How much can you really know when it comes to woodworking? Is it really just cutting wood and making things? Of course there is more to it than that. Woodworking is a skilled craft. As a matter of fact, the more information you have, the more you will enjoy it; so, read the following article.

When doing any woodworking project, safety is a big concern. Always start a job with the proper safety gear and follow instructions for using the tools properly. Never take the guards off the power tools that you use. The guards are there to keep you safe. It wouldn’t be good if you began working on your woodworking project and you got hurt.

TIP! Anytime that you begin a new project you must consider your safety first. Use the tools correctly and wear the right equipment.

Before you stain your wood project, apply a pre-stain conditioner onto the wood. Using a pre-conditioner will help you avoid blotches when staining. Conditioners can smooth the uneven grain of your wood and cause the stain to penetrate the wood more evenly.

Stair Gauges

Use stair gauges to guide your crosscuts. Clamp your carpenter’s square to your stair gauges while ensuring they coincide with the rise and run of your stair jack. Then you simply mark where the notches are. If they’re on the same carpenter square’s tongue, that combination can create the perfect guide for a crosscut using a circular saw.

TIP! Before you stain your wood project, apply a pre-stain conditioner onto the wood. This will reduce the risk of irregularities and blotches in the final product.

When you apply wood finishes and stains, make sure you stir, not shake them. Stains often have ingredients that settle to the bottom. Shaking can cause bubbles which can negatively impact your results. Stir until everything is dispersed smoothly and evenly.

When you’re working out a budget, you have to think about itemizing the new tools you may have to purchase. This is simple to overlook when creating that budget, but one that is necessary. Still, tools can get expensive, so you have to think about them.

Learn about the woods you’ll be using and the characteristics of each. Every block of wood is unique. Different woods take stain differently. Different cuts of wood will also splinter differently. Different grains will be found on each. All of these characteristics factor into your woodworking projects.

TIP! Never shake a finish or a stain. Only stir them.

Add some springiness to your grip. Do you need to apply a spring clamp with a single hand? These clamps can be difficult to open without the use of both hands. However, it can be made easier. It’s a good idea to get all of your clamps assembled on a piece of scrap wood before beginning a glue-up project. This will help you to maximize your efficiency while cutting.

Do you feel you have a better sense of how broad the possibilities are with working with wood? If you do, it is time to let it start benefiting you life. Whether you want to do it for fun or as a career, these tips will help you get started.