It can be very exciting to start your journey into mastering woodworking. You can create nearly anything out of wood. Man has utilized wood for thousands of years. Although it isn’t easy, woodworking can be a satisfying hobby. With a bit of practice, your end products may just amaze you.
Use pre-stain conditioners if you’re going to stain the wood. A good pre-stain condition helps to even out any imperfections in your project that a stain can accentuate. These conditioners will smooth out the uneven nature of the wood and allow your stain to penetrate evenly.
Be safety conscious when working with wood. Make sure you know how to use power tools properly and always wear safety equipment. Do not remove any safety guards from tools because they are there for your protection. The last thing you want is to injure yourself severely while woodworking.
Before you begin, have a budget in place so you will know the limits of your project. You don’t want to start on a project and then realize you don’t have the money to finish. You might just run the risk of having the enthusiasm for a project, but not enough money once you’re halfway done. Do your due diligence to avoid any problems down the road.
Gel Stains
Gel stains are the new big thing for staining furniture and other wood projects that need staining. Gel stains will stick better, while liquid stains can drip. Furthermore, since a gel stain is thicker it tends to remain constant through the application process, which lets it be more even on the furniture.
Create sanding blocks you can reuse. Begin by using scrap plywood to cut six blocks for each type of sandpaper grit. They should be about 4.75″ x 2.5″. You can secure the sandpaper better with an adhesive. Place one block onto the cork and make sure the cork is cut flush with a sharp knife. Put adhesive on the sandpaper sheet and then apply it to the cork blocks face down. Finally, cut your sandpaper flush with your cork, and then label each of your blocks.
If the hinges on your interior door have become loose, you can fix it with a simple golf tee. Put the golf tee in the screw hole to prevent wiggling. Cut the extra golf tee off and install the door again. The tee will provide the screw with something that it can bite into.
Wear footwear that’s sturdy when doing woodworking projects. There are a lot of wood chips and nails that you will need to navigate through. You want to ensure that your feet are protected in case you step on something sharp such as a nail or accidentally kick a heavy tool or pile of wood. You need to have solid footwear in order to prevent injuries from occurring where you work.
Never stick with tape measures alone. Story sticks are good to use, and you can slowly work up to your cut. Cut on scrap wood initially; this allows you to try out a fitting. This also helps stretch your imagination and develop good woodworking techniques.
Choose the right type of wood for the project that you are doing. Some woods are better for certain projects than others are. If you don’t know what the limitations and strengths are for each wood species, look them up online or at the library. The more you know, the better.
When you first start out in woodworking, a good tip is to go over the plans before you begin. Make sure they are complete without any missing information. If you are having difficulty understanding them, visit your nearby home improvement store for some help.
Having a few beers while you build a few things may seems like an ideal way to spend your weekend. However, it is actually very dangerous. Drinking alcohol can cause serious injuries when working with power tools. Also, you never want to use illegal drugs or prescription medication when woodworking.
Your woodworking area should be well-lit. Whenever you paint, sand or stain, light is essential. You will be able to see exactly where you will need to sand more. Extra lighting helps you make sure you apply the stain evenly.
When staining furniture, turn to gel products. Gel stains can stick to lumber well, while liquid ones can run. The thickness of gel stains helps because it allows the pigment to distribute evenly over all different types of wood pieces.
Drafting Square
For smaller cuts, a good tool is the drafting square. If you must make a cut in the 2-3 foot range, measuring accurately can be tricky. Drywall squares are typically inaccurate, while carpenter squares are cumbersome. Get a drafting square from the art supply store. They’re accurate and simple to use.
You have to be patient. Some people start woodworking projects, only to become frustrated that it doesn’t materialize instantly. Understand that it takes time to create a project out of wood, and with a little patience something good can come out of it. Have patience, and you will be able keep on task and go on working. Soon, the project will be complete.
A stair gauge is a great tool to keep in your shop. They are used often to layout jacks for stairs, but they can also be clamped to your carpenter’s square. This will make them into guides for a circular saw. If you use the square as a guide, your cuts will be straight every time.
Plan on paper before starting a project. Writing down your budget and blueprint allows you to control the process. Knowing how much wood you need, for example, is something that will make the entire process more efficient. When you plan ahead, your project will go smoother.
Watch woodworking shows that air on television. They can offer valuable information and give you new ideas for projects you may never have considered before Browse through your local listings to find this type of programming.
When taking on a woodworking project, devise a budget. Take the time to determine the cost of the materials. It is best to have the exact cost determined ahead of time. In this way, you will not be left with a half finished folly that you cannot afford to complete.
Keeping a small ruler with you in a pocket is a great idea, however it may fall out easily because of its length. Buy a metal ruler, and try keeping it in the same pocket as the smaller telescoping magnet you use to pick up loose metal screws. They’ll both stay in your pocket this way.
Take the time to prep the wood before you stain, that way it will more evenly absorb the stain. Condition the wood with a pre-stain treatment. These conditioners get deep into the grain of the wood while also soaking up any excess stain. After you add the stain, use a rag to get rid of any excess that is on the wood.
If you plan a large project, consider at least researching other people’s plans online. You might not mirror them step by step, but they can serve as inspiration for your own twists. They always make a good jumping off point, either from fresh inspiration or just sparing you some calculations.
Save your scrap wood because it may come in handy in other projects. You never know when you will need a small piece of wood to fill in a small gap or to help clamp together newly glued pieces of wood. They are also great to practice your cutting skills on.
Know what you need to do to work with the wood and how it reacts to different situations. Each type is different. Different types of wood will stain differently. Different cuts will splinter differently. You will also encounter a lot of different grains. All of these factors have an effect on your wood project.
Now apply these tips to your woodworking. Make sure you stay receptive to continuing learning more about woodworking, since there’s always more knowledge and ideas out there. Most importantly, don’t ever let yourself get disheartened because woodworking is worth all your patience and dedication.