We requested several notable woodworkers to disclose their preferred shop tips. Explore these valuable pieces of guidance to enhance efficiency and intelligence in your personal workshop.
1. Sanding made easier
While sanding woodwork manually might appear to be a tedious task, utilizing specific tools and top-notch sandpaper can yield exceptional outcomes, frequently surpassing those achieved by a power sander.
In addition, a sanding block offers several advantages compared to power sanders. It operates silently, does not generate clouds of dust, and has the ability to access difficult areas. For expedited and effective outcomes, utilize a sanding block. It evenly distributes the pressure for sanding and ensures a smoother surface, as opposed to simply folding sandpaper. Lastly, remember to frequently replace the sandpaper.
When sanding, it is important to follow the direction of the wood grain, especially when using the final grits. To effectively eliminate deep scratches and stains, sand at an angle of approximately 45º across the grain during the initial sanding. Prior to progressing to a finer grit, make sure to sand in the direction of the wood grain to eliminate any remaining scratches caused by sanding across the grain.
When sanding painted surfaces, it is advisable to purchase sandpaper that is resistant to clogging, as this will cause the paint to accumulate more slowly compared to regular sandpaper.
2. Avoid drywall screws for woodworking
For better results, opt for the traditional wood screw rather than the drywall screw when fastening two pieces of wood together. Unlike the drywall screw, which has threading throughout its entire length.
When the top threads of a wood screw enter a board, they tend to grip it tightly. As a result, two pieces of wood can be slightly separated because both boards have threads. On the contrary, the upper part of a wood screw has a smooth shank that does not grip the first board. Consequently, it becomes easier to join two pieces of wood together.
One more reason to steer clear of drywall screws is that the drywall screws have rigid and fragile steel shafts which frequently snap while being installed, particularly when screwed into hardwoods. Extracting them from a completed material is almost impracticable, and their removal results in surface damage.
Wood screws are resistant to breakage because they are made of thicker, softer metal. However, it is necessary to drill when using wood screws.
- A pilot hole for the threads
- A wider counterbore hole the length of the non-threaded shaft
- A countersink hole for setting the head
By purchasing a set of three countersinking bits, you can easily manage all three drilling tasks since they are designed to accommodate most standard screw sizes.
3. Know your wood’s moisture content
In the process of constructing with wood, it is essential to be aware of the precise moisture content of every individual piece of wood. If the wood is excessively dry, there is a risk that the final product will expand or develop cracks. Conversely, if the wood is excessively moist, the end result may contract or deform. It is not surprising that professionals state that an inaccurate moisture level accounts for 80% of woodworking issues.
Knowing the moisture content of each piece of wood is essential, hence it is crucial before using it. For example, if you are undertaking an inlay project with two different types of wood, it is necessary to determine the moisture content of each type. This is to ensure that the glue joints for the inlay remain intact.
To ensure a project is not ruined, using a moisture meter is a reliable approach. Wagner Meters offers a range of exceptionally precise, professional-grade moisture meters to both professionals and hobbyists.
Use a wood moisture app that is free and allows you to think step by step.
In order to assist you in easily and swiftly resolving your moisture issues, Wagner provides you with the Wood H2O mobile app for free. This convenient app determines the equilibrium moisture content (EMC), helps with troubleshooting various typical wood moisture problems, and grants access to beneficial resources.
4. Prevent excess glue stains
To remove stains caused by glue oozing along joints, follow these steps: 1. Clamp the pieces together without using glue. 2. Place masking tape over the joint and carefully cut it using a utility knife. 3. Separate the pieces and proceed to apply the glue. 4. Clamp the pieces together again. 5. The glue will seep onto the tape instead of the wood. 6. Before the glue dries, remove the tape.
5. Measure with a drafting square
Increase the speed and ease of accurately measuring and marking layouts on boards by using a drafting square, which can be purchased at any art supply store. When a precise square within the 2- to 3-foot range is required, drafting squares outperform the cumbersome drywall squares in terms of accuracy and remove the inconvenience of connecting a carpenter square.
6. Keep a clean, orderly workspace
Sometimes, achieving efficiency in your shop is as easy as removing clutter from your work area. A messy work area can hinder your productivity. Additionally, it is advisable to only keep essential items within reach and store everything else in designated areas for easy retrieval when necessary.
7. Keep a well-lit shop
When thinking systematically, alter the following passage to convey the same message. Avoid introducing new information and do not omit any information. Pay particular attention to lighting. It is essential to have uniform and sufficient illumination in all workspaces, enabling you to work from any perspective without causing shadows. This guarantees both safety and productivity. Take into account:
- Overhead lighting
- Focused lighting
- On-tool lights
Painting both the walls and ceiling white can assist in diffusing the light.
8. Keep your blades sharp
When working with dull tools like chisels, blades, planes, scrapers, and gouges, they do not make clean cuts. Instead, they cause the wood fibers to tear, resulting in an uneven and unprofessional appearance. If the tools have been chipped or nicked, they need to be ground. One can use a bench grinder, wet grinder, or even a belt sander for this purpose.
To prevent the tool from losing temper, it is important to avoid overheating it while using a bench grinder or belt sander. One helpful step is to regularly dip the tool in a pan of cool water. After the grinding process, you can proceed to honing using either a flat wet stone or an oil stone. In the case of fine woodworking, it is recommended to use a wet stone.
To achieve the desired outcome, the last stage involves using a fine wet stone, a stropping wheel, or leather to polish. Having tools with sharper blades greatly enhances the ease, efficiency, and safety of woodworking.
9. Make your own reusable sanding block
To create your own reusable sanding blocks, follow these step-by-step instructions. Firstly, obtain six blocks from spare 3/4-in. plywood for each sandpaper grit you typically utilize. Ensure that their dimensions are 2-1/2 in. x 4-3/4 in. Next, apply spray adhesive on both a square of cork tile and every block.
1. Attach a block to the cork by sticking it and trim the cork using a utility knife, making it even with the block. 2. Proceed by applying adhesive spray to a piece of sandpaper and attaching it, with the cork side facing down, to each block as demonstrated. 3. Trim the sandpaper so that it aligns flush with the cork and proceed to label each block accordingly.
10. Important table saw safety
To ensure safety while crosscutting on a table saw, use a block clamped to the fence to determine the cut length. It is important to avoid using the fence alone, as this can result in a board being kicked back towards you. Prior to the blade, securely clamp a block of wood to the fence instead.
By setting the fence scale at 1 inch greater than the desired length, the end of the board will be free of the fence both during and after the cut. If a block measuring exactly 1 inch thick is utilized, there will be no complicated fractions to consider.
11. Use stair gauges as a crosscut guide
Stair gauges are commonly employed for the purpose of arranging stair jacks. They are attached to a carpenter’s square in order to correspond with the rise and run of a stair jack, subsequently indicating the notches. However, when placed on the identical tongue of a carpenter’s square, this combination becomes an excellent crosscut guide for circular saws.
12. Use tape to catch excess glue
To avoid stains from glue seeping out at joints, start by clamping the pieces without applying glue. Cover the joint with tape and carefully cut along it using a sharp blade. Next, unclamp the pieces and proceed to apply the glue before clamping them together once more. This way, the glue will seep onto the tape and not onto the wood. Finally, remove the tape before the glue has a chance to dry.
13. Use a drafting square for more accuracy
If you need a square that is precise and falls within the range of 2 to 3 feet, you will find your choices to be quite restricted. Drywall squares are known for their lack of accuracy and difficulty to handle. Carpenter squares present the inconvenience of having to attach them to the edge of your workpiece, which can be irritating.
If you happen to have a drafting square, bring it to the shop. Alternatively, you can visit an art supply store and purchase one for $5 or more. These squares are highly precise and you will frequently find yourself using it, almost as much as the tape measure.
