Finding your place in woodworking is such a great feeling. It is almost instinctively enjoyable to craft pieces of wood into attractive, useful objects. Keep reading to learn more about it and be ready to enjoy hours of fun.

Be safety conscious when working with wood. 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. It wouldn’t be good if you began working on your woodworking project and you got hurt.

TIP! Try using a stair gauge as a crosscut guide. Make sure that they are clamped next to the carpenter’s square when you cut.

Before you commit stain to wood, it is usually a good idea to test out the stain in an unseen area of the wood first. This makes sure that you won’t run into any surprises. Since wood is often unpredictable, you can avoid unpleasant surprises by completing this test.

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 tends to run after it’s put on, whereas a gel stain sticks to the wood much better. Gel will also have a more consistent pigment upon application.

Look around your neighborhood for some free wood. A lot of businesses will have wooden pallets they’re trying to get rid of, and you may be able to pick them up. Look online for some more ideas.

TIP! When you’re using finishes or stains you should always stir them instead of shaking them. You need to do this to remix whatever may have separated.

Never stick with tape measures alone. A story stick is a useful item. It is always possible to work to a cut in increments. It’s recommended that you cut on scrap wood before cutting on the wood you plan on using so that you can test it out to see if it will fit. It’s always a good thing to have variety in planning cuts to prevent mental fatigue.

Look around for bits of recycled wood. Some woodworking shops discard useful scraps. You may be surprised to learn that many home improvement stores or other types of businesses that use wood will simply throw out any wood they don’t use. Use this knowledge to your advantage, and go looking for what you need. This will also be a great way to save some money.

When you think about your woodworking, it’s better to realize your pieces don’t need to be perfect. As a creative pursuit, it is expected they will be unique. The more you practice, the better you will get, so remain patient.