Woodworking is a highly-desired skill that is always in demand. There are many techniques to learn when it comes to woodworking. This article contains information that will you improve your skills in this craft.

Anytime that you are planning to stain wood, you should be sure to use a high-quality wood conditioner beforehand. This will reduce any blotches in the piece that you create. The conditioner will let the stain apply evenly and smooth out the wood.

TIP! Test the stain before you apply it to the wood you are using in your project. This will help you to pick the right stain color for your project.

Do you realize that your workbench height is key to the success of your projects? To find the perfect height of your workbench measure the distance between the midline of your waist and the floor. This is how tall your bench should be.

It’s crucial that you never try to use fingers or hands as a guide when cutting wood. Use a thin piece of wood instead. Use it to guide the wood through the saw. This will help to keep you from cutting off your fingers, which would be a travesty.

Every woodworking shop should have a stair gauge in it. They can be used to clamp a carpenter’s square along with laying out stair jacks. This adds a very practical element to your project that can save time and money. You can always make perfectly straight cuts by using this method.

TIP! You should do a dry fitting before you apply glue and try to piece woodworking pieces together. You could cause damage if you tinker with the fit after you’ve applied the glue.

You should have a small ruler on you. Instead of wood, choose a metal rule and keep it with your magnet. The magnet will ensure the ruler stays in your pocket.

If you plan to use a saw, ensure the blade is sharp. Dull blades make work harder, plus they are a safety hazard, especially on power saws. It can also cause you to make errors in your cutting.

Be certain you use the right nail size for any project. Nails that are too large can cause the wood to split. Small nails won’t give a good bond. Make sure you understand what size nail is correct.

TIP! You should have a small ruler on you. To reduce this problem, you could get a metal ruler and put the ruler in the same place as where you store your magnet.

Wear ear protection. The machinery used for woodworking can be very noisy. Extended exposure to such noise can cause hearing loss. Good headphones or even disposable ear plugs are good ideas. Whatever you choose, make sure to use them when operating machines.

Woodworking has been around for centuries, and it is not hard to understand why. There has been and will be the need for this craft and for people that do it. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a serious woodworker, the tips above will help you get more out of it.