The world of woodworking ranges from creating benches to bridges and everything in between. That means there is a huge cache of knowledge out there just waiting for you to tap into it. Take your time and read this article in full to learn some new tips and tricks.
Try using stair gauges for your crosscut guides. With a carpenter’s square these can be clamped down to match up the stair jack. Then you simply mark where the notches are. Put them on your carpenter’s square guide for a great cut.
Use hot glue instead of clamps for little things. When cutting, filing, sanding, or finishing something small, use the hot glue gun to glue the piece to your pedestal stick. The glue holds holds just like clamps, if not better than clamps. It also works great for things that clamps will not work on. When you finish your project, loosen it gently with a putty knife.
Begin small with woodworking projects. It can be very exciting to get yourself ready for your first woodworking project, but don’t let your excitement overtake your smarts. Buy only what you need, no more for right now. Don’t fall for buying tools that you currently don’t need as you may find better alternatives in the future.
Keep the floors safe in your woodworking shop. Dust builds up on the floor, making it dangerous for walking. Coat the slippery areas of your shop with a mixture of crushed walnut shells and paint. The walnut shells are just the right consistency to keep the floor rough enough for walking, even when sawdust builds up.
When you are working with wood it is important that you take your time. Being hasty leaves you open to making plenty of mistakes. Instead of focusing on the amount of time it takes you to complete a project, do everything you can to keep your mind on the task at hand.
Whenever you work with power tools, be sure your clothing is tucked in properly. Any loose clothing or long, dangling hair or jewelry can easily become tangled in the tool, leading to injury or other disaster. Tuck everything in, pull back your hair, take off dangling jewelry and then get down to work.
Before practicing advanced woodworking techniques, make sure you’ve got the basics down. Typically those advanced techniques rely on you knowing the basics like the back of your hand. If you don’t, you’ll more than likely find learning to be a very frustrating experience. So start slow, and work up from there.
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.
Visualize your woodworking project from start to finish before taking any tool to the wood. Let your brain and imagination help you get used to what you’re about to do. In fact, when you visualize, you’ll be much less likely to make costly mistakes during the middle of a project.
Whatever you do when it comes to woodworking, it is important that you take the time necessary to learn as much as you can. Read articles written by experts, like this one, and learn from your peers. The more you know, the better your projects will end up once done.
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