Either you want to make things for sale or you just want to work with wood for the entertainment value. Your reasons do not matter. Woodworking is not terribly difficult, but it does take some know-how. The article below is a compilation of expert information and tips that you can put into practice immediately.

Reusable sanding blocks save you time and money. To make them all you need is a few pieces of scrap lumber. Cut a piece of 2×4 into a rectangle approximately 2 inches wide and 4 inches long. Cut a piece of sandpaper the size of your block. Then, spray one side of the piece of lumber with spray adhesive and adhere the sandpaper to the block of wood.

Become more accurate by using a drafting square. If you need an accurate square that’s about 2″ to 3″, you have limited options. Drywall squares tend to be very inaccurate. With carpenter squares, you have to hook them onto your work piece’s edge. A drafting square can be easily used if you happen to have one lying around. If you don’t, they are pretty cheap to find at art stores. They are incredibly accurate and as useful as a tape measure.

Never skip sanding when it is necessary or think that staining hides imperfections in the wood. Wood with scratches, dents and nicks absorbs much more finish or stain than wood that is smooth. When you skip sanding or do not do a thorough job of it, the imperfections stand out even more because of the increased absorption.

If there is a joint in your work that does not fit together properly, this cannot be fixed with glue. While it may seem like the simple way to fix things, it will only work temporarily. The best thing to do would be to start over and be more careful the next time.

Rulers don’t like to stay in pockets, but you need them to be handy! Buy a metal ruler, and try keeping it in the same pocket as the smaller telescoping magnet you use to pick up loose metal screws. The magnet will keep both objects securely in place.

If you are working with wood, it can be very dangerous to have a messy workshop. Do everything you can to keep your work area clean and well-maintained. Every time you are done with a specific tool, out it away before you get another. It may seem like this is time consuming, but you won’t have any reason to clean up later.

If you’re looking for that first woodworking project, how about starting with a simple box? In fact, that’s probably the most popular first woodworking project out there. Buy some cheap wood that you like, and design a box that could work around your home. Maybe it’s for writing utensils, or perhaps it’s for the kitchen? There are a lot of options.

Keep your tools and hardware organized. When you keep clutter to a minimum, it does more than just add discipline to your workshop. It also keeps distractions, hazards and time spent hunting down a misplaced item to a minimum. Keeping screws, nails and other hardware and accessories in one place neatly stored until needed makes your projects faster and keeps you safer.

You can make your own router base using quarter-inch acrylic, which is easy to purchase at a home improvement center. This type of homemade router base is stronger and more reliable than the type that comes with a router. You will get a better and more accurate straight edge due to the superior strength and stability of this material. Just use the base that came with your router as a pattern to create your own durable router base using an acrylic sheet.

If you use an orbital sander to smooth the surface of your project before finishing, move the sander very slowly. The recommended speed is one inch per second which is slower than most people sand. Going too fast can cause a small spiral pattern that does not show up until the finish is applied.

You know you should wear safety glasses in the shop. Often, though, they are out of reach and you are tempted to quickly complete a task without using them. Stay safe and buy a lot of safety glasses. They are relatively inexpensive and you can place them all over the shop, always within quick reach.

Use tape to catch excess glue. Glue seeping out of joints can stain some wood, but this can be avoided using regular masking tape. First clamp your boards together without the glue, and tape across the join. Using a sharp blade, cut the tape along the join. When you glue the pieces, the excess glue will seep onto the taped edges of the board, where it can be easily peeled off.

Now that you now more about woodworking, you are ready to get started. Use what you’ve just learned, and you will do quite well. Enjoy the process as you improve your skills and make wonderful creations. You are about to find out just how much of a joy woodworking really is!

Working With Wood: What You Should Know was originally published on Spring