woodworking for a living or the weekend woodworker who does it just for fun, there is something for everyone. If you are looking to get into doing more woodworking, then keep reading to learn more.
Using a good wood glue can make joined pieces even stronger than the wood itself. The key to strength in a glued joint is the amount of time the glue takes to set. Glue that takes longer to cure is better than quick setting glue. Slower setting glue has more time to penetrate into the fibers of the wood, which enhances the strength of the joint.
In a pinch, you can use a hacksaw blade as a makeshift compass. Often you can’t find a compass when you need it in room, when you are away from your shop. You can quickly nail a hole in the middle of a hacksaw blade, then steady the pencil against the proper tooth to get the right length. Draw that circle.
Whenever you plan to cut a narrow piece of wood, don’t use your fingers as a guide! Use a piece of wood to assist you in pushing the cut through. This will help ensure you keep all of your fingers, making woodworking much easier.
Unless you are charging it, never leave your tools plugged in and unattended. You never know who might approach your tool, accidentally setting it off. Not only can this damage the items around it, but the person could be hurt and you could be left liable for the end result.
If you find that there is rust on any of your woodworking tools there is a rather easy solution. As long as the rust is just on surface, all you need to do is use a pumice stone on the spot. Be sure to scrub gently, as being too rough can lead to you damaging the tool itself.
When working with wood, consider the grade of wood you are using. Wood can be costly and it is not always necessary to use a high-cost wood. If budget is a concern, look at the durability and strength of different woods that may come in a little cheaper and still work for your project.
Keep your tools and hardware organized. When you keep clutter to a minimum, it does more than just add discipline to your workshop. It also keeps distractions, hazards and time spent hunting down a misplaced item to a minimum. Keeping screws, nails and other hardware and accessories in one place neatly stored until needed makes your projects faster and keeps you safer.
Make woodworking a family affair. Your kids can really have a great time with woodworking too. In fact it can be an amazing family bonding experience. Plus, you’re giving them skills that they can use for decades to come for their own home improvement. It’s not just the boys. Your little girls, too, can have a great time with it.
For a beginner, sometimes it is best to buy kits instead of cutting the entire project yourself. You should be able to finish your project quicker with a precut kit. These kits will help you gain some valuable insight on the steps involved in a project so that the next time you can do it all yourself.
If you are making something from a set of plans, read through the plans before you begin. You need to make sure that you understand every step so there will be no surprises. Knowing what step comes next can help you plan out the current step. This will help you be more prepared in your projects.
Always wear proper eye protection before using any power tools. Wood chips can fly and stab you in the eye resulting in a trip to the emergency room. To protect yourself wear safety glasses that have side shield to help protect your eyes from flying debris produced from using power tools.
If you are new to woodworking, start small. Although you may be tempted to dive in to a difficult project, it is best to start small and slowly build your skills. Consider building a birdhouse or a shelf to help you learn your way around your woodworking shop and tools.
When crosscutting large sheets of plywood, clamp one board beneath the plywood. This creates an auxiliary fence to ride against the left side of the top of your table saw. Doing this will prevent your blades from binding. It will also help keep you from burning the wood, or creating worse problems.
If you are testing out a new woodworking tool, test it on a scrap piece of wood first. If you bought a new bandsaw, test and see if need to make any adjustments. Make several test cuts first before cutting into the wood that you are using for your project.
If you don’t have a shop to do your woodworking in, then clear out an outdoor space to work in and make sure your family and children know that it is off limits to them. This will help keep your tools all in one place and to keep them from being taken off by other family members.
A woodworker needs a quality set of chisels to complete his woodworking toolkit. These chisels will be used to help make minor adjustments to wood. To keep them their sharpest, always wipe the chisels down with acetone after you use them. Follow this up by applying a small amount of machine oil to each chisel to prevent rust.
When you are using a hand saw, start with a backwards motion. Make sure your angle is shallow and be gentle to start. Create a guide by putting a cut into each side of the wood as that will ensure your cut ends up straight. If you know what you’re doing, you can clamp the timber as well.
Working with wood has always been a valuable skill since the beginning of time. It can be a lucrative skill or simply an enjoyable hobby. There is something for everyone to enjoy about woodworking. Hopefully the tips from above will help inspire you and encourage you to get into doing more woodworking today.