Woodworking 101: Everything You Need To Know

Everyone loves to do certain activities in their spare time. Woodworking is such an enjoyable hobby to engage in that even those who do it for a living will also take it on as a pastime. That said, anyone who loves to work with wood will benefit from reading the tips below.

If you are going to be staining your woodworking project, use a pre-stain conditioner on the wood. By using these products, you are likely to avoid blotching or imperfections in the final product. The conditioner will let the stain apply evenly and smooth out the wood.

Before using any stains or finishes on your wood, make sure you stir them and not shake them. Ingredients may have settled onto the bottom as they sat on the shelf. Shaking can cause bubbling and prevent it from mixing well. Stir until the solution is even so that you get the best results.

Take your time when using an electrical saw to cut your wood. If you are doing a woodworking project and try to do it quickly you are risking injury as well as are more likely to make a mistake. Be sure to not even try to start something if you do not have plenty of time.

When you want to cut narrower sections of wood, never use your own fingers to guide them. Rather, make use of a longer, thinner piece of wood that can push it along the saw’s surface. That keeps your fingers intact.

If you are cutting, sanding, or finishing something small, get out your hot glue gun. Affix the item you are working on to the end of a pedestal stick. Hot glue holds better than a clamp, and small objects are impossible to clamp anyway. Just be careful when pulling the piece off to avoid tearing the back side of the wood.

Keep your tools and hardware organized. When you keep clutter to a minimum, it does more than just add discipline to your workshop. It also keeps distractions, hazards and time spent hunting down a misplaced item to a minimum. Keeping screws, nails and other hardware and accessories in one place neatly stored until needed makes your projects faster and keeps you safer.

You can make a sanding block even better. Cut a small slot about 3/8 of inch deep, a little less than an inch from the outside edge. Run it the entire length of the block. Now the sandpaper will fit into this slot easily, and it will stay in place more securely.

Offer to help when family or friends are thinking about selling a home. You can earn some extra money by using your skills to increase their house’s resale value. You can redo the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen, or do something simple like install a new post for the mailbox.

These tips have provided you with a great deal of knowledge you likely haven’t heard about before. Thanks to reading this article, you now have some ideas which will help you better your work. The results will be astounding and you will be so please with how much your skills progress.