You are presented with chances to work on your skills sometimes. For work, you might want to do some on-site training or take a course. When you’re doing it as a hobby, you may be able to figure it out by yourself. These tips will make you better at woodworking.

Use pre-stain conditioners if you’re going to stain the wood. The conditioner will make it more difficult to notice irregularities in the wood. Also, it will create a smooth texture upon completion.

1/2 Inches

Make your own reusable sanding blocks. First cut 6 blocks from scrap plywood, one for each grit of sandpaper you like to use. Be certain they are approximately 2 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches. Use an adhesive spray on the blocks as well as your cork tile square. Apply the wood to the cork and trim the cork with a utility knife. Put adhesive on a sheet of sandpaper and apply it on each block of cork. Use a utility knife to trim the sandpaper around the edge of the block. Label each block.

Stair gauges may be just the ticket for crosscut guides. Clamp your carpenter’s square to your stair gauges while ensuring they coincide with the rise and run of your stair jack. Then you can mark notches. When you combine them on your carpenter’s square’s tongue, they’ll guide your crosscuts for you.

TIP! Make your own sanding blocks. Start by cutting a few blocks from a scrap piece of plywood for all the sandpaper grits you need to use.

Always stir your stains instead of shaking. Some ingredients they contain will settle at the bottom of the can, which can effect the outcome of your project. But, if you shake it could cause bubbles to form which would mean it wouldn’t mix too well. Stir thoroughly until it is even.

Different projects will require different types of wood. Different woods have different properties. Some woods are much stronger than others. Practice with wood so you know how it reacts to what you do to it.

When renting tools that you are unfamiliar with, speak with the company about getting a lesson on how to use it. A lot of the time they will have specialists that you can get help from so that you can be comfortable with how a tool works before using it. Also ask for a pamphlet if they have one.

TIP! If you plan to use stain, test it on a small scrap of wood first. This makes sure that you won’t run into any surprises.

Get a handle on how a wood takes to staining prior to choosing a wood for a project. For example, a wood that has a stain grade is good for staining. A wood that has a paint grade is lower quality. Also, particleboard and veneer will be a lot more different. Veneer isn’t going to absorb a lot of stain while your particleboard will absorb way too much. Buying the right wood will help make sure your project is a success.

We all seek self-improvement. If you always keep learning, then you will enhance your life and keep your mind active. With these tips at the ready, tackle your next project and see what you can create.