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Interested In Woodworking? Get Started Today With These Simple Tips

By The Carpenter

People worldwide have always enjoyed woodworking. Some people are even able to turn that hobby into a lucrative profession. When you want to create with your hands, use the tips found below.

It is always a good idea to have a pre-stain conditioner for the wood you’re planning to stain. A good pre-stain condition helps to even out any imperfections in your project that a stain can accentuate. They smooth the wood and make it possible for the stain to penetrate into the wood evenly.

TIP! Always apply a pre-stain conditioner to the wood you want to stain. This will reduce any blotches in the piece that you create.

Before staining your project, test the stain in a hard to see area, or, better yet, on a piece of scrap wood of the same type. If you test the stain color first, you will not have any unpleasant surprises. Keep in mind that it is not easy to guess how wood stain will turn out; therefore, you should always test out the stain on a piece of wood to prevent disappointment.

Carpenter Square

Create sanding blocks you can reuse. Cut six 3/4″ pieces of plywood for each sandpaper grit. Try to be certain that they measure roughly 2.5 inches by 4.75 inches. Spray adhesive on the wood and a piece of cork. Stick one block to your cork and be sure to cut your cork flush using a utility knife. Spray adhesive on a sheet of sandpaper, and stick it to each block of cork, facing down. Use a utility knife to trim the sandpaper around the edge of the block. Label each block.

TIP! Make your own sanding blocks. Begin by using scrap plywood to cut six blocks for each type of sandpaper grit.

Stair gauges can be used for crosscut guides. To use, clamp the gauges to a carpenter square. Then you should mark all of the notches. If they’re on the same carpenter square’s tongue, that combination can create the perfect guide for a crosscut using a circular saw.

Have a budget before beginning any woodworking project. Sometimes your wallet will restrict what you can actually do. You start your project with great enthusiasm, but you run out of money half way through. Do your homework before starting to avoid surprises.

Test out stains on a hidden spot. This can help you avoid surprises in case your stain color is different after you’ve applied it. This will go a long way in preventing disappointment.

TIP! Test an area or scrap wood before using a stain. This makes sure that you won’t run into any surprises.

When you are creating a woodworking budget, be sure to include the price of the tools you will need to purchase to complete your project. It’s too easy to overlook this. But, if you need certain items, they can break your budget if you aren’t diligent about remembering you need them.

Add a stair gauge to the shop that you create. They are typically used for laying out stair jacks, but they can also be used as a clamp for a carpenter’s square. That makes the carpenter square a guide for the circular saw. This will help you with making straight cuts each and every time.

A great tool for setting crosscut guides is a stair gauge. Clamp them to carpenter’s squares and be sure they match the runs and rises of the stair jacks. Mark each notch. Putting them on the carpenter’s square tongue makes for a great guide for a circular saw.

TIP! Try using a stair gauge as a crosscut guide. Match them to the rise and run of your stair jack, then attach them to the carpenter’s square.

Know the characteristics of any wood before you buy or use it for a specific project that requires staining. Paint grade wood is generally of lower quality and stain grade has better grain patterns. If using veneer or particleboard, understand that particleboard absorbs a lot of stain while veneer will not absorb as much. The proper wood helps your project come out the way that you hoped.

Get the right nail sizes for the job you are doing. Very large nails can cause wood to split, which will prevent it from holding well. However, very small nails don’t penetrate the wood enough, also causing it not to hold well. So, it is important to determine the correct size nail for the job.

Account for new tools in your budget. This is something often overlooked. But, if you need other things that you don’t own and didn’t think about, you can really mess up your budget and may not be able to finish your project.

TIP! When you are creating a woodworking budget, be sure to include the price of the tools you will need to purchase to complete your project. It’s too easy to overlook this.

Your grip can use some extra spring. A spring clamp may be useful sometimes, but only if you can use more than one hand. It can very hard to open these up just using one hand. You can make this easier. Prior to doing a glue-up, put your clamps on scrap wood with both hands. This will get them in a position where you can use them with only one hand while gluing.

Whether you’ve never built anything from wood before or it’s something you have done countless time, the advice above can help you out. By using the tips, you will soon be making masterpieces of your own. This means that everything you’ve gone over here will help your skills to improve over time.

It is handy to carry a small pocket ruler, but it may fall out whenever you bend over. A great way to remedy this problem is to purchase a metal ruler, keep this in your pocket with a telescoping magnet that is used to gather up any loose screws. The magnet will keep both objects securely in place.

Filed Under: Woodworking Tips Tagged With: carpenter square, scrap wood

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