It can be a great feeling to be successful with woodworking. It is a lot of fun and a few tips can get you going in the right direction. This article will teach you how to get your projects done correctly, while having lots of fun.
Always apply a pre-stain conditioner to the wood you want to stain. A pre-stain conditioner helps keep away any irregularities or blotches in the wood. They will smooth out uneven texture and let the stains penetrate the wood evenly.
Consider making your own sanding blocks that can be used again and again. Begin by using scrap plywood to cut six blocks for each type of sandpaper grit. They need to be 2.5″ X4.75″. Put spray glue on a cork tile and each block. Place one block onto the cork and make sure the cork is cut flush with a sharp knife. Spray adhesive on a piece of sandpaper and stick that to both cork blocks face down. Finally, cut your sandpaper flush with your cork, and then label each of your blocks.
Never shake a finish or a stain. Only stir them. You need to do this to remix whatever may have separated. However, shaking can cause bubbling, which keeps it from mixing well. Be sure you stir it up until your mix is dispersed correctly and in a smooth manner.
Select the correct wood to complete your project properly. Some woods will not do well as they cannot handle the stress that others will. If you haven’t been working with wood for long, take the time to educate yourself on the wood.
Get a handle on how a wood takes to staining prior to choosing a wood for a project. Low quality wood is considered “paint grade” and isn’t meant to be stained. Particleboard will take on too much stain, while veneer doesn’t take on enough. Getting the correct kind of wood will help you be sure that you can expect good results.
You should use more than just tape measures. Story sticks can work wonders, and it is possible to work gradually towards the cut you want. Cut on scrap wood initially; this allows you to try out a fitting. It’s always a good thing to have variety in planning cuts to prevent mental fatigue.
Look around for wood that is recycled. There are many places that work with wood that often discard scraps which can be useful. Oftentimes, flooring and home improvement stores will discard wood scraps and unused wood. This is where you should jump at the chance to get some extra wood for your own projects. You will save on materials as well.
When you are just starting out, get woodworking kits. They include wood which is pre-cut, allowing you to easily assemble your project. They offer a great way to begin developing your woodworking skills. It can save you time and money as you learn the basics techniques.
You don’t know when something will fly toward your eyes. Protect your eyes by wearing goggles. If you don’t have good fitting goggles that you can see out of, you need to find yourself a new pair.
Stair gauges can be used as circular saw guides. Usually a stair gauge can be used in combination with stair jacks so the notches can be matched up. However, using both on the carpenter square tongue, you will have a useful guide when using the circular saw.
Your projects will not come out perfect every time. They are made by your hand and should have some character. Your skills grow as you continue, and these tips will help you become a success.