Is there really that much to learn about woodworking? Don’t you just cut work and put the pieces together? Woodworking is not hard, but there’s more to it than slapping wood together! It can be fun if you know all about it.
Tain Conditioner
Before you stain your wood project, apply a pre-stain conditioner onto the wood. If you use a pre-stain conditioner, you will be less likely to notice any blotches or irregularities in your finished project. These conditioners help the stain penetrate evenly and keep the wood smooth.
Your workbench’s height is more important than you realize. To find the perfect height of your workbench measure the distance between the midline of your waist and the floor. That tells you the best height for a good workbench.
If you rent a tool that is unfamiliar to you, ask the rental company for a quick demonstration. A specialist can quickly teach you what you should know about the tool. You should also ask if there are any handouts available that will familiarize you with the tool.
If you use laminate to finish a project, use some tin snips so you trim the laminate. These let you cut laminate into a size you can use. Try designating a pair of snips for laminate cutting so that they stay sharp.
A stair gauge is an essential for every woodworking shop. They are used often to layout jacks for stairs, but they can also be clamped to your carpenter’s square. This will turn your square in to a circular saw guide. Every cut you make will be straight when you use the square to guide you.
Before beginning to cut any wood, ensure your blade is sharp and in good working order. Dull blades make sawing nearly impossible. It will also make you make more mistakes that could end up costing you money depending on the wood you’re working with.
Do not become too much of a perfectionist with your tape measures. Try using a story stick, gradually working your way to cutting. Using scrap wood for your cuts is preferable because you can try out a fitting first. Having more than one way to approach a cut keeps things fresh and interesting, avoiding boredom and accidents from mental lapses.
Seek out wood that has been recycled. Some woodworking shops discard useful scraps. Oftentimes, flooring and home improvement stores will discard wood scraps and unused wood. Use this to your advantage and keep an eye out for pieces you can use. You can save a bit of money this way.
Learning how to read woodworking plans is a good place to start. Make sure that you understand them and that they are not missing pieces of information. If you don’t or they are not complete, try going to a local home improvement shop to see if someone there can help you understand them.
Check out Craigslist and estate sales to find great supplies. You’ll be able to find great deals and tools that professionals use for cheap if you buy things used. This will save quite a bit of money when just starting out or when something needs replaced.
Now do you feel you have a better understanding of woodworking? If you do, it is time to let it start benefiting you life. This could be a hobby or a full time job; either way, the knowledge you learned here is of great benefit.