Whether you are a professional woodworker, or just do it as a hobby, there is always good reason to take time to learn more about the skill. There are always new tricks that are discovered, as well as new tools to hit the market to make your work easier. If you want to learn more you need to read the article that follows.
Use stop blocks to your advantage for more accurate work. When cutting a lot of pieces the same size, no matter how carefully you measure, you often find small variations. Use a pre-cut stop block to make those measurements pinpoint accurate. Then the table saw will stop at just the right length length.
Even if you have been doing woodworking for some time you may want to consider taking a class. There are different levels of classes available, so you should be able to find one that teaches you something and is challenging. There is never too much that you can know about woodworking.
When trying woodworking for the first time, opt for cheaper woods or even scrap woods. You are going to make mistakes along the way when you are first starting. Make sure you make those mistakes on wood that’s easily replaceable. There’s nothing worse than making a rookie mistake on a very expensive piece.
Make sure your workbench is the proper height. It really can make a big difference. It needs to fit you and how you work. Usually if you are around 5’6″ to 5’9″ you probably need one that is between 33″ and 36″ high. If you are 5’10” or taller, you may need one that is between 35″ and 37″ high. Use your bench at its current height to determine if you need to change it to work better for you.
A stair gauge is an essential item in every wood shop. They can be used to clamp a carpenter’s square along with laying out stair jacks. You can then use your square as a guide for a circular saw. The square will get you wonderfully straight cuts all the time.
If you are going to be doing a big woodworking project on the outside of your home, check to make sure it is within the rules. Your local government may have zoning regulations or even a permit process needed for structures like garages, decks and even storage sheds. Also check with your neighborhood association if there is one.
Don’t only rely on a tape measure. Story sticks can be useful and you can work in small increments up to your cut you want to make. It’s recommended that you cut on scrap wood before cutting on the wood you plan on using so that you can test it out to see if it will fit. Having a variety of ways to plan out your cuts keeps you from mental boredom.
Before you paint your wood project, make sure that you have properly sanded the piece. Start with a coarser grade of sand paper, then gradually change to a finer grade. After sanding, wipe your project with a tacky cloth to pick up residual wood dust. After that, your piece will be ready to be painted.
As you read at the beginning of this article, there is always something new to learn about the field of woodworking, no matter how long you have been doing it. Now that you have read the article, you know that is true because you have surely learned something yourself. Now all you need to do is apply the tips so that they become part of your routine.
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