Wood is one of the most common construction materials and has been used for thousands of years. Woodworking is the ability to take a simple wood pieces and create useful, and often beautiful, products that many people desire. These tips can help you get started with wood working.
Gel stains can be your best friend when staining furniture items. Liquid-based stain often runs on application, and gel stains stay put much better. The thickness of gel stains helps because it allows the pigment to distribute evenly over all different types of wood pieces.
Never use your own fingers as guidance when cutting narrow chunks of wood. Use a piece of wood to assist you in pushing the cut through. This will help you keep your fingers, which you need to be a great woodworker.
Try not to spend too much time using tape measures. Story sticks can be useful and you can work in small increments up to your cut you want to make. Making your cuts first on scrap wood will help you try out a fitting before you move to that final cut. Having a variety of ways to plan out your cuts keeps you from mental boredom.
Have plenty of light in your work area. Woodworking requires a degree of accuracy. It also makes using sharp blades safer. Proper lighting is a must for all these things so that there are no injuries or major mistakes.
Drinking a few beers on the weekend seems like a good idea when you feel like building a few things. This is not a good idea and can impair your judgement. Avoid drinking alcohol while working around power tools. The same should go for illegal drugs or prescription ones.
Sanding Blocks
Make your own reusable sanding blocks. Sanding blocks make sanding much easier for you. You can use a chunk of scrap wood instead. You can use these to create sandpaper as well.
Make sure the lighting is good in your shop. Whenever you are working with wood, you need bright light. You will have an easier time seeing areas where you will need to sand more. Lighting can also give you a better view of the stain that you use.
Before you start sanding, wet the surface that you are about to work on. Wetting the surface raises the grain. That helps you avoid scratches. It also gives your finished product a sleek look. It, quite possibly, could save you work in the long run, too.
Drafting Square
For more accurate smaller cuts, get a drafting square. If you need wood that’s 2′-3,’ it may be difficult to measure it accurately. Some people try to use drywall or carpenter squares for this, but both can prove to be inaccurate or difficult to manage. Instead you should go to an art store for your drafting square. They are accurate and easy to use.
Avoid keeping all your power tool cords plugged in at the same time. Take the time to unplug the tool you are not using and plug in the tool you wish to use. This will save electricity and keep you safe from tripping on cords.
It isn’t simple to work with wood. If you want to do be your best you will need to invest a good deal of time and energy into it. With the right research, and articles like this one, you can expand your creativity with woodworking. Take what you have learned here to help you enhance your skills and keep learning more about woodworking. You can be a successful woodworker!
