Have you considered getting into woodworking but didn’t know how? This article is intended to help. Woodworking is challenging to those new to it, but with the right ideas, you get going with a lot more ease. These tips can help you now.

Woodworking Project

Safety must be a priority when doing woodworking. Proper tool use and safety equipment are important when you are woodworking. Do not take guards off of power machines, because they are meant to protect you. You don’t want to begin a project and get seriously injured.

TIP! When you are working with wood, safety must be the number one priority. Be sure to follow all safety directions when using power tools.

Always make safety first with a woodworking project. Use the right safety gear and operate tools according to their manual. Do not take guards off of power machines, because they are meant to protect you. You do not want to start a woodworking project and end up in the hospital.

Use stair gauges for crosscut guides. With a carpenter’s square these can be clamped down to match up the stair jack. Then mark the notches. You will make a crosscut guide for your circular saw when you put it on the carpenter’s square.

Add a stair gauge to the shop that you create. They are typically used to put down stair jacks, although they can function as a clamp for a carpenter’s square. This will transform your carpenter’s square from a straight-line tool, into a straight guide for your saw. Using this square will allow you to make cuts that are straight.

One good product to use if you are staining your project is a conditioner, to be used before staining. You will get less irregularities or blotches if you apply a quality pre-stain product. These conditioners are going to help smooth out the wood so that the stain can get into it more evenly.

TIP! If you plan on staining your project, try using pre-stain conditioner on your wooden surfaces. These conditioners will make the finished project look better.

Put extra spring in your grip. There are times when you may need to use a spring clamp, but you might only have the use of one hand. These are tough to open up with a single hand. There is a solution for this problem. Prior to beginning a glue-up, put all necessary clamps on a scrap of wood. This makes it possible to use them with only one hand when you need to.

Have you ever had trouble reaching certain screws using just you hand the the screwdriver? Look no further than your toolbox. Get a screwdriver with a long handle and pick up a 12-point socket. Put the socket onto the end of your screwdriver, then attach this to your ratchet.

If woodworking is new to you, it pays to carefully read plans prior to starting projects. Be sure you know what they say and that you really have an understanding of them so you know if they’re missing anything. If there is anything that you don’t understand, see if anyone at your local home improvement store can help you.

Before you apply a stain, test it on an area that is hidden or a piece of wood scrap. This helps you to not be shocked when you see the finished product. Keep in mind that it is not easy to guess how wood stain will turn out; therefore, you should always test out the stain on a piece of wood to prevent disappointment.

TIP! You should always test stain on a small area or on a wood scrap. This can prevent surprises if the shade of the stain is different after it has been applied.

Search at estate sales, garage sales or even online if you wish to get a good deal on equipment that you need for woodworking. This is a great way to find good deals. This can save you money when building your workshop.

Use the right type of wood for your project. Don’t use soft wood like pine as a table top, because it scratches very easily. And keep in mind that different woods will have different colors at the end of it all.

When you first start out with your woodworking, try using some kits that are available. These kits come with pre-cut pieces of wood that you put together to make a certain project. They offer a great way to begin developing your woodworking skills. Practicing now will save some money and time for you later on since you’re going to make fewer mistakes.

Do you know how much your workbench height affects your work? To figure out how high your workbench should be, you should measure how far your waist is in comparison to the floor. This will be the optimum height for your ideal workbench.

Stair Gauges

A stair gauge can also be used to guide a circular saw. Typically, stair gauges are used to make sure the run and the rise match up on a stair jack. However, they can aid you when using a circular saw by using stair gauges on tongues of carpenter squares.

Woodworking is often challenging, but the rewards are huge. You will have a sense of pride when you finish a piece of wood. Keep this information in mind to make nice wood pieces.

If you’re looking to rent a tool you’ve never used before, ask for a tutorial before you leave the shop. A specialist can quickly teach you what you should know about the tool. If you ask, they might have a list available with some other tips to help you later.