People respect those who can work with wood. Just about everyone can find something to enjoy about woodworking. This article provides information to help you improve your skills and take your woodworking projects to a higher level.

Pre-stain wood conditioners should be used prior to staining any wood project. The benefit of using a conditioner is that it will help the stain to go on evenly, ensuring the best results possible. This is because the conditioners allow stains to penetrate evenly.

TIP! Consider making your own sanding blocks that can be used again and again. Cut six 3/4″ pieces of plywood for each sandpaper grit.

Your woodworking shop needs a stair gauge. They are typically used to put down stair jacks, although they can function as a clamp for a carpenter’s square. By doing this, your carpenter’s square can turn into a circular saw guide. This is a good way to cut your wood in a straight line.

Know your wood’s properties before you use it. You’ll want to look for paint-grade or stain-grade woods, depending on your desires for the project. Similarly, veneer and particle board are quite different; the former does not absorb stain well while the latter absorbs too much. Having the right wood will help ensure that your project goes as planned.

Footwear is an important component of your safety equipment. There are a lot of wood chips and nails that you will need to navigate through. Your feet deserve protection from the inevitable stepping on a nail as well as you accidentally kicking or dropping something heavy. The shoes you wear must be sturdy so as to protect your feet from injury in your work environment.

TIP! Stair gauges can be used as crosscut guides. With a carpenter’s square these can be clamped down to match up the stair jack.

Look around for wood that is recycled. Numerous places that sell or work with many types of wood will often discard the scraps which are useful to you. Any store which sells wood will have off cuts available. Check for pieces which might work for your project, or even just for practice. This will also be a great way to save some money.

Check out Craigslist and estate sales to find great supplies. You can get good prices on quality tools when you purchase them used. You can then apply those savings to other things you may need.

Bird Feeder

TIP! Your work quality can be effected by how high your workbench is. To find the perfect height of your workbench measure the distance between the midline of your waist and the floor.

Use your woodworking skills to enjoy your yard. Not only build yourself a nice deck, but also a bird feeder. The bird feeder will help attract birds that will keep away pesky bugs. If you are a professional craftsman, offer to meet clients at your home or shop to show off your work.

Woodworking is a fun skill that has been around for many, many years. There will always be a demand for skilled woodworkers. It doesn’t matter whether you are just a hobbyist or a woodworking professional, you can enjoy woodworking at any skill level.