Are you new to woodworking and looking to start a new project? Whether you are an amateur woodworker or have been doing it for years, these pro tips will help you speed up and simplify any project. Knowing these simple, yet efficient secrets, can help create perfect furniture, repair a fixture, or make home repairs. From cutting down the perfectly mitered corners and giving the personal touches to achieving a designer finish, these tricks can help you to up your woodworking game.
Tip 1- Choose a Durable and Sharp Hand Saw
To make sure that the furniture you are creating will have a perfect finish around the corners, you should choose a hand saw that is fits the job. If your hand saw is smaller for the project, you'll have issues and the project will take longer than necessary.
Tip 2- Keep the Area Well-lit
You should pay special attention to the lighting, as ample illumination can be greatly beneficial during the work. Consider installing overhead and focused lighting to improve safety and productivity.
Tip 3- Use Stair Gauges As A Crosscut Guide
You might already know that to layout stair jacks, you need stair gauges. These make the process quite simple and hassle-free. You just clamp them to the carpenter’s square and mark the notches. It is quite easy to make a great crosscut guide for different circular saws if you put the stair gauges in the same tongue of the carpenter’s square.
Tip 4- Perfect Wood Lathe Doesn’t Exist
You should choose a wood lathe depending on the job and what's available on the market. A short bed wood lather takes up less space but it limits the woodturning length. You need to find one dependent on your needs and make some adjustments accordingly.
Tip 5- Choose the Right Framing Nailers
As there are a lot of options for framing nailers, choosing the right type can be difficult. You should decide whether a cordless or pneumatic framing nailer will be the best option for your needs. Besides, there are different angles in the framing nailers; you should know which one will work the best for you.
Tip 6- Prevent Excess Glue Stains
Clam the pieces together without using much glue to eliminate the stains, making the furniture a bit rough. Apply masking tape on the joints neatly, and cutting it with a utility knife can be a great option. After that, apply the glue and clamp them again. By doing so, the glue will ooze onto the tape and not the wood.
Tip 7- Choose Cordless Drills
If you want to do more refined carpentry, choose a drill with the two-speed switch and a trigger with different speed controls. Look for more speed if you will be doing more hole drilling in the 1,000 rpm top end range.
Tip 8- Jigsaws Can Be Your Best Buddies
You will find jigsaws in different cutting speeds, amperage, and power supply options. However, if you choose the right one according to your choice, jigsaws can be your favorite tool in the arsenal.
Tip 9- Front Bench Vise or Back Bench Vise?
If you want to place the bench vise at the left corner of the long edge bench, then the front vise is the best option. Otherwise, you should choose the back bench vise. However, if you want to opt for woodworking as a full-time profession, you should buy both of them.
Tip 10- Belt Sander
A high-quality belt sander can cost you anywhere from $500 to $2,000. You can make a DIY one at home but efficiency will drop.
