You may want to get into woodworking but aren’t sure how to start. Woodworking is not that hard, but there are some things you should know before you get started. There are various types of woodworking; keep reading to learn more.

Condition your wood with a pre-stain product. If you use a pre-stain conditioner, you will be less likely to notice any blotches or irregularities in your finished project. It will also help to improve the appearance of the wood itself, as wood has a natural grain and the conditioner fills it in to some degree.

TIP! You can make your crosscut guides using stair gauges. All you need to do is affix them to a square and then affirm that it is set as you would like the angles to be.

You can use stair gauges to make crosscut guides. With a carpenter’s square these can be clamped down to match up the stair jack. Then you can mark notches. When you combine them on your carpenter’s square’s tongue, they’ll guide your crosscuts for you.

Do not use your fingers to guide a narrow strip of wood into the saw. Use a piece of wood to assist you in pushing the cut through. This will help you keep your fingers, which you need to be a great woodworker.

Get a good handle on the types of woods you are using and their characteristics. Woods can differ substantially. Stains can look different on various types of wood. The cuts could differ in splintering and effects. Therefore, you will want to check out all of the types possible. All of these factors have an effect on your wood project.

TIP! Use your tin snips to make quick work of trimming wood laminate. They make cutting the laminate to the right sizes effortless.

Always be sure you’re buying the right nail in the right size for the job you’re working on. A large diameter nail can split the wood and ruin your project. Nails that are too small won’t hold the pieces together. So, it is important to determine the correct size nail for the job.

When you use the table saw, be safe. When crosscutting, clamp a block onto the fence to properly set the length. This helps prevent boards from springing back. This clamping method leaves the end of the board accessible for cutting.

Sanding Block

TIP! Dry fit your project together before beginning to glue. If you try adjusting things post-gluing, there’s a big chance that you’ll damage something.

Create a reusable sanding block. A sanding block is useful for using sandpaper, as it gives you greater control while being less stressful on your hands, however it is not necessary to purchase an expensive holder. You can use a chunk of scrap wood instead. Cut one scrap for each piece of sandpaper, spray on an adhesive, then apply the sandpaper.

If a saw guide for a circular saw is needed, a stair gauge will work perfectly. Usually, stair gauges are for matching the run and rise of stair jacks to match the notches up. By attaching them to a carpenter’s square, you can use them for circular saw cuts instead.

Test all wood stains on areas that are unlikely to be noticed. The stain might not have the look you wanted, or there may be some issues with the application. By looking at the stain beforehand on a spot you aren’t too worried about, you can make some changes if you have to. You will save time and trouble later on.

TIP! Keeping a small ruler inside one of your pockets is a great idea, but it could fall out due to its size. A great way to remedy this problem is to purchase a metal ruler, keep this in your pocket with a telescoping magnet that is used to gather up any loose screws.

Drafting squares can help you be more accurate when you’re making cuts that are small. If you have to cut some wood accurately that’s around 2 or 3 feet, it may be difficult to get measured correctly. Carpenter squares are hard and drywall squares aren’t always accurate. Instead, check your art supplies or make a trip to an art store and pick up a drafting square. Such squares are easy in use and surprisingly accurate.

Woodworking is a very interesting type of art. Let’s hope this article has provided some great information to take with you. Whether you are new to this artform or a professional, you can benefit from learning the information from this article. You won’t know your personal limits until you try to reach them.