It’s great fun to start woodworking. However, the field is vast and it is hard to understand where to begin. Rather than concerning yourself with this, go slowly in the beginning. The following information is here to guide you along.
Before using any new tool, do your research on it in full. New tools can mean serious injuries for those that use them incorrectly. Even if you’re pretty sure of how to use it, don’t risk it. Study up via the web and books related to the tool in question.
Keep all of your woodworking tools in a safe and dry place. You want to be sure that your tools are not in reach of children, as well as that they will be safe from moisture and other elements that can cause them to degrade at high rate. Follow this rule and your tools will last a long time.
Keep the floors safe in your woodworking shop. Dust builds up on the floor, making it dangerous for walking. Coat the slippery areas of your shop with a mixture of crushed walnut shells and paint. The walnut shells are just the right consistency to keep the floor rough enough for walking, even when sawdust builds up.
Make sure your workbench is the proper height. It really can make a big difference. It needs to fit you and how you work. Usually if you are around 5’6″ to 5’9″ you probably need one that is between 33″ and 36″ high. If you are 5’10” or taller, you may need one that is between 35″ and 37″ high. Use your bench at its current height to determine if you need to change it to work better for you.
Always follow the owner’s manual when using one of your woodworking tools. Not knowing the manual’s recommendations can result in injury or failure of your tool, and you surely do not want either of these to happen to you. If you have not yet read your manuals do so right away!
You should know how to work with wood while using hand tools as well as power tools. If you are doing one quick action, it may be in your best interest to use a hand tool, but if you are completing a larger task, power tools will save you a lot of time.
If you are cutting, sanding, or finishing something small, get out your hot glue gun. Affix the item you are working on to the end of a pedestal stick. Hot glue holds better than a clamp, and small objects are impossible to clamp anyway. Just be careful when pulling the piece off to avoid tearing the back side of the wood.
Take baby steps when first starting out with woodworking. It’s a lot of fun to learn, but woodworking is also pretty dangerous if you get too cocky too soon. Even when you feel like you know the basics, keep practicing them. And always where safety gear. You are much better off.
Woodworking can be expensive. It is a good idea to go over your plans before you start and make sure that the project fits within your budget. Price out all materials by making a list of the required supplies and then go to the local hardware store to figure out the total cost.
Make use one of the beveled inner part of a pencil sharpener. If you mount it on a small shaft, you can use it in a drill. It a good tool for shaping smaller pieces. When it gets dull, just sharpen it on an emery cloth by running the drill on a slow speed.
Keep your woodworking tools well sharpened. Dull tools produce messy work and can be hard to use. Not only that, but it can injure you if you have to use excessive force to cut. A sharp tool gives you a cleaner and more efficient cut. You can really notice the difference.
Take the necessary safety precautions when you have the table saw out. When you crosscut, make sure the cut’s length is set with a block that’s clamped on your fence. This is preferred over just using the fence alone, because it prevents your board from springing back. Using this method keeps the end of the board free for cutting.
You can make your own router base using quarter-inch acrylic, which is easy to purchase at a home improvement center. This type of homemade router base is stronger and more reliable than the type that comes with a router. You will get a better and more accurate straight edge due to the superior strength and stability of this material. Just use the base that came with your router as a pattern to create your own durable router base using an acrylic sheet.
Assemble your tools and make sure they work before you want to start your wood piece. There is nothing more irritating than getting ready to work and realizing that your saw is dull or that the band on your goggles is broken. Before you plan to start, make sure that you’ve remembered to buy the right supplies, and that you’ve checked all your tools.
When you start sanding, always use a fresh sheet of sanding paper. Using fresh sandpaper allows you to get the sanding done more quickly. It is also easier to sand with fresh sandpaper. Also, while sanding it is a good idea to check the sandpaper occasionally for clogging so you can change it as needed.
Practice patience. Many people begin woodworking them get frustrated when things don’t materialize instantly. The finished piece is in that wood, you just have to let it out. Have patience; it will allow you to better focus and continue to work. You will finish your piece in due time.
Some power tools are essential to have prior to starting any woodworking project. If you lack them, get yourself a jigsaw, circular saw, power sander, drills, drivers and a table saw. An orbital sander may be the best option, but any type of power sander will do the job.
Use this advice to become the skilled woodworker you hope to be. Get excited about your project and let your creativity shine through. There are so many things you can create!