Seek advice from a professional, most times they are glad to give you advice and pointers.

Woodworking Essentials: Time and again people have asked me “Why do you like woodworking so much?” and “How can I get started in woodworking myself?”. There is a very simple answer to that, it is relaxing, enjoyable and anyone can be a woodworker!. All you need is a little time and patience, and with the right tools and knowledge you will learn how to master many of the different areas that woodworking has to offer. But let’s start out with the basics first.

‘Try Squares are very handy when your projects need to be absolutely squared up according to a particular angle.”

Handmade Woodworking Tools – Making your own try squares can be a very challenging but satisfying woodworking project, but in the end you’ll own a tool handmade by you that will give you an accurate measure of angles for future projects. You can build your own try square out of lighter weight wood that is hand friendly and yet solid. [..read more..]

There are many polishing products on the market and you might want to give them a try.

Woodworking - Tool Cleaning Basics: Old hand tools used for woodworking are pretty charming. They are always tempting to buy, even though I have plenty of my own tools. The old ones just seem to carry some kind of history with them and they feel good to use. The problem is usually that they are grimy or dirty in some way and look much better when they are cleaned up. There are a few products on the market that will help you get the shine back on the old tools so they look respectable once again.

“Woodworking is a progressive hobby, as many are, and you’ll start with simple projects.”

Woodwork Hand Tools: Here are a few basic hand tools for those brand new to woodworking and home repair. As you learn to use these, you can add to your tool box. The tools will be simpler and basic for a beginner, but those tools will be kept and simply added to as you go along and learn more skills. [..read more..]

Wet sanding will, however, when it dries it binds the pores up and smoothes out the surface, which is how you achieve shine.

Woodworking Tips - Finishing Techniques: Today’s woodworking gurus are typically found finishing their handmade wood pieces in oils. Oil finishes are certainly easier when you want a fool proof finish as it is much easier to cover up any imperfections in your work. The older type lacquer or varnish may be preferable, though, in certain circumstances. You might even be better off using a polyurethane finish if you really need a smooth glassy finish that you can almost see your reflection in.

Oil finishes like Danish Oil are easy and will give you a nice satin finish. If you need a bit more shine, though, you can add a few more coats and end up with a semi gloss look. It can be used on raw, unfinished wood and is available in cherry, golden oak, walnut, and natural as well as other colors depending on where you shop for finish.Some aficionados swear by the wet sand method for applying oils to get a shinier finished product.

“Traditional oil finishes are best used on those projects that don’t require a high gloss shine.”

That’s only a matter of opinion as it will depend on the exact piece of wood you use and how shiny you believe you need it to be. In a piece that needs to have all the pores filled to achieve a maximum gloss you’ll be best off using a lacquer or urethane. Even if you wet sand the piece first, oil won’t do the trick. Imagine a fine and glossy finish on a piano to get the picture. That kind of high gloss shine would be very hard to do with oil no matter how long you worked on it or how many coats you use.

Wet sanding will, however, help to fill in the pores of a piece that needs a moderate shine. It acts as filler to the pores by creating a sawdust and water paste that actually fills in the low spots and pores. When it dries it binds the pores up and smoothes out the surface, which is how you achieve shine. The smoother you can get the surface, the less light is lost to the depressions, bumps, and open pores. One note to remember about using finishes that may make a difference in your project. If it is a toy or an item to be used for a small child, as in a crib or pull toy, you may be best off using the lacquer type finish. Once lacquer is cured, it is more child friendly and less toxic than other finishes.