If you have any unique, hand-made furniture, you know how beautiful woodwork can be. When you’d like to tackle such a project for yourself, you need to have the right knowledge in place to be able to find success. This article provides you with some tried and tested tricks for your next project.
When you’re using finishes or stains you should always stir them instead of shaking them. Stains often have ingredients that settle to the bottom. Shaking can lead to bubbling, though, which causes its own set of problems. Stir until the solution is even so that you get the best results.
Familiarize yourself with the tools that you are going to use. This is a very important tip for the beginner, but even more advanced woodworkers can benefit from it too. Lay out the tools and make sure that you know the workings of each one. If you’ve got a brand new tool to you, spend the time that you need with it.
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.
Know the characteristics of any wood before you buy or use it for a specific project that requires staining. For example, a wood that has a stain grade is good for staining. A wood that has a paint grade is lower quality. Differentiate between veneer and particle board as veneer tends to resist stain, while particleboard can take on too much stain. The proper type of wood will ensure that your project will turn out as planned.
If you plan on applying any gloss or stain to a piece of wood, it is very important that you sand it down first. Failing to do this step will result in a wood surface that is not very smooth. Use sandpaper to smooth things down then make sure all dust s removed by brushing it with a cloth.
Woodworking can be expensive. It is a good idea to go over your plans before you start and make sure that the project fits within your budget. Price out all materials by making a list of the required supplies and then go to the local hardware store to figure out the total cost.
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.
For a beginner, sometimes it is best to buy kits instead of cutting the entire project yourself. You should be able to finish your project quicker with a precut kit. These kits will help you gain some valuable insight on the steps involved in a project so that the next time you can do it all yourself.
Fumes from oil-based stains can be harmful to animals, as well as humans. To avoid fumes, try using a water-based stain. Water-based stain comes in a wide variety of colors, even more than their oil-based counterparts. And the application process is the same whether you are using oil, or water-based stain.
As you plan out your next project, you can use these tips to master your technique. Each has been written to ensure you can easily integrate them into your technique. As long as you make use of them, you will find the time you spent reading this article was worth it.
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