You don’t have to be a genius to work with wood. The fact is that all you need to be able to do is lift a hammer and measure accurately, along with having a good imagination. Of course, your skills need to improve, and the tips below will help you to do just that.
Use stop blocks to your advantage for more accurate work. When cutting a lot of pieces the same size, no matter how carefully you measure, you often find small variations. Use a pre-cut stop block to make those measurements pinpoint accurate. Then the table saw will stop at just the right length length.
Using a good wood glue can make joined pieces even stronger than the wood itself. The key to strength in a glued joint is the amount of time the glue takes to set. Glue that takes longer to cure is better than quick setting glue. Slower setting glue has more time to penetrate into the fibers of the wood, which enhances the strength of the joint.
Clean your saw’s teeth before cutting lumber. To thoroughly clean your saw blade dip a shop rag into a little acetone and wipe the blade thoroughly. Additionally, using a piece of sandpaper that has a fine grit will remove any sap or gumminess from your skill saw’s cutting blades.
When you install your hacksaw blade, make sure the teeth face forward. They are designed to cut when pushed using a forward stroke instead of a pulled stroke. Some of these blades have arrows pointing toward the handles that show the correct way to install them. Install it making sure it is tight and cannot bend. When you do lots of cutting, your blade heats up and expands, so make sure you tighten it before it begins bending.
If you are cutting, sanding, or finishing something small, get out your hot glue gun. Affix the item you are working on to the end of a pedestal stick. Hot glue holds better than a clamp, and small objects are impossible to clamp anyway. Just be careful when pulling the piece off to avoid tearing the back side of the wood.
Do you lose drill press key chucks often? A good way to keep them within reach is to drill a hole somewhere on the drill press they fit. On top of the press is a good place, where you can see it. Drill a small hole the exact same size of the chuck’s crossbar and it will fit in perfectly.
Do you hate those bubbles that form when applying joint compound to your drywall? There is a simple trick that professional drywallers use to avoid this annoying problem. Add two or three drops of dish detergent to your joint compound and you will be rewarded with bubble free joint compound.
Never cut any pieces of wood without checking for nails, screws and other metal. While donning a pair of goggles keeps your eyes protected, you are still at risk for other injuries. Inspect every piece of wood whether you are re-purposing it or using new lumber. You are better safe than sorry with this safety tip, and checking the boards only takes a few minutes of your time.
Before you paint your wood project, make sure that you have properly sanded the piece. Start with a coarser grade of sand paper, then gradually change to a finer grade. After sanding, wipe your project with a tacky cloth to pick up residual wood dust. After that, your piece will be ready to be painted.
Once you master the basics of woodworking, these tips can help you get to the next level of skill. That will open you up to new projects you never thought you would be able to accomplish. The more you practice, the better you will become, so continue to enjoy this hobby as often as possible.
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