Woodworking is a type of skill with various aspects and many ways to use wood to create all kinds of beautiful and useful pieces. If you want to find out how to start working with wood, this article can help. Read on to hear about some great tips.

Choose the correct wood for your project. In woodworking, not every wood can sustain every type of stress. If you’re not sure how each type will react, invest some time to learn about them first.

TIP! Test stain in an area that will not be seen or on a scrap piece of wood. This will give you an idea of what it will look like on the finished project.

It’s crucial that you never try to use fingers or hands as a guide when cutting wood. Use a thin and long strip of wood instead. This will prevent you from inadvertently whacking off your fingers.

Golf Tee

If the hinges on your interior doors are loose, you can use a golf tee to fix them. Take the door and its hinges off of the frame, then, tapping gently, place golf tees into the screw holes. If there is excess golf tee, cut it off before reinstalling the hinges and door. The golf tee allows a screw to have something it can bite into.

TIP! When cutting a narrow wooden piece, do not use fingers like guides! Use a strip of wood instead to maximize safety. That keeps your fingers intact.

Wear the right shoes while working on wood. Your work environment will be full of nails, wood pieces and various types of tools. You want to make sure you’re preventing your feet from injury. You should have sturdy shoes for the environment you are working in.

Always employ safety practices when using a table saw. Use a block clamped to the fence whenever you are crosscutting a piece of wood to properly set te cut’s length. That is better than only using the face, because your board won’t spring back. The clamping method leaves the end of the board free for cutting.

Keep an eye out for discarded furniture. These pieces are often very inexpensive or are given away for free. Do not dismiss an item just because it looks to be on its last legs. Even if a chest is too damaged to be repaired, the drawers may be used to create an artistic bookshelf if they are creatively arranged.

TIP! Know what a wood’s characteristics are prior to staining it when you’re working on a project. Low quality wood is considered “paint grade” and isn’t meant to be stained.

When you are sanding, do not apply a lot of pressure. Sanding while using pressure will make a surface less even because you’ll be gouging the surface. Using the right grit will mean you don’t have to push hard. Sand lightly, using circular movements.

Put the right lights in your shop. Any time you are sanding, painting or staining a project you need lots of bright light. This will help you see any areas where extra sanding is necessary. Extra lighting will also make sure that your stain comes out the way you want it to come out.

Stair gauges can be used as circular saw guides. Normally a stair gauge is used to match the rise and the run of a stair jack so you can match up the notches. Using both on a carpenter square’s tongue can help guide a circular saw.

TIP! If your interior door’s hinges have wiggled loose, a simple fix is possible with nothing more than a golf tee. Put the golf tee in the screw hole to prevent wiggling.

Wet the lumber before you sand. A wet surface has a raised grain. That should help you get rid of little, tiny imperfections. This will provide your final project with a professional look. It may also save work for you down the road.

Clearly, woodworking is a practical and enjoyable hobby. The ideas in the preceding paragraphs are intended to help you find both inspiration and skill so that you can tackle woodworking projects on your own.