6 Must Have Basic Woodworking Tools and Their Uses

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.

How To Build A Practical And Small Woodworking Shop

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.

Fundamentals of Cabinet Making

by wood work | Mar 27, 2018 | Articles, DIY, Woodworking Plans, Woodworking Tips, Woodworking Tools

Cabinets can sometimes, if not most times, be a necessity in households, workshops or even places of work.

Those empty cutlery and dishes in your kitchen, movies or novels in your living room, paperwork in your office and even the tools in your garage or workshop will most definitely cause you a lot of messy environment if not properly stored.

And who wouldn’t want to be dabbed neat really? No worries then, cause cabinet invention came to your rescue. However, you probably wanted one to suite your ideal habitat, right?

Here’s how to design your own:

Material

Cabinet making is classified under woodwork. Without much saying, this definitely tells you what to make a cabinet from. There are so many types of wood. Many of which you can use to make a cabinet from. What really differs between them is mainly whether it is hardwood or soft.

Other different qualities include color and texture. Some examples of hardwood are Hickory, Oak, Maple, Ash, Gum, Walnut and Poplar. These are, in many people’s opinion the advisable types to use for cabinet making.

Tools

Probably the next important thing to consider after acquainting yourself with the right wood, is the best tools to use. The most likely and kind of obvious may include a saw, hammer, nails, tape measure, square, sander, router, drill and clamps, to mention but a few.

If you are set on doing your work once and for all, and in the least time possible, it will be probably best if you purchased the finest high quality tools.

Dimensions

The tricky but not so difficult part now comes in. If you are building an under-sink cabinet, you want a cabinet to fit right under that sink, between the oven and the door to your kitchen, in the exact spot where the old one used to be.

These are just a mere list of probable tricky spots you would want to fix that cabinet. With just slightly wrong measurements, it just won’t fit.

There are a number of things to consider when taking dimension measurement. Your height and size of location should be top priority here. Make absolute certain that all measurements are accurate and all corners are square. To make a good solid cabinet, ensure it is based on the right angle (90). Also don’t slop the assembly.

Appeal

All it takes is a little artistic creative touch, to make that cabinet extra gorgeous. You could try painting it, most likely, to match the walls around it. You could even apply varnish to it to make it even more durable and shinier.