Many people have hobbies which they truly enjoy. Whether they like to play competitive sports or video games, nothing compares to those who enjoy the activity of woodworking. In fact, just by utilizing the tips below, you can start to benefit from all the rewards this hobby will bring to your life.
Become more accurate by using a drafting square. If you need an accurate square that’s about 2″ to 3″, you have limited options. Drywall squares tend to be very inaccurate. With carpenter squares, you have to hook them onto your work piece’s edge. A drafting square can be easily used if you happen to have one lying around. If you don’t, they are pretty cheap to find at art stores. They are incredibly accurate and as useful as a tape measure.
Always use the safety equiptment that came with any of your woodworking tools. You may feel that a sheild is getting in your way when you are sawing, but its purpose is to protect you from serious injury. If you feel tempted just think of what it would be like to lose a finger or worse.
Make sure your workbench is the proper height. It really can make a big difference. It needs to fit you and how you work. Usually if you are around 5’6″ to 5’9″ you probably need one that is between 33″ and 36″ high. If you are 5’10” or taller, you may need one that is between 35″ and 37″ high. Use your bench at its current height to determine if you need to change it to work better for you.
Get a good handle on the types of woods you are using and their characteristics. No two pieces of wood are alike. Different trees respond differently to staining. Splintering will also be different depending on the type of cuts you use. You will also see a wide range of different grains. This is all important as you embark on your next woodworking project.
Put extra spring in your grip. There are times when you may need to use a spring clamp, but you might only have the use of one hand. It is sometimes hard to get these things open when you’re only using a single hand. There is of course, one way to make that simpler. Prior to beginning a glue-up, put all necessary clamps on a scrap of wood. This makes it so the clamps are close to maximum capacity and are easy to use with one hand.
Always remember the rule of measuring twice and cutting once. You are human, which means that mistakes are inevitable. However, you can prevent measurement mistakes from turning into cutting mistakes when you measure two or three times. That is going to spare you serious waste, not just in terms of wasted wood, but also money and time.
If you have any pockets on the shirt you are wearing, remove everything from them before you start working with a table saw. It is very common for objects like pens and rulers to fall from your pocket and get caught in the blade, which can lead to some pretty serious injuries.
When deciding on a woodworking project, make sure you know what tools will be required to finish the project. If you are missing a tool, you may have to stop in the middle of the project and never finish. Many tools are available for rent at home improvement stores, but some you may have to purchase. This purchase could bring you well above your budget.
We’ve written this article in order to give you some helpful hints which will make your woodworking projects more successful than ever. As long as you follow them one by one, you are sure to gain benefit from each. When you finish your next project with ease, you’ll be so glad you took the time to read this article.
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