What do you know about woodworking? There is more to it than cutting some pieces of wood and gluing them together. This is a pastime that involves lots more than just that! The following article offers many tips to help you start woodworking.

Be safety conscious when working with wood. Always wear safety equipment and use tools the proper way. Don’t take guards off of the power tools. These simple things can help protect you from accidents.

TIP! Are you aware that your workbench height is essential for having successful woodworking projects? Measure from the floor to your waist. This will be the optimum height for your ideal workbench.

If you plan to stain a project, apply pre-stain products to your wood. A good pre-stain condition helps to even out any imperfections in your project that a stain can accentuate. They will make the wood smooth and allow the stain to go on evenly.

Stair gauges may be just the ticket for crosscut guides. Match them to the rise and run of your stair jack, then attach them to the carpenter’s square. After that the notches can be marked. Putting them on the carpenter’s square tongue makes for a great guide for a circular saw.

Gel Stains

TIP! Never shake a finish or a stain. Only stir them.

Gel stains are great for furniture. Liquid tends to run after it’s put on, whereas a gel stain sticks to the wood much better. Gel stains are also thicker which means they’re more consistent.

Whenever you’re thinking of cutting a piece of wood that’s narrow, don’t try to use your fingers to guide it. Rather, make use of a longer, thinner piece of wood that can push it along the saw’s surface. That keeps your fingers intact.

It is often helpful to increase the spring in your grip. Do you need to apply a spring clamp with a single hand? It’s hard to open them with just one hand. There is a way to make it easier. Before you start gluing anything, take the time to clamp a separate wood piece so that the clamps are already open. This will make it much easier for you to use them with just one hand.

TIP! As you work through your budget, make note of any tools that will be necessary for the tasks you have in mind. It is easy to forget about tools when you are thinking of how much wood you require.

Don’t always rely on your tape measures. Story sticks can be useful and you can work in small increments up to your cut you want to make. Cutting a scrap piece of wood is a great idea, allowing you to try out your fitting. Variety in planning your cuts also keeps boredom from becoming a factor in your project.

Whether you are a beginning woodworker or not, you should always read and understand your plans before staring your project. Be sure you know what they say and that you really have an understanding of them so you know if they’re missing anything. If you cannot understand them or something is missing, someone from a local home improvement center may be able to help you.

Use woodworking kits when you’re just getting started. These kits come with pre-cut pieces of wood that you put together to make a certain project. This is great for starting woodworking and getting the basics down. The practice will save you money on wood and supplies in the future because you make less mistakes.

Do you know about woodworking? You should understand that this hobby can really benefit you. It could be your hobby or your livelihood; the possibilities are endless.