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Essential Tips About Working With Wood

By The Carpenter

There are a lot of people who think wood is great to work with. There are many items woodworkers make. But to make beautiful items, it’s important to learn a bit about woodworking. This article is here to help with that, so get let’s get started.

The reason why many power tools have guards on them is to keep you safe. Never remove the guards off of any of your tools. You may not understand why they are there, but they are there for a reason. They are there to protect you from sharp blades, moving parts and other things that could potentially hurt you.

Try out some gel stain next time you are staining furniture items. Gel stains adhere to wood better, while liquid stains run a lot more. Also, gel stains are thick, so they tend to stain more evenly.

If you will be re-coating an existing finish, be sure that the surface is clean and free of any wax or oils. Then, let it dry completely, and lightly scuff the surface with a 220-grit sandpaper so that the finish you are applying will have something to hold onto.

When you need accurate measurements in the 3-foot range, use a drafting square. These are relatively cheap and can be found at any art supply store. They are perfectly straight and extremely accurate. They are less cumbersome than a framing square and are also longer. This will become your go-to tool in your woodworking shop.

Add a bit of extra spring in your grip. There may be times that your project requires a spring clamp when you only have one hand available to open it. Opening these with only one hand can be difficult. However, you can make things easier on yourself. It’s a good idea to get all of your clamps assembled on a piece of scrap wood before beginning a glue-up project. That way, they are almost at full capacity and can be maneuvered with just one hand.

Use a socket when drawing an arc. Most shop owners have a variety of sockets that can be used for a variety of radii. For example, if you are wanting a radius of 10 millimeters, reach into your toolbox and grab a metric socket that size. You will get a perfect arc each time using this technique.

Always keep your work area clean and safe, even when you are not actually there. Leaving out pieces of lumber with nails in them or even power tools that are easily activated in your yard can be dangerous. You never know when animals or even neighborhood children might come romping through and hurt themselves.

Seek out wood that has been recycled. Many places work with wood and throw away scraps. You may be surprised to learn that many home improvement stores or other types of businesses that use wood will simply throw out any wood they don’t use. Check for pieces which might work for your project, or even just for practice. This will also be a great way to save some money.

Never allow someone to watch while you are woodworking without wearing the same gear that you are wearing. Being anywhere near the tools is a hazard, even if they are not using them. Wood or parts of the tool could fly into the air and strike them just as they could you.

Not everyone has the ability to come up with creative woodworking ideas when they look at wood. If you can, this article is for you. Enjoy everything that woodworking brings to you, and put the above suggestions to use.

Filed Under: Woodworking Tips

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