If you want to dip your toe into the woodworking water, this is the place to be. It includes many tips to help you get started. Continue reading to learn more.
Buy some scrap wood and use it to practice on. Scrap wood is really cheap, and it makes for great practice wood. Use it to try new skills that you’re learning. Practice with new tools on it. Make your mistakes here, not when it counts. You’ll be happy you did in terms of budget.
Always wear safety glasses when you are doing anything that involves woodworking. If you do not take the time to put the glasses on you are taking a huge risk that is not sensible. Just think, if you lose your eye sight you will not be able to do woodworking every again.
Be safe when you first start out in woodworking. Wear the proper safety clothing, including goggles. You may feel silly, but you are dealing with sharp tools and splintering wood. These are things that can cause significant injuries to even the most seasoned woodworker. So be safe, and make sure all that are around you are safe too.
If there is a joint in your work that does not fit together properly, this cannot be fixed with glue. While it may seem like the simple way to fix things, it will only work temporarily. The best thing to do would be to start over and be more careful the next time.
It is handy to carry a small pocket ruler, but it may fall out whenever you bend over. To solve this problem, purchase a metal ruler and keep it next to a small telescoping magnet in your pocket. This magnet helps you keep the objects together and in your pocket.
Take advantage of several tools instead of trying to do all of your work on just one. A jig, a tablesaw, a bandsaw and a lathe all have their own uses. It is important that you know what each of these tools do and you use them accordingly while getting the job done.
Always clean up sanding dust thoroughly before staining or applying a topcoat. If you want a smooth finish, dust is your enemy. Use a vacuum over blowing dust into the air because it settles back onto the wood, and use a damp cloth to ensure all dust is removed from the wood in your final cleanup prior to staining or applying a top coat.
Did you know that the teeth on a hacksaw face forward? Many people do not know this. It is the opposite of a wood saw. These saws are supposed to cut when pushed forward. Many times the blades are not labeled for correct installation. If this is the case, remember to put the teeth facing forward.
Never cut any pieces of wood without checking for nails, screws and other metal. While donning a pair of goggles keeps your eyes protected, you are still at risk for other injuries. Inspect every piece of wood whether you are re-purposing it or using new lumber. You are better safe than sorry with this safety tip, and checking the boards only takes a few minutes of your time.
If you are new to woodworking, stick with a cheap and effective tool bag. Many of the tools to start with are under a couple hundred dollars and very easy to find and use for basic projects. These tools include a benchtop tablesaw, a jigsaw or sabre saw, a circular saw, a random orbit sander, a corded or cordless drill, a fixed-base or plunge router, and a pipe and small bar clamps.
You can apply stain with either a brush, or a rag. Work the stain in against the grain, and with it as well. You need not be neat, just get a smooth, even coat on the wood. Then, wipe immediately for a lighter tone, or leave it on for up to fifteen minutes before wiping for a deeper tone.
You can make a sanding block even better. Cut a small slot about 3/8 of inch deep, a little less than an inch from the outside edge. Run it the entire length of the block. Now the sandpaper will fit into this slot easily, and it will stay in place more securely.
Do you know that different colored tin snips make different kinds of cuts? Tin snips with red handles are used for making left hand turns. Green handled tin snips are used for making right hand turns. Finally, yellow handled tin snips are used for straight lines and gradual curves.
Make sure there are no spots of glue on the wood before proceeding to finish your project. The spots will show up as lighter spots after the finish has been applied. You can use mineral spirits of naptha to completely remove all traces of glue from the wood. You may also be able to remove the glue by sanding the wood.
Many professional recommend finishing the separate pieces of the project before it is assembled. This method makes finishing much easier and if the wood shrinks a little in the future, there will be no bare wood exposed. However, it is important to keep the finish off any surfaces that will be glued.
Sometimes a retractable tape measure is seen as too unreliable for woodworking. The tip can get worn out or bent, making measurements inexact. While a good steel ruler may be best, you can use a tape measure for some jobs. Just make sure you use the same one for all measurements. Don’t switch tape measures.
Keep all you blades and bit sharp. This way they will be ready cut clean each time you use them. Sharp blades are also much safer to use and less likely to break when you use them. Set a schedule for regular maintenance and know how to identify a dull blade.
As this article said in the beginning, you can learn quite a bit on the subject of woodworking so it’s time to educate yourself. Thankfully the information you read here has offered many great tips to help you. Start to use these tips to benefit your skills.
