Woodworking is a hobby enjoyed by thousands of people. However, the field is vast and it is hard to understand where to begin. But don’t fret, just take a baby steps forward. The following article will help you begin.

Always make safety first with a woodworking project. Make sure that you always use tools properly and wear the proper safety equipment. Don’t take guards off a tool – they’re intended to keep you safe. The last thing you want to do is end up at the emergency room because of an accident.

TIP! Use stair gauges as a crosscut guide. Clamp them on the carpenter’s square.

Be sure that you are realistic about what your budget allowance can accommodate. It is quite common to be far more ambitious than the budget allows when working on a particular project. It is very disappointing to run out of funds before your project is complete. Do your due diligence to avoid any problems down the road.

Choose the correct wood for your project. Different types of wood handle stress in differing degrees. If you are unsure of how each type of wood will react to what you are trying to accomplish, you should spend some time learning about them first.

Don’t guide your saw with your fingers when cutting narrow pieces of wood. Use a thin and long strip of wood instead. This will assure you keep your fingers.

TIP! Stir stains and finishes instead of shaking them to mix. Some of the ingredients tend to settle as time goes on.

A stair gauge is an essential item in every wood shop. They are typically used for laying out stair jacks, but can also prove useful for clamping a carpenters square. Doing so converts the carpenter’s square to a tool that can be used with a circular saw. This is a good way to cut your wood in a straight line.

Know what a wood’s characteristics are prior to staining it when you’re working on a project. Some woods are only paint grade, while stain grade woods are much better for staining. Particleboard and veneer differ from one another. Veneer doesn’t always absorb enough of the stain, and particleboard over-absorbs it. Choosing the right wood makes sure your project becomes all that you planned.

Using this advice, you can begin or enhance your woodworking journey. Keep learning so that you’ll really see the potential and possibilites that woodworking offers. There’s a lot that you can create!