by wood work | Mar 31, 2018 | Articles, DIY, Woodworking Plans, Woodworking Tips, Woodworking Tools
Like any other trade, woodworking has its tools. While using stationary power tools takes a certain level of skill, amateur woodworkers should equip and stock their inventory with specific must have tools.
These are the tools that woodworkers use more most frequently and they prove to be the most useful as well.
While it should be obvious that a woodworker should have a hammer, nails, tape measure, etc., but are 6 other basic tools that every woodworker should essentially have.
1. Block Plane
The use of a block plane can make a woodworker’s woodwork look more versatile. Using a block plane, a piece of wood can be flattened out or a curve can be added to woodwork. A stock can also be chamfered or shaped using a block plane. After dovetailing a piece of wood, the joint can also be smoothened out using the block plane.
2. Chisel(s) & Mallet
Not just a chisel, woodworkers should have an assortment of chisels as a part of their workbench. Joints and saw cuts can be cleaned out using chisels. A mallet or wood hammer is also required since its use prevents a chisel’s head from getting damaged. Chisels that are made of chromium-vanadium alloyed steel or high-alloy carbon steel tend to be the best.
3. Handsaw
Woodworkers should never overlook a high-quality hand saw. In fact, they should have a collection of handsaws in their inventory. In order to improve their woodworking skills, woodworkers must experience how a saw blade responds to different woods and how different respond while under the saw blade. Woodworkers should at least have a copping saw, a dovetail saw, a hand miter saw and a tenon saw.
4. Sliding Bevel
A sliding bevel, which is also known as a T Bevel, is another must have woodworking tool for woodworkers who end up measuring lots of angles. Sliding bevels can be adjusted and can be locked at any desired angle that needs to be marked. As a result, multiple angles can be marked conveniently and effectively, without wasting too much time, when using a sliding bevel.
5. Power Drill
Despite being a power tool, this is a basic tool that every woodworker needs, whether they choose a cordless or electric one is up to them. However, corded drills are literally a power tool since they provide steady drilling power, can be used for extended periods of time and last much longer. Moreover, in most cases woodworkers will be able to choose between 2 different variable speeds when using a power drill.
6. Table Saw
As far as the permanent fixtures in a woodworking shop are concerned, this is the most basic one that should definitely be present. In fact, they tend to be more portable that a fixed fixture. A bench-top table saw for accurately cutting woodworking material to width along the length of the board and to trim small woodworking pieces. Table saws are also capable of beveling, crosscutting, mitering, and ripping wood.
Conclusion
Amateur woodworkers who are shopping for items to add to their shop’s inventory should do the smart thing and make sure that the above must have tools are included in their purchases.
by wood work | Mar 30, 2018 | General
It’s been a few months since we tackled Grace’s bedroom’s pink barn doors –
They have been holding up very well – no warping or twisitng – and been awesome to use – acting as closet doors and a privacy door on the entry as needed –
All while not not taking up an space in the room and adding a bright, fun element. (Someday we’ll get a closet organizer built … )
We love this door system so much in Grace’s room –
We built the same exact doors for Hayes’ room. Love them!
I wanted to share with you guys a quick tutorial for these barn doors. They are plywood based – so perfect for paint – and are much more dimensionally stable than a solid wood door. Also, since they are plywood based, the doors are much easier to build (as opposed to planks of wood).
First up, sizing – since these doors are plywood based, you can’t build larger than a full sheet of plywood. I wouldn’t recommend that anyway, as the door would get VERY heavy and cumbersome to use.
Height wise, I make my barn doors the height of the opening. Once the hardware is installed, it brings the door up an inch or so, giving you the clearance you need at the bottom for easily sliding the door. Widthwise, I like to go a little wider than the opening, so the door fully coveres the opening.
I like to use 3/4″ plywood, as it’s less likely to warp and more likely to hold the wood frame square, but you could probably get away with 1/2″ too. Cut the plywood to the size of the door.
Then set your circular saw or table saw blade to 1/8″ depth, and make decorative cuts in the face of the plywood to give the look of planked wood. Remember there is a frame going on top of the door, so you don’t need cuts where the frame goes.
Now for the front frame. I used 1x6s – for a narrower door, you might want to use a narrower frame (for example 1x4s). The sides of the frame are always the height of the door. Lay the sides on your plywood panel, measure and cut the horizontal top and bottom pieces to fit.
I like to Kreg Jig my frame pieces together, but it isn’t necessary structurally – it just guarantees your frame pieces won’t have a gap in between.
Then I glue and nail the frame to the top of the plywood using an 18 guage brad nailer and 1-1/4″ brad nails.
For the hardware, we use the National Hardware Track system, it’s available at our local home improvement store.
I like it because 1) we can get it here in rural Alaska 2) it’s very strong 3) it’s easy to install and versatile (we’ve used it everywhere from elevator beds to sliding closets).
If you’d like to see us build and hang the barn door, check out this video
And you can grab the plans for the platform bed here.
Please do share if you build, we love seeing your projects and getting out built!
XO Ana
PS – Please do pin and share!
by wood work | Mar 30, 2018 | Articles, DIY, Woodworking Plans, Woodworking Tips, Woodworking Tools
A small woodworking shop does not need much work to be done. It can be built by a little planning and spending. It is essential; however, to be considerate about the equipment’s purchased which should be based on the finance available and also the space available.
It does not require a lot of space too as it can be constructed by a few essential equipment’s like the table saw, miter saws, circular saws and the drill press. The raw materials required differ for each project and can be bought as and when required. Some of the other luxury items required can be vacuum cleaners, dust extractors and sawdust control.
Here are some tools and considerations:
The Working Bench: Any woodworking shop requires a working bench in order to do basic cutting and sawing. This working bench is useful for all the basic operations required. Any small woodworking shop should have this type of work bench.
Drill press: A drill press is important equipment which should be put in the woodworking shop. The drill press is helpful in pressing
Miter Saw: The miter saw is equipment used to make accurate crosscuts and miters in a work piece or a wooden slab. Miter saw is important equipment but if you have no space for this equipment then you can opt for cheaper and smaller equipment’s like a cross bar or so on.
Table saw: A table saw is one of the most important equipment’s in a woodworking shop. Its size can depend on the space available and it can be mounted on the working space. The table saw helps in cutting the wood into the required sizes and also in straightening wooden pieces.
Shelves and drawers: A practical workshop should have drawers and shelves to keep the small things like nails, hammers etc. well organized. These shelves should be wall mounted in order to reduce the space they occupy. They can also be mounted at a height which will help the lower areas to be free from clutter.
These basic requirements can work well for setting up a small woodworking shop. There are other sophisticated equipment’s which automate the cleaning and dust collecting but it is not essential to have all these right from the start.
These are the most practical strategies which will help to establish the shop.
Once the work starts coming in then one can increase the size of the shop and take other complicated equipment’s which can do complicated workmanship.
by wood work | Mar 29, 2018 | General
A different approach to the wooden box, including surprisingly easy techniques for inlay and marquetry.
This tutorial shows you how to create a pentagon-shaped wooden box by stacking 1/4-inch shapes rather than building solid walls. In addition, I demonstrate my process for creating veneer, inlay and marquetry.
I’m trying very hard not to make a clichéd “think outside the box” pun here, but we really are looking differently at the process of making a classic pentagon-shaped wooden box. With a traditional box, we’re assembling the sides out of whole wood. Here, though, we’re building from the ground up. It’s an interesting way to think about how all the pieces come together to make a whole, which is a big part of the creative woodworking process.
Along the way, I’ll be showing you my approach to creating inlays, veneers and marquetry. It’s a step-by-step tutorial that demonstrates how these very cool features can be done relatively easily. Plus, I’m providing another look at how flocking can make a huge difference in the overall look and feel of the piece.
Don’t let all the super-hot laser cutter action throw you — most of the techniques I’m showing you in this how-to tutorial can be easily replicated using a table saw or even an X-Acto knife. The goal here for you to see the process up close and hopefully pick up a few tricks you can use as you do it yourself.
Tools and Supplies Used in this Project
The post Making a Wood Box with Veneer, Inlay and Marquetry appeared first on Make Something.
by wood work | Mar 29, 2018 | Articles, DIY, General, Woodworking Plans, Woodworking Tips, Woodworking Tools
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