Have you admired a beautiful piece of furniture and dreamed of creating such an item yourself? Do you have a need for a new shelf and want to build it on your own? Regardless of why you want to get involved in woodworking, the advice below will help you get your start.
Safety always comes first. Always start a job with the proper safety gear and follow instructions for using the tools properly. Do not take guards off of power machines, because they are meant to protect you. Ending up in the emergency room is not a good way to end a woodworking project.
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.
Whenever you work with wood, wear a pair of safety glasses and a dust mask to keep yourself safe. When cutting or even hammering into wood, pieces can fly up into your eyes or be breathed in. This can lead to health issues which can end your enjoyment of this pursuit for good.
When sanding a piece of lumber, beginning with a coarse sandpaper. Remove the excess dust from the lumber. Then, once the largest scratches are removed, sand again with a smoother sandpaper. Follow this sanding with a tack cloth. Continue using smoother sandpaper until the lumber feels smooth when you run your hand across it.
Ask local hardware stores if they sponsor woodworking classes. You may be surprised by what you find! In fact, your local Home Depot or Lowes might have classes available monthly that’ll help you hone your skills. This is a quick way to grow as a woodworker with very little out of pocket costs.
Check out the selection of videos available on YouTube if you would like to learn more about the hobby of woodworking. There are so many videos available from people of all skill levels that you will never be able to watch them all. You can even search for specific skills that you would like to learn.
Remember the quote, “Measure twice, cut once.” When it comes to cutting wood, you always want to ensure you have the right measurements before you begin cutting. Otherwise, you will have to buy more wood, which will cost you a lot of money. You can avoid this dilemma by ensuring proper measurements.
Always clean up sanding dust thoroughly before staining or applying a topcoat. If you want a smooth finish, dust is your enemy. Use a vacuum over blowing dust into the air because it settles back onto the wood, and use a damp cloth to ensure all dust is removed from the wood in your final cleanup prior to staining or applying a top coat.
When applying stain, work in a well-lit and well-ventilated area. When you make sure your project is under the strongest light in your work area, you more easily spot drips, runs and any spots you missed. Ventilation is also important to protect your health, and even on small projects, strong fumes can affect you by making you feel sick or giving you a headache.
To get off on the right foot, use these tips as you plan out your next project. That will allow you to use the right techniques to ensure your end result is on target. Once you get that project under your belt, you’ll be able to complete others and truly enjoy woodworking as a hobby.
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