What can you learn about woodworking? It is not just sticking cut pieces of wood together. There is more to it than you may think. A little bit of knowledge can go a long way, so continue reading to learn more about it.
Pick out the wood that’s right for your project you’re doing. Some woods are not as strong as others. Practice with wood so you know how it reacts to what you do to it.
Become more accurate by using a drafting square. If you need an accurate square that’s about 2″ to 3″, you have limited options. Drywall squares tend to be very inaccurate. With carpenter squares, you have to hook them onto your work piece’s edge. A drafting square can be easily used if you happen to have one lying around. If you don’t, they are pretty cheap to find at art stores. They are incredibly accurate and as useful as a tape measure.
Buy some scrap wood and use it to practice on. Scrap wood is really cheap, and it makes for great practice wood. Use it to try new skills that you’re learning. Practice with new tools on it. Make your mistakes here, not when it counts. You’ll be happy you did in terms of budget.
Test the color of a stain before doing the complete stain on more visible areas. Wood is never predictable, so a stain may not look the way you expect or need it to when applied to the wood you are using. When you test the stain in a spot that’s not easily visible, you prevent having a project turn out badly.
If the hinges on your interior door have become loose, you can fix it with a simple golf tee. Take the door from the hinges and tap your golf tee into every screw hole. Cut off the length of golf tee that protrudes from the hole, then you put your door back up. The tee will provide the screw with something that it can bite into.
Do you lose drill press key chucks often? A good way to keep them within reach is to drill a hole somewhere on the drill press they fit. On top of the press is a good place, where you can see it. Drill a small hole the exact same size of the chuck’s crossbar and it will fit in perfectly.
Sometimes a little bit of glue is better than a clamp. Every woodworking shop should have a hot glue gun. Hot glue will hold small pieces better than any clamp ever could, if you could even maneuver one in place. When you are done, just gently pry loose with a putty knife.
Only cut using sharp tools. Older and dull tools result in tear-outs and even chipping, which is frustrating and a waste of time. Sharp tools means you get clean cuts quickly. You’ll also spend a lot less time sanding things to get just the right look and fit that you need.
Give yourself ample time for a woodworking project. A project may look simple on paper, but in reality it can be multiple hours or even multiple days. Plan ahead to make sure that you are set in terms of the necessary time. If a project stretches on for weeks because of poor planning, it may end up never getting done.
Do you appreciate woodworking more than ever? If this is the case, then now is a great time to start considering how much woodworking can improve your life. It makes a great hobby or career, and you can make a great future out of developing this skill.
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