You may think woodworking is a dark, difficult art, beyond mere mortals like yourself. With a little knowledge you can learn the skills necessary to work with wood. Just take the time to do your research and you should find great success. The following article discusses what you need to know.
It is always a good idea to have a pre-stain conditioner for the wood you’re planning to stain. The benefit of using a conditioner is that it will help the stain to go on evenly, ensuring the best results possible. These conditioners will smooth out the uneven nature of the wood and allow your stain to penetrate evenly.
Crosscut Guide
Try using a stair gauge as a crosscut guide. Clamp them to the carpenter’s square, then ensure that they match up with the jack’s run and rise. After that the notches can be marked. If you place them on the tongue you’re using for your carpenter square, that combo is a good crosscut guide for your circular saw.
Never shake a finish or a stain. Only stir them. Certain ingredients in such items tend to settle with time. However, shaking can cause bubbling and prevent a thorough mixing of the product. Make sure that you stir it thoroughly until the sediments are smoothed out and blended evenly.
Gel stains are the new big thing for staining furniture and other wood projects that need staining. Liquid stains tend to run when they are applied, while gel stains stick to the lumber better. Additionally, because gel stains are thicker the pigment remains consistent throughout the application allowing for more even staining on horizontal and vertical pieces.
Understand your wood. Each kind has different qualities. They all react differently when you apply stain. Different cuts of wood will also splinter differently. You will see a lot of different grain types. All of these characteristics will become features in your project.
Golf Tee
A golf tee can fix loose door hinges. Take the door off its hinges, then remove the hinges themselves, then tap the tee into the screw hole. Trim the golf tee until it is flush with the surface, and then reinstall the door. The screw will be able to then hold on to the golf tee in order to function properly.
Always look for free wood around your neighborhood. A lot of companies have pallets out back collecting dust, and they will probably give them to you when you have a way to take them. Prior to dismantling them, though, look online to find ideas for reusing them.
Be sure to wear solid, closed-toed shoes when pursuing woodworking projects. Where you’re working there will be tools, nails, and wood pieces everywhere. It is important to always protect your feet. Injury can happen if you drop a heavy tool, kick something heavy, or step on a sharp object. If you are not confident that your shoes are adequate protection you should definitely invest in a better pair.
Avoid becoming obsessed with tape measures. Use story sticks and work up to cutting. Using scrap wood for a practice cut is a good way to experiment with your project. If you have a variety of cuts, you won’t get bored.
You have now expanded your knowledge on woodworking considerably. Apply this knowledge to get better and create great projects. You can master the craft if you keep your mind open to learning new things. Use the information gained here as guide to help you along. Enjoy yourself!
