Are you in to woodworking? Are you trying to get some projects done now? With the advice in this article, you can learn a great deal of useful information about working with wood. Read on to discover everything you ever wanted to know.

If you plan to stain a project, apply pre-stain products to your wood. The conditioner will make it more difficult to notice irregularities in the wood. These conditioners are going to help smooth out the wood so that the stain can get into it more evenly.

TIP! Gel stains are great for staining furniture pieces. Liquid-based stain often runs on application, and gel stains stay put much better.

Test an area or scrap wood before using a stain. This will allow you not to have any surprises later if the stain’s color looks different when it is applied. This will go a long way in preventing disappointment.

Are you aware that your workbench height is important to your work quality? To figure out how high your workbench should be, you should measure how far your waist is in comparison to the floor. Your bench will be at the perfect height at this measurement.

Tin Snips

TIP! When you are cutting narrow pieces of wood, never use your fingers to guide them. Instead, a long and thin piece of scrap wood should be used to push your piece through your saw.

Use tin snips if you are working with laminate. You can cut effortlessly and quickly with tin snips. Getting a set of tin snips you’ll only use for laminate will keep your snips sharp.

Always be on the lookout for free wood. Some businesses may have wood that they don’t want anymore and they’d be willing to just give it to you. Have a look on the Internet for projects using pallets, you will be amazed at some of the furniture created from them.

Be sure to wear solid, closed-toed shoes when pursuing woodworking projects. When you are working with wood there are all sorts of hazardous objects that can land on the floor. You want to ensure that you have the proper protection, as you may tread on a nail or another sharp object. You should have sturdy shoes for the environment you are working in.

TIP! Add a stair gauge to the shop that you create. Commonly used to scribe stair jacks, it can also be used to attach to your carpenter’s square.

Learning how to read woodworking plans is a good place to start. Be sure you understand them through and through. If the plans aren’t complete or if you’re confused, ask someone at a hardware store for help.

Always remember to stay in contact with people. You are unlikely to have the Internet hooked up in your woodworking area. There will still be times you get stuck on a particular problem within a larger project. Talk to other woodworkers to get support, answers to your questions, and more ideas. You most likely won’t come across an issue that someone before you hasn’t encountered before.

There are various hand tools you need before you can start woodworking. The first tool to get is a hammer. Just a simple claw hammer will do nicely. Choose the one that feels good in your hand. Hammers that are too heavy are never a good choice.

TIP! Do you have door hinge screws that have worked themselves loose, and you can’t tighten them into the wood at all? A golf tee can solve this. Take off the door, then remove the hinges.

Prior to sanding, wet down the surface you’re going to work on. The moisture will cause the grain to come up. This will allow you to eliminate fine scratches. Wetting the wood results in a finer piece, that looks professional and attractive. Wetting the wood before sanding is a time tested way to get the best results.

Drafting Squares

Drafting squares help you make smaller cuts much easier. Sometimes getting an accurate measuring can be hard. Drywall squares are notorious for their inaccuracy, and a carpenter square must be attached to the edge of your piece, which can be cumbersome. Look for drafting squares at an art store. Such squares are easy in use and surprisingly accurate.

TIP! Wear sturdy footwear anytime you are working with wood. Where you’re working there will be tools, nails, and wood pieces everywhere.

Do not build a tangle of extension cords, just stick to one when woodworking. Take the extra time to plug and unplug tools you’re using. This simple woodworking safety tip will save you from tripping hazards and reduce your risk of electrocution.

There are some power tools you should have in your woodworking arsenal. If you’re not already the owner of a jigsaw, a circular saw, a small table saw, a sander of some kind, or a drill, then you need to get these things. A power sander will work, but an orbital sander works the best.

If you feel drawn to woodworking, it is time to begin making beautiful creations out of wood. Don’t think that this is impossible to get through. Just use the advice you’ve learned here to help you out. Start with simple projects and work yourself up to more complicated pieces. It takes some time to get good. You are in complete control of your woodworking destiny.