People all over the world enjoy woodworking as a hobby. Many people work with wood every day as part of their normal jobs. This article will help you get the rewards of woodworking.

Be safety conscious when working with wood. Be sure that you use the tools as they’re supposed to be used while you’re wearing safety equipment. Never take the guards off the power tools that you use. The guards are there to keep you safe. This will reduce the chances for severe injury.

TIP! If you plan on staining your project, try using pre-stain conditioner on your wooden surfaces. Pre-stain conditioner can help lessen how noticeable blotches and irregularities are when the project is done.

Test your stains on scraps of wood or inconspicuous areas of the piece you’re using. This can prevent surprises if the shade of the stain is different after it has been applied. Since wood is often unpredictable, you can avoid unpleasant surprises by completing this test.

It is always best to stir your stains and finishes, as opposed to shaking them. Some of the ingredients tend to settle as time goes on. Shaking can make it have bubbles and it won’t mix well. Stir as best as you can to prevent this from happening.

If you plan on renting an unfamiliar tool, ask the company if they can provide a short tutorial. A specialist can quickly teach you what you should know about the tool. Ask, too, if they’ve got a handout with any sort of tips for the tool.

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.

Consider doing a dry fitting of your pieces before you use glue to join these together. Attempting to fix a problem after you’ve applied glue is a recipe for damage and disaster. You can figure out what goes where with a dry fit.

All woodworking shops should have stair gauges. They can layout stair jacks as well as clamp carpenter’s squares. This adds a very practical element to your project that can save time and money. The square will get you wonderfully straight cuts all the time.

You want to know the different characteristics of the wood you’re going to use, especially before the staining process. For example, a wood that has a stain grade is good for staining. A wood that has a paint grade is lower quality. Also realize that veneer and particleboard are different. Particleboard will absorb too much stain, veneer might not absorb enough. Getting the correct kind of wood will help you be sure that you can expect good results.

TIP! If you rent a tool that is unfamiliar, ask the rental company to give you a quick tutorial. Many times, they have specialists that will show you how to use the tool properly and safely.

No matter whether you are a beginner or you have completed a lot of projects, these tips will make your life a little easier. By using this advice, you’ll soon discover that you can transform simple pieces of wood into a work of art. Thus, the time you spend today will pay great dividends.