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Simple Tips And Tricks About Working With Wood

By The Carpenter

Many beautiful things have been made by master woodworkers. Woodworkers have even built wonderful homes, tools, toys and many other things. Although woodworking requires creativity, it also requires knowledge. Take a look at this piece for woodworking tips to assist you in making great pieces.

Anytime you are working around power tools, there is an element of danger; focus on safety at all times. Always ensure that safety comes first, and you know how to properly use all the tools. Safety guards are on tools for a good reason and should never be removed. You do not want to start a woodworking project and end up in the hospital.

TIP! Always make safety first with a woodworking project. Wear safety equipment and always use tools the correct way.

When doing any woodworking project, safety is a big concern. Use the tools correctly and wear the right equipment. Do not alter your tools by removing the safety features. They are in place for a reason. You don’t want to begin a project and get seriously injured.

If you are going to be staining your project, test on a scrap of wood or an inconspicuous area. This can prevent surprises if the shade of the stain is different after it has been applied. It is important to avoid mistakes to save time and money.

Make sanding blocks that are reusable. Start by cutting six blocks from scrap 3/4″ plywood for every sandpaper grit you generally use. They should be about 4.75″ x 2.5″. Apply spray adhesive to each of the tile squares and the blocks themselves. Cut the sandpaper with a utility knife to better fit your block. Get a sandpaper sheet, spray it with adhesive, and then apply it to each of your cork blocks; they need to be face down. At the end, trim the sandpaper and label each block.

TIP! Make your own sanding blocks. Cut six blocks from some plywood that you have laying around for every piece of sandpaper that you use.

As you work through your budget, make note of any tools that will be necessary for the tasks you have in mind. It’s too easy to overlook this. Consider all expenses as a whole to see if the cost is workable with your budget.

Gel Stains

Pick out the right kind of wood. In woodworking, not every wood can sustain every type of stress. If you don’t know what the limitations and strengths are for each wood species, look them up online or at the library. The more you know, the better.

TIP! Always select the correct wood for your project. Some woods cannot handle the same stress that other woods are able to.

Gel stains are great for staining furniture pieces. Liquid-based stain often runs on application, and gel stains stay put much better. Also, since these gel stains have a thicker consistency, their pigment stays consistent during the whole application process which shows in the even staining on both horizontal and vertical surfaces.

If you rent a tool that is unfamiliar, ask the rental company to give you a quick tutorial. There are often specialists available to help you learn how to use the tool quickly. Also ask for any documentation to help you out.

Get to know the general properties of any wood you are buying, especially if you want to stain it later. Low quality wood is considered “paint grade” and isn’t meant to be stained. Also know that veneer and particle board are really quite different. Veneer tends to absorb too little stain, while particle board too much. Using the proper wood makes sure that your project ends up the way you’d like it to.

TIP! Know the characteristics of any wood before you buy or use it for a specific project that requires staining. Lower quality wood will be called paint grade.

Use your tin snips to make quick work of trimming wood laminate. Tin snips let you cut laminate into usable sections easily. Using them only for this laminate also helps keep them sharp.

Learn about the woods you’ll be using and the characteristics of each. Every piece of wood is different. They all react differently when you apply stain. When they are cut differently, they will not splinter the same. You will also see a wide range of different grains. These are all variables to consider when working with wood.

Wear the right shoes while working on wood. There will be nails, pieces of wood and tools around. You need to be safe when working in your shop. Protecting your feet is important and will keep you from getting injured. The shoes must be tough enough to endure your work environment.

TIP! Make sure to wear sturdy shoes when doing woodworking. This is necessary since your work area may be full of wood chips, nails and all types of tools.

Knocking a few beers back during down time can be a lot of fun. But you should never do that while practicing woodworking. Never work on a project when you are drinking alcohol. The same caution applies to the use of prescriptions or illegal drugs.

Keep your eyes peeled for furniture going to the trash. You can find wood for free that can be reused. Take a moment to consider possibilities before dismissing anything. You may be able to salvage the drawers of an unusable dresser and re-purpose them as bookshelves.

Seek out wood that has been recycled. There are many places that work with wood that often discard scraps which can be useful. Flooring stores and home improvement outlets tend to throw out wood they don’t use. Use this to your advantage when looking for wood for projects. You can save money this way.

TIP! Seek out wood that has been recycled. Discarded scraps are a great find so keep your eyes open.

Most people just take their wooden items for granted. People look at a chair and just think that it is for sitting on. A woodworker sees the wood and imagines the chair they will make. Finding out about woodworking is what will make you successful.

Filed Under: Woodworking Tips Tagged With: gel stains, tin snips

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