What do you know about woodworking? Is it really just cutting wood and making things? There is plenty more to woodworking than just those things. In fact, when you take the time to learn more about it, then you will get much more enjoyment out of it so read the following article for suggestions and tips you can use.

Safety is the most important aspect of a project. Be certain to use all tools correctly and observe all safeguards. When your power tools are on, you should always be wearing safety equipment. The last thing you want to do is end up at the emergency room because of an accident.

Use stair gauges for crosscut guides. To use, clamp the gauges to a carpenter square. Mark each notch. If you put them on the same tongue of your carpenter’s square, the combination that you can make will be a great circular saw crosscut guide.

TIP! Stair gauges are very important devices for you to use. Clamp them on the carpenter’s square and be sure they match up.

Before you stain your wood project, apply a pre-stain conditioner onto the wood. Using this conditioner will reduce the amount of blotching or unevenness on your finished project. They smooth the wood and make it possible for the stain to penetrate into the wood evenly.

Select an appropriate sort of wood for each project. When it comes to woodworking, some woods can not handle the stresses that other woods can. If you are unaware of whether a particular type of wood is suited to the project you want to build, invest some time researching it first.

When you want to cut narrower sections of wood, never use your own fingers to guide them. Try using thin wood strips to push that piece through your saw. This will ensure that you keep all ten of your fingers, which are all necessary for you to continue working with wood.

Stir finishes or stains before using them. The ingredients in them can settle. But, shaking may cause unwanted bubbling, and keep the product from mixing well. Stir thoroughly until it is smooth and even.

TIP! When you apply wood finishes and stains, make sure you stir, not shake them. These can settle can must be stirred.

You should check the condition of your blade before you start sawing. A dull blade makes good cutting impossible. It will also make you make more mistakes that could end up costing you money depending on the wood you’re working with.

Do you need to tighten a screw, but can’t reach it? Look no further than your toolbox. Get your longest handle screwdriver, as well as a 12-point socket. Get the socket fitted to your screwdriver and then attach that to the ratchet you like to use the most.

Search for recycled wood. You can check at places that discard a lot of wood. Commercial shops may just throw good pieces away. Floor shops, home improvement stores and other similar places will discard unused wood. You can use this wood for your projects. You will find in time that you are saving a good deal of money on each project.

A golf tee can fix loose door hinges. Just take the door off the hinges and tap the golf tee into the offending screw hole. Cut the golf tee off flush with the surface and put the door back on the hinges. The golf tee fills the hole and provides additional material to hold the screw.

TIP! If the hinges to your interior door are loose, use a golf tee to fix the problem. Remove hinges and door from door frame and lightly tap one golf tee inside each of the screw holes.

Make sure your workspace is well lit. Accurate measurements are essential when woodworking. Also, sharp tools are involved in this craft. These things require that your space be adequately lit for safety.

Always talk with other woodworkers. Your shop is a place where you work alone. Still, you may get stuck on some tricky projects. Talking with other woodworkers will help you get the answers you need. You will never find a problem that someone hasn’t had before you and asked about.

Wet the lumber before you sand. The moisture will cause the grain to come up. This helps to get rid of small scratches in your finished piece. As a result, your project will look much better when it is finished. It’ll also save you work in the future.

Always ensure that the area you are working in is well lit. Make sure to focus on your accuracy when you are cutting. Also, sharp tools are used to do the wood cutting. Make sure the room is well-lit to eliminate injuries and mistakes.

TIP! Make sure your workspace is well lit. This will helps you make accurate measurements.

Check your stain on a spot you can’t see before using it. The stain might not give the effect you were hoping for or there may be issues with application that you didn’t think of. By looking at the stain beforehand on a spot you aren’t too worried about, you can make some changes if you have to. This will mean less work in the long run.

Patience is paramount. Woodworking projects sometimes take longer than expected. Be aware that your completed piece is in the wood; you just must coax it out. Patience will help you stay focused on your project. Then, you can complete your piece!

Use pen and paper to plan what wood pieces you’ll need or use. It is best to be organized before tackling something, and writing it all down first will keep things clear and concise. Also, it will help you to reduce the amount of wood that you waste. Planning ahead will see things moving along more smoothly.

Knocking a few beers back during down time can be a lot of fun. However, working with a saw and drinking is a terrible combination. Don’t ever drink while working on projects. The same caution applies to the use of prescriptions or illegal drugs.

TIP! Having a couple of beers while you get things done might seem like a great way to spend a weekend. Just remember, drinking while you work with a saw can have disastrous consequences.

Watch woodworking television shows. You can learn quite a bit from them and gain ideas that you would not have otherwise had. If you’re not sure where to find shows like this you should check the TV guide.

Be sure that you are fully aware of the steps you need to take to complete your project before you begin. It’s a painful experience to get half way through and realize you made a major error. Reading the instructions a few times can help prevent this from happening.

Get tools of good quality. Cheap tools are prone to breaking easily, causing you all kinds of frustration. Yes, quality tools can be expensive, but they will serve you well for years. This will save you money from needing to replace it frequently.

Don’t forget to stay in touch with other people. Woodworking shops are generally personal spaces without Internet. There will still be times you get stuck on a particular problem within a larger project. Talk to woodworkers to get advice in these situations. It’s likely there are others with your question too.

TIP! Make sure you aren’t neglecting to talk to other people. You may have a personal woodworking shop and it probably doesn’t have Internet access.

When chiseling, your movements should be away from the body. It is possible that your chisel can slip away and cut the hand that is holding down the wood. Whenever you are working with a saw, do the same thing.

If woodworking is new to you, it is unnecessary to purchase each and every tool. Rather, look to options like Freecycle. Or you can ask your family and friends to loan you the tools you need. You might just be able to stock your shop without spending too much of your own money.

Always use a strong clamp when gluing wood together. A quality clamp keeps the pieces together and applies the pressure evenly. There are various sizes and shapes of clamps for various kinds of gluing pieces, so choose the one that works for your job. Use the right number of clamps for the job.

You can’t tell when something will get into your eyes. Wear your goggles to keep your eyesight safe! If you don’t have good fitting goggles that you can see out of, you need to find yourself a new pair.

TIP! Your eyes are too important to take a chance with. You cold end up with a blind eye if you ignore wearing your goggles.

Now do you understand the broad scope of woodworking? If you do, then now is the best time to understand how this action will benefit you. You can turn your new skills into a hobby or even earn a living by keeping in mind this wonderful knowledge.