Helpful Woodworking Tips for the Beginner Woodworker

Woodworking can be one of the most enjoyable hobbies known to man. As a beginner woodworker it is important to learn a few things first. First things first you need to figure out which path you want to take. Whether you want to make dollhouses and other smaller projects or create the best new furniture Safety is the most important thing to learn. Below are some key woodworking tips that you should follow. I will assume you have a place picked out for your woodworking perhaps in your garage or a well ventilated basement room.

That fancy power tool can cut through wood like a hot knife through butter your body is equally as easy. Most safety concerns are common sense. Here are a few safety tips for the beginning woodworker. Do not perform any maintenance such as changing bits, or blades on your power tools while they are plugged in. Always wear safety goggles at the least, but a good face shield is ideal. A dust mask, ideally a respirator is a good idea especially when using power tools, these tools create very fine dust which is not so good to inhale. A good pair of Kevlar gloves and push sticks is also good to keep those fingers safely away from the sharp cutting tools you'll be using to cut that wood. Lighting is very important as you must be able to see what you are doing. Having a well stocked first aid kit and a fire extinguisher is advisable.

Beginning woodworking can become really expensive really fast. This is why it is important to decide what your passion is. Making larger objects requires larger tools. Many beginning woodworkers start off with smaller projects. Not only is the cost less but the art of woodworking is like anything else it takes time to develop your skills. Screwing up a birdhouse is much less costly then a new dresser. A good project for a beginner woodworker would be a small shelf perhaps as a gift for a loved one. My first project was a small shelf with hooks for my children's backpacks.

As a beginner woodworker you should acquire some basic tools and supplies to get you started. You should stock up on an assortment of fasteners such as screws and nails, your local hardware store usually will have an assortment pack to get you started. A few sets of clamps are also a must I would recommend a decent pair of spring clamps, C-clamps and a corner clamp. Gather a good assortment of sandpaper for finishing your wood. I would recommend a good shop vacuum for clean up and use as a dust collector. Beginning woodworking requires a good selection of tools. You should at least have the following power tools a jigsaw, power saw, a router and power drill. You should also have the following hand tools a set of chisels, screwdrivers, a nail set, utility knife, a layout square and a level. A sturdy table to work on is also a must. Eventually you will want a table saw and a compound miter saw but these are relatively expensive and I would recommend waiting until you have completed a few of the beginner woodworking projects first. The costs of these supplies will add up and expect to spend upwards of $500 to start with. To save cost you can look in purchase second hand tools but be sure to inspect them for defects. Shopping online at Amazon or eBay can also be a great cost saving source for the beginner woodworker.

Now that we have our tools, and safety apparatus we need something to do with it all. Lumber comes in many shapes and sizes. Lumber is classified in a grading system which is beyond the scope of this article. Your lumber will be varying dependant on the project you are working on. Generally a better grade of lumber such as select grade is going to have a better finish and be leveled and straight, at a much higher cost. As a beginner woodworker it is often desirable to purchase less expensive grade lumber and work it to a better finish in the course of your project. Good luck with your new hobby. Remember be careful and take responsible steps to be safe.

Sources:

Personal experience

Kevin S. Brady - nice website on beginning woodworking.

About.com - About.com has a decent woodworking tips section as well as free project plans for the beginner woodworker.