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Top Woodworking Tips To Get Started Today

By The Carpenter

Have you ever considered woodworking but did not know how to start? This is the purpose of the following article. Woodworking isn’t that hard if you know what you’re doing. This article will show you a few useful tips to get started.

Use pre-stain conditioners if you’re going to stain the wood. A good pre-stain condition helps to even out any imperfections in your project that a stain can accentuate. These conditioners will smooth out the uneven nature of the wood and allow your stain to penetrate evenly.

TIP! 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.

You should stir stains and finishes before using them. They should never be shaken. You need to do this to remix whatever may have separated. However, if you shake it, it may create bubbles and not allow the product to mix well. Stir for at least five minutes so that everything is even.

Gel stains can be your best friend when staining furniture items. Gel stains work better on lumber because the liquid kind usually run. Furthermore, since a gel stain is thicker it tends to remain constant through the application process, which lets it be more even on the furniture.

You can make your own reusable sanding blocks. Make a list of each sandpaper grit that you typically use, and then cut a full six blocks for each from scrap plywood, 3/4″ thick. Cut them to 2.5″ by 4.75″. You can secure the sandpaper better with an adhesive. Put one block on the cork, and then cut it flush with a knife. Put glue on the sandpaper and apply to the cork. Cut the sandpaper flush and label the block.

TIP! Make your own reusable sanding blocks. First cut 6 blocks from scrap plywood, one for each grit of sandpaper you like to use.

Never use your fingers when guiding the cut of a slim piece of wood. Try using thin wood strips to push that piece through your saw. This will help ensure you keep all of your fingers, making woodworking much easier.

Golf Tee

Stair gauges are very important devices for you to use. Fix them onto the carpenter’s square, taking care to note that they are a good fit for the stair jack. After this, you will have to mark each of the notches. If you put them on the same tongue of your carpenter’s square, the combination that you can make will be a great circular saw crosscut guide.

TIP! Stair gauges may be just the ticket for crosscut guides. Clamp them to a carpenter’s square while making sure they line up with the rise and run of your stair jack.

If your interior doors have loose hinges, you can simply fix it with a golf tee. Start by removing the door from the frame. Remove the hinges too and tap tees into the screw holes. If there is excess golf tee, cut it off before reinstalling the hinges and door. The tee will provide the screw with something that it can bite into.

Consider shopping at garage sales for woodworking equipment. You can often get great tools at a fraction of the price if you don’t buy them new. This will save you a lot of money when you are just starting or need to replace something.

Never shake a finish or a stain. Only stir them. These can settle can must be stirred. Shaking can cause bubbling which prevents the products from mixing properly. You need to stir it well. Keep stirring until all the settlement is evenly and smoothly dispersed.

TIP! Stir your paint and stain, don’t shake it! Certain ingredients in such items tend to settle with time. But, shaking may cause unwanted bubbling, and keep the product from mixing well.

If you are planning on a woodworking project, it is important that you select the best wood for the project. Soft woods can scratch easily and shouldn’t be used for a table. Also consider that woods will have different colors by the time they’re finished.

Be very careful when working with a table saw. When you’re crosscutting, set the cut’s length by using a block clamped to the fence. This is preferable to simply using the fence because it will prevent having your board spring back. This will also keep the board end open so you can cut.

Inquire about tutorials on tools that you are renting. Many times, they have specialists that will show you how to use the tool properly and safely. Find out if they have any helpful handouts or worksheets you can use.

TIP! If you plan on renting an unfamiliar tool, ask the company if they can provide a short tutorial. A specialist can quickly teach you what you should know about the tool.

Think about using kits when you first start woodworking. These kits come with pre-cut pieces of wood that you put together to make a certain project. This is a good way to begin this hobby. This will help you save money going forward because it shows you how to avoid costly mistakes.

When woodworking, things can fly in your eyes unexpectedly. Always keep your goggles on and be vigilant when working with wood. Get a different pair of goggles if you cannot see well with the pair that you have.

Never use your fingers like a guide. Using a piece of wood as a guide is much safer. This keeps your fingers safe, which of course are vital for living as well as the continuation of your wood working projects.

TIP! Don’t use your fingers to guide your cutting. Use a strip of wood instead to maximize safety.

Stair gauges make excellent circular saw guides. They’re normally used to mark stair jacks. However by using both of them on the tongue of a carpenter square, you can make a useful guide for a circular saw.

Drafting Square

Understand the features of different wood types prior to selecting it for a project that is to be stained. Low quality wood is considered “paint grade” and isn’t meant to be stained. Differentiate between veneer and particle board as veneer tends to resist stain, while particleboard can take on too much stain. Using the appropriate wood means your project has a better chance of turning into what you want.

TIP! Understand the features of different wood types prior to selecting it for a project that is to be stained. Paint grade wood is lower quality while stain grade wood is of a higher quality.

Use a drafting square to complete your projects. It can be hard to accurately measure the wood you need. Drywall squares are typically inaccurate, while carpenter squares are cumbersome. Try stopping into your friendly neighborhood art supply store to pick up a drafting square. These aren’t that hard to use and can be very accurate.

Woodworking is definitely challenging at times, but the rewards you get from it are worth it. When you see your finished piece, you will be happy that you followed through and completed something of value that will last for years to come. Using the suggestions and tips from the above article will help you create that one-of-a-kind piece.

Be sure that you have a blade that in great condition before sawing anything. Dull blades make work harder, plus they are a safety hazard, especially on power saws. It also leads to errors that cost you money, time and materials.

Filed Under: Woodworking Tips Tagged With: drafting square, gel stains, golf tee

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