If you’re just starting out with woodworking, this article is perfect for you. This advice will help get you started on your new hobby. Read on and learn lots more about this subject.
A great tool for setting crosscut guides is a stair gauge. Attach them to a carpenter’s square, and use them to ensure that they match the rise and run of your stair jack. After that the notches can be marked. An excellent crosscut guide for the circular saw is the result of the combination after you place them on your carpenter’s square, on the exact same tongue.
Safety is of utmost concern when you are doing any time of woodworking project. Use the right safety gear and operate tools according to their manual. Always keep the tool guards on, since they are there to keep you safe. You can’t complete the project if you end up hurting yourself.
Be sure that you are realistic about what your budget allowance can accommodate. A lot of the times your eyes will be larger than your wallet when thinking of a woodworking project. It is very disappointing to run out of funds before your project is complete. Be sure to budget in advance to be prepared for any eventuality.
Tin Snips
Tin snips are a great way to trim laminate that you use in woodworking. These let you cut laminate into a size you can use. Purchasing a pair of tin snips that will only be used for cutting laminate will keep them sharp.
Stair gauges make good crosscut guides. Clamp them to a carpenter’s square while making sure they line up with the rise and run of your stair jack. Mark the notches in them. You have a great crosscut guide when you put each of them on the carpenter’s square together.
A stair gauge is a great tool to keep in your shop. These are usually used for laying out stair jacks; however, you can also use it to clamp down your carpenter’s square. This will transform your carpenter’s square from a straight-line tool, into a straight guide for your saw. You won’t have to worry about uneven cuts any more!
Always know the specific characteristics of the wood you are working with before you begin a staining project. Some woods are only paint grade, while stain grade woods are much better for staining. Particleboard and veneer differ from one another. Veneer doesn’t always absorb enough of the stain, and particleboard over-absorbs it. Your project will turn out better if you make sure you get the right wood.
Golf Tee
When you apply wood finishes and stains, make sure you stir, not shake them. Some ingredients they contain will settle at the bottom of the can, which can effect the outcome of your project. Shaking can cause bubbling which prevents the products from mixing properly. Be sure to continue stirring until everything that has settled is blended in evenly.
Do you have door hinge screws that have worked themselves loose, and you can’t tighten them into the wood at all? A golf tee can solve this. Remove the the door and the hinges from the door frame and gently tap a golf tee into each screw hole. Trim off the end of the tee still sticking out and hang the door again. The golf tee allows a screw to have something it can bite into.
Get the right nail sizes for the job you are doing. If a nail is too big around, it could cause the wood to split. But using a nail which is not big enough may not penetrate the wood properly and will not hold the pieces together. Always try to pick the right size nail for your job.
Use recycled wood. There are many places that work with wood that often discard scraps which can be useful. Many places like home improvement stores will have scrap wood. This is where you should jump at the chance to get some extra wood for your own projects. This can save you a ton of money.
When putting together your budget for a project, do not forget to include the cost of new tools. It’s easy to just overlook things because you’re thinking of the cost of lumber and that’s all. Some of the necessary items may be very costly, so plan your budget carefully.
Use kits made for woodworking when you are a beginner. These kits will come with wood that is pre-cut that you need to start putting together to make your project. This is a great way for a beginner to get a grasp of what goes into woodworking. You can avoid some of the common mistakes and spend little money to learn.
Don’t apply strong pressure when sanding. When you sand with a lot of pressure, you’ll gauge into the wood and cause the surface to be uneven. If the correct grit is used when you sand, a lot of force shouldn’t be required. Use circular motions with light pressure to sand.
Drafting Square
Opt for gel stains when staining furniture. Liquid stains tend to run when they are applied, while gel stains stick to the lumber better. Additionally, because gel stains are thicker the pigment remains consistent throughout the application allowing for more even staining on horizontal and vertical pieces.
You can make accurate cuts by choosing to use a drafting square. If you have a cut that needs to be done and exceeds a couple feet in length, you will likely find it hard to do perfectly. Drywall squares are known for being inaccurate, and carpenter squares must be fastened to an edge, making them cumbersome. Get to an art supply store to purchase a drafting square. Those are very accurate and very easy for you to use.
Measure twice, cut once. You may even consider taking the time to measure as many as three times before you cut if the materials you are using are expensive. Measuring incorrectly is probably the most common error a woodworker makes. If you cut too short or cut on an angle, you can ruin a piece of wood completely for the project.
Try making your own sanding blocks. Cut the wood exactly how you want and use it. Use a glue and put the sandpaper on the block, then let it dry. You will then have a sanding block to use.
Never use your hand to guide wood through a cut! Instead you should use a thin and long strip of wood get push it through your saw. That way, you will keep your fingers safe and intact.
As you noted in the introduction, woodworking is an immense body of knowledge that always has something new you can learn. Luckily, you just read paragraphs full of useful information. Now, just keep learning and put all you’ve read to good use.