Outdoor Woodworking Projects

Spring is a great time to get out and enjoy the weather. With so many projects that need to be done around the house, many of us don't have the time or chance to get outdoors. If you plan right, you can make your project time some great outdoor time. Before you get started though, you may want to get a little bit of shade to work in. Most places get a little warm in the spring and summer, so a nice shade tree, awning, shed or garage may be the perfect place to get started. This may also help to block rain so that you do not have to move everything around everyday if it takes a little while to do. A nice garage or shed with a huge opening on one side is a great little project place. This will also give you a nice place to keep your tools organized and close at hand.

Most wood projects need to be done outdoors. This is due to the fact that many of them make a mess with the sawdust, varnish, and stains that are involved. Whether they are big or small, you will want to do these outdoors. No matter where it is that you decide to do these projects, you will want to have your tools within reach and a drop cloth to work over. If you are working tree side, on concrete, or over the grass, you can probably skip the drop cloth though. Sawdust is a great mulch and is easily swept up from solid surfaces. Choosing the work area may be one of the most important steps in this project. You will want to make sure it is in a weather proof area with protection from the wind and few bugs. All of these things can mar your project. Whether it is rain causing dry rot or warping, or bugs getting stuck in the varnish, you want to protect your project.

One of the first projects is creating trim for your home. Whether it is baseboards, door jambs, or runners, the best ones are made of wood. Even if you buy the pre-made versions, you will still need to sand, stain, and polish these to perfection. If you are creating one from scratch, you will need to be in your "workshop" even more. Using a scroll saw and grinding tool, you can create a beautiful molding for any room. This is actually a lot simpler than it sounds. All you really need is a flat surface and a reference point. Many of these tools will come with scroll shaped files or saw blades that can be used. You can get an hourglass grinding bit for your drill or Dremel. These can be held to the wood in a specific spot. If you have an assistant, they can "feed" the wood through while you ensure that the bit stays at the same position. You can also use clamps and vices to hold things at an exact angle.

One of my favorite projects is building furniture. One simple thing that anyone can do is a wooden footstool. This is a great project, but the power tools involved makes it a little more advanced. Children should only do this one under supervision. All you will need is a one to two foot tall log, some padding from the craft store, a carpet or fabric sample, and some strong wood glue.

The first step is to debark the log. This will give you the vibrant look of wood and bring out the true color and accents that it offers. Once this is done, measure six inches from the top and bottom of the log. Mark this off in a circle all the way around the log. Once this is marked, you can start cutting. Whether you use an axe, chainsaw, or chisel, you can now carve the center of the log down. You only wan to shave a couple inches in. The amount you take off of the midsection depends on how thick the log is. You want it to keep about two thirds of the thickness of your log. Now you can carve out the rest of this to make a mushroom type shape (see the illustration). Do not worry about perfection. The imperfections in natural wood furniture is what makes them so great.

Once you have the log trimmed down, you can start to turn it into a foot stool. You will want to sand it down to a nice, smooth finish. Make sure you get all of it. The more rough it is, the less longevity it will have. After you have the wood sanded down, you can now stain and varnish it. When applying stain, you want to be very liberal. The wood will soak up most of this. Let the wood drink it up. This will give you a much more uniform and deep color. After you have the stain completed, sand the log once again. You only need to do a quick, smoothing type of sanding. Don't try to sand out the blemishes. If your color seems to be a little lacking in places, add more stain. Keep staining until the wood is thoroughly soaked in it. You want the wood to be completely dry prior to sanding as well. Once you have the look and color that you are happy with, you can then add the varnish. This will help to keep any spills or liquids from harming the wood and it will give you that glossy finish. You will want to apply about three coats of varnish or clear coat to the stool. After this, lightly sand it once more. This will get rid of any brush strokes or drips in the varnish.

Now that your stool is stained and varnished, you can put the pad on top. Foam usually works the best for this. The foam rubber is more consistent and a little more suited to furniture usage. It will prevent lumps and it is less likely to "seep" out. Cut a nice, thick piece of foam in the same size and shape as the top of the log. If your foam is not thick enough to provide the right padding, feel free to use two layers or more. Next you will need to cut the carpet or fabric about twice as wide as the foam. It should be able to wrap the foam completely. One thing you can do to improve the durability is to add a piece of cardboard to the bottom of the foam. You can glue the foam to the cardboard and then wrap the carpet around it. You wan the open end to be on the cardboard side. This will allow you to staple the fabric or carpet to the cardboard. Once you have the pad ready, apply a liberal amount of glue to the bottom of the pad or top of the log. Place the pad on top of the log and use several heavy books or weights to hold it in place. This may cause excess glue to ooze out. Make sure you wipe this off immediately. You do not want it to dry on your fabric. After several hours (preferably overnight), you can remove the weights and let it dry the rest of the way. That is all there is to it.

There are several other simple furniture crafts you can do around the house. Working with wood is a lot of fun, and with some practice, anyone can create beautiful works of art for their home. This is a great way to express yourself and add some of your families personality to your home. Building patio or living room furniture is quite easy, it is just time consuming. All of these projects can be taken outside. This will allow you to get some fresh air while still getting work done.

Custom woodworking is a great way to add some life and character to your home. Whether you are artistic or not, there are many different things that you can do to improve your home and put your stamp on it. While wood burning tools can be used indoors, you will want to take the sanders and saws outside. With a Dremel tool and some practice, you can easily make some designer and artistic imprints on any wood work in your home. If anything, it is an excuse to play with power toys and risk the loss of a finger or two.