This article was made for you if you are interested in learning more about woodworking. The many tips below will help you get started and become successful working with wood. Keep reading so that you can learn more.
It is always a good idea to have a pre-stain conditioner for the wood you’re planning to stain. The conditioner will make it more difficult to notice irregularities in the wood. They smooth the wood and make it possible for the stain to penetrate into the wood evenly.
You can make your own reusable sanding blocks. First cut 6 blocks from scrap plywood, one for each grit of sandpaper you like to use. Make sure they are about 2.5″ x 4.75.” Use some spray adhesive on your blocks and the cork tile. Stick a block on your cork, then make certain you cut the cork flush with a utility knife. Use spray glue on sandpaper and stick it to the block. Use a utility knife to trim the sandpaper around the edge of the block. Label each block.
Make sand blocks that you can reuse. Cut six 3/4″ pieces of plywood for each sandpaper grit. Be sure that they’re only around 2.5″ x 4.75″. Spray adhesive is what you use on both the blocks and cork tile square. Trim the cork so that it is flush around the edges of the block. Then, spray your sandpaper with adhesive and apply it to the cork. Fnally, make sure you cut sandpaper flush with the cork, and label every block.
Test your stains on scraps of wood or inconspicuous areas of the piece you’re using. This will help you avoid any surprises if the stain color looks different after it has been applied. This simple testing tactic lets you counter the unpredictability of wood.
Gel Stains
Before you apply a stain, test it on an area that is hidden or a piece of wood scrap. This will help you avoid any surprises if the stain color looks different after it has been applied. Different woods can affect stains differently. Sometimes wildly different. Testing first is the best way to know what something will look like.
Gel stains are something that you can get a lot of use out of when you’re staining items that are going to be used for furniture. Liquid-based stain often runs on application, and gel stains stay put much better. Also, gel stains are thick and their pigment stays consistent.
Whenever you plan to cut a narrow piece of wood, don’t use your fingers as a guide! Use a thin and long strip of wood instead. That keeps your fingers intact.
While you might like keeping a small ruler handy in your pocket, you probably find that it falls out every time you bend over. Make it a metal ruler and store it alongside your telescoping magnet. The magnet should keep your ruler in the pocket.
Stair gauges are very important devices for you to use. Just clamp them on your carpenter’s square while making sure they match up. From there, make note of the notches. Put them on your carpenter’s square guide for a great cut.
Try not to spend too much time using tape measures. Practicing on story sticks is effective and gives you confidence to work your way to that final cut on your project piece. Cutting on your scrap wood first will be a great idea so you can test a fitting out. Variety in planning your cuts also keeps boredom from becoming a factor in your project.
Having a couple of beers while you get things done might seem like a great way to spend a weekend. However, it is a very bad idea to drink and work with saws. Never work on a project when you are drinking alcohol. The same should go for illegal drugs or prescription ones.
Choose the right wood for the job. Soft wood isn’t ideal for tabletops because it scratches easily. Additionally, consider different types of woods offer different colors.
Never stick with tape measures alone. Practicing on story sticks is effective and gives you confidence to work your way to that final cut on your project piece. Making your cuts first on scrap wood will help you try out a fitting before you move to that final cut. You can avoid becoming bored by planning your cuts in various ways.
Keep a lookout for old furniture that people are going to throw out. These will often be cheap and many times free! Do not dismiss an item just because it looks to be on its last legs. You may be able to salvage the drawers of an unusable dresser and re-purpose them as bookshelves.
Stair Gauge
If you need a circular saw guide, try using a stair gauge. Normally a woodworker uses a stair gauge to ensure each stair has an identical rise. Use them along with a carpenter square to guide your saw.
Take a look at estate sales and also yard sales to find inexpensive woodworking tools. You can often get great tools at a fraction of the price if you don’t buy them new. If you are just getting started or replacing older parts, this can save you tons of money.
For smaller cuts, a good tool is the drafting square. It isn’t easy to cut in the 2-3 foot range. Squares can be cumbersome and inacurate. A drafting square is the solution in this situation. They are easy to use and incredibly accurate.
As you read at the start of this article, there is a lot that you can learn about woodworking so that you can get started on being a woodworker yourself. Fortunately, you have read some great tips above to help you to do just that. Now all you need to do is begin on that project that made you come here in the first place.