Have you ever thought about getting into woodworking, whether as a hobby or as work, but you just didn’t know where or how to begin? You’ve come to the right place!
We have come up with a simple beginner’s guide for woodworking that should get you off to the right start.
The Things You Should Know About Woodworking
1. Safety First!
One thing you have to keep in mind when doing woodwork is to respect the tools and materials you will be working with. The tools you will be using for this craft are sharp and powerful which, when not handled properly, can lead to serious accidents.
That being said, you must know the basic safety rules and guidelines when working with sharp hand tools and power tools. Put on safety gear always such as goggles and cut level-5 safety gloves.
2. The Tools of the Trade
Woodworking tools come in all shapes and sizes, but there are certain tools that every woodworker must have in their toolbox or workshop. Most of these you already probably own. But just to be sure, we listed them down for you:
- Hammer
- Tape Measure
- Utility Knife
- Screw Drivers
- Chisel
- Layout Square
- Level
- Sliding Bevel
- Block Plane
- Nail Sets
3. The Power is in Your Hands
Woodworking and carpentry are some of the world’s oldest crafts. Throughout history, those who practiced the craft used hand tools made of metal, wood, stone, and combinations of those materials.
Recent history brought us the invention of power tools. Modern woodworking would be hard to imagine without these precision power tools that make each job easier. While you don’t need to have a workshop full of expensive tools, you can focus on the acquisition of the following items over time:
- Power drill
- Jigsaw
- Circular Saw
- Table Saw
- Compound Miter Saw
- Router
- Random Orbital Sander
4. Machine Power
Speaking of power, other forms of machine-powered tools are full-size table saws, radial arm saws, and band saws. These are machines that are too large and bulky to transport and are thus used exclusively in wood shops.
5. Lumber Behavior
Just as you take the time to know the tools you will be using, it is also important that you develop a deeper understanding of how wood works and behaves. Knowing its proper orientation will give you an idea of how to plane the board. You also need to develop the skill of learning to pick the right lumber, like hardwood or softwood, for your projects.
Fun Fact: Softwoods account for 80% of timber products all over the world.
6. Square Check
In almost every woodworking project, you will inevitably need to check a joint or intersection or even an entire assembly for squareness. You can use a squaring tool for smaller projects, but bigger ones may require manual measuring of diagonal lines from two opposite corners.
Woodworking is a wonderful world to explore and grow in. You just need to learn the ropes and observe safety at all times. It is as rewarding as it is challenging.
