If you are afraid to try woodworking because you think it’s too difficult, think again. Knowledge is the key to building beautiful woodworking projects. Just take the time to do your research and you should find great success. To begin, start with the tips below.

Use pre-stain conditioner if you plan on staining your project. If you use pre-stain conditioners on your project, you’re going to be not as likely to have irregularities on the project when you’re done. These conditioners will smooth out the uneven nature of the wood and allow your stain to penetrate evenly.

TIP! Your workbench’s height is important in woodworking. To find the best height, measure the distance from the floor to your waistline.

A great tool for setting crosscut guides is a stair gauge. Match them to the rise and run of your stair jack, then attach them to the carpenter’s square. Then put a mark on the notches. If you place them on the tongue you’re using for your carpenter square, that combo is a good crosscut guide for your circular saw.

Make sure you use the right kind of wood appropriate for the task at hand. Different types of wood can handle different levels of stresses. Some are stronger than others. Practice with wood so you know how it reacts to what you do to it.

Dry fittings prior to glue application are always a good idea. If you’re trying to fix things up after you have glue on your piece, there is a chance that you’re going to damage the project. You can figure out what goes where with a dry fit.

TIP! Always choose the proper wood for your project. Some pieces require a durable hardwood, while others can be done with a softer type of wood.

Understand the features of different wood types prior to selecting it for a project that is to be stained. Lower quality wood will be called paint grade. Stain grade will be of higher quality and have a nicer finish. Particle board and veneer are also unsuitable for staining. Using the appropriate wood means your project has a better chance of turning into what you want.

Golf Tee

A golf tee provides a quick and easy fix for loose interior door hinges. Take the door and hinges off the frame, and lightly hit a golf tee down into every screw hole. Remove the bit which hangs out and then put the door back into place. This will give the screw the support that it needs.

TIP! If you need to rent a tool for woodworking, lease one from a tool company and ask them how to use it. There are usually specialists available to get you comfortable using the tool more quickly than learning it by yourself.

Use the right-sized nail for the project. Very large nails can cause wood to split, which will prevent it from holding well. But using a nail which is not big enough may not penetrate the wood properly and will not hold the pieces together. It’s important to be able to match the correct size of nail for each job.

Try not to spend too much time using tape measures. Story sticks are good to use, and you can slowly work up to your cut. Scrap wood cutting is smart and means that you are able to try out a fitting. Planning out a variety of cuts for your project will help prevent mental boredom.

If you’re a new woodworker, you should read all your plans before staring a project. Knowing what you are doing beforehand will save you time, money and trouble later on. If they are hard to understand or are missing information, seek assistance.

TIP! You can simply fix some hinges with a golf tee if you are working on an interior door. Take off the door, then remove the hinges.

Look around online, at garage sales, estate sales and yard sales for deal on your tools and other woodworking equipment. By buying used, you can save yourself a lot of money. This will save quite a bit of money when just starting out or when something needs replaced.

Stay safe when using a table saw. When cross cutting, making sure you set the cut length with a block clamped to the fence. This will prevent any movement from your board when you are cutting. By utilizing this strategy, your board end will not spring back, allowing you to cut.

You have now expanded your knowledge on woodworking considerably. Take this information to better your skills to come up with dazzling projects. By continuing to learn, your craft will reach new levels. Use these tips found here as the jumping off point you need. Now go out and create something great!